How to crack Google interview in 10 days?

Cracking a Google interview in 10 days is an ambitious goal, but with focused effort, you can make a lot of progress. Here's a high-intensity 10-day preparation strategy that will help you cover the essentials and boost your chances of success.

Day 1-2: Assess Your Skills and Focus on Coding Patterns

Assess Your Strengths and Weaknesses

Take a coding assessment to identify your weak areas. Use platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to take timed tests and get a sense of where you need to improve.
Identify the common data structures and algorithms you need to focus on: arrays, linked lists, hash maps, trees, and graphs.

Learn Common Coding Patterns

Master common coding patterns like sliding window, two pointers, and dynamic programming. These will help you quickly approach different types of problems.
Recommended course: Grokking the Coding Interview focuses on coding patterns for technical interviews.

Day 3-5: Practice Problem Solving on Key Topics

Focus on the Most Important Topics

Day 3: Focus on Arrays and Strings. Solve problems involving searching, sorting, and sliding window techniques.
Day 4: Cover Trees and Graphs. Work on problems like tree traversal (DFS, BFS), graph traversal, and connected components.
Day 5: Tackle Dynamic Programming. Focus on problems related to subarrays, subsequences, and optimization problems like Knapsack.

Practice Efficiently

Aim to solve 5-6 medium-level problems per day.
Prioritize problems that are frequently asked in Google interviews. Use resources like LeetCode’s Google interview tag to find relevant problems.

Day 6-7: System Design (For Mid-Senior Roles)

Learn the Basics of System Design

For more senior positions (L5 and above), you’ll need to understand how to design large-scale, distributed systems.
Key concepts: load balancing, caching, database sharding, consistency models (CAP theorem), and fault tolerance.
Practice designing systems like URL shorteners, social media feeds, or file storage systems.

Day 6: Focus on learning key system design concepts.

Day 7: Practice designing scalable systems by walking through real-world examples.

Recommended resource: Grokking the System Design Interview provides a solid foundation in system design.

Day 8: Behavioral and Leadership Questions

Prepare for the Behavioral Interview

Google places a strong emphasis on cultural fit, leadership, and collaboration. Be ready to answer questions about teamwork, challenges, and failures.
Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.

Key Questions to Prepare For:

Describe a time when you solved a difficult problem.
How do you handle conflicts in a team?
Give an example of when you took the initiative to lead a project.

Highlight Leadership Potential

Even if you’re not applying for a management position, Google values candidates who demonstrate leadership qualities in problem-solving, mentorship, and decision-making.

Day 9: Mock Interviews

Simulate the Interview Experience

Schedule mock interviews with peers or use platforms like DesignGurus.io or Interviewing.io to simulate real interviews.
Focus on solving problems under time pressure while explaining your thought process clearly.

Focus on:

Clear communication: Talk through your approach before coding.
Time management: Aim to complete coding questions in 20-25 minutes and leave time for optimization and edge cases.

Day 10: Review and Final Prep

Review Key Concepts

Go over the coding patterns and system design concepts you studied. Focus on weak areas identified during mock interviews.
Revisit behavioral interview questions and make sure you have a few strong examples prepared.

Optimize and Focus on Edge Cases

On the final day, focus on optimizing your solutions and handling edge cases, as Google interviewers often test for these.
Practice articulating why your solution is efficient in terms of time and space complexity.

Relax and Stay Confident

Make sure to get plenty of rest before the interview day. Confidence and clarity in your communication are as important as your technical skills.

Additional Tips

Prioritize the Most Common Topics: Spend the most time on the areas that Google focuses on, such as arrays, trees, dynamic programming, and system design (if applicable).
Use Efficient Study Resources: Courses like Grokking the Coding Interview and Grokking System Design can help you cover essential topics quickly and effectively.

By following this intensive 10-day plan, you'll maximize your chances of cracking the Google interview. Stay focused, practice consistently, and approach each problem systematically!

TAGS

Coding Interview

System Design Interview

CONTRIBUTOR

Design Gurus Team