Google Coding Interview With A Normal Software Engineer

In this video, I conduct a mock Google coding interview with a normal software engineer, Keerti Purswani, who's a software developer based in India. As a Google Software Engineer, I interviewed dozens of candidates. This is exactly the type of coding interview that you would get at Google or any other big tech company.

[Ayoub-adventures]

Acording to Mr. Youtuber, there is a Google Software engineer, a Facebook Software engineer, and a normal Software engineer

[JohnFarrellDev]

Is someone still considered "normal" when they have a channel dedicated to soliving algorithmic problems similar to the style asked in Google interviews. Isn't a normal software engineer someone who works as an engineer, probably knows commonly used languages/frameworks but hasn't spent any time working on these types of problems. For example they might be an excellent full stack web developer with experience in React, Vue, Node and Spring but not know how to traverse binary trees because that has never been required in their job.

[scottrobinson]

As a former Facebook, Google, Amazon tech lead, millionaire I didn't even understand the question. "Google coding interview with a rock" would be up my alley

[sunnyg]

Not me being nervous when I'm not even the one being interviewed😭

[crjacinro]

If this is already a normal engineer, I don't know what kind of engineer already I am. Maybe abnormal?

[robert]

Imo a normal software engineer is one that hasn't touched algorithms in the last X years and don't remember to do anything similar to this. I was expecting something like that.

[SolarPlayer]

Man it seems difficult for an interviewer as well trying to follow along with someone forming a nebulous idea into a real solution. And this is with an excellent candidate I can imagine how hard it is if you're interviewing me instead

[fusion_flicks]

"Does that sound fine?" - That's all i understood.

[greentoadboy]

At this rate "Google interview with a garbage can" might be more relatable to me

[jorgevasquezang]

I realized I don't even reach a Normal Software Engineer level

[skifast_takechances]

Definitely slightly harder than the interviews I did for SWE internships since this is (presumably) for a full-time role, but Keerti solved it amazingly!

[bensas]

Wow, this question is the one that made me fail the Google interviews a couple of years ago, it was a weird flashback seeing it again!

[jakariasami]

I'm storing these interviews for the future, at this time they are way above my reach 😂

[a_]

I'm officially changing my major to

[sindhumohan]

Great mock interview. Loved it. Please keep posting more inspiring content.

[franciscoalmonte]

Kudos to Keerti. It takes guts to take a coding interview, let alone publishing video of it for all to see.
It was a painful reminder of how broken technical interviews are.
Most engineers, especially ones far removed from college, would struggle with this problem.
My one critique/takeaway, and I'll phrase it in a positive light:

- Ask high quality clarifying questions as early as possible; and
- Use that early opportunity to put your interviewer at ease about heading in the right direction, before coding (pseudo or otherwise).

For example, I would've asked early on "the problem might have more than one solution, do I only return the first one or return them all?"
Again, it's so sad that excellent engineers who "just get s&*t done" would likely fail to adequately answer this question.
If anything, Engineers who display good attitudes while attempting to solve these problems should be considered a pass.

[janehoe]

"she's not a Olympic competitive programmer, not a one who has won medals..." hold up, , , that's a lot of damage

[manasdange]

The first question seems really good, would be really helpful if anyone can provide the link to the actual question with all the test cases and constraints!

[thecomputerman]

Really enjoyed the mock interview. Hopefully, I have learned some things from it. Keerti does look like has done serious practice with Algorithmic problem-solving.

[CarzyNavi]

whenever I think I have seen everything in my life, youtube is waiting to suggest me a video.