CODING INTERVIEW: Simple and Effective Methods to Cracking the Coding Interview

By Eric Schmidt

The coding interview process can be quite intimidating and scary for those who are really interested in landing a nice job in the industry. This is particularly true if it is still your first time going through the grueling interview process. 

However, no matter how intimidating and challenging the coding interview is, you

• Language: English
• Publisher: Eric Schmidt
• Release date: Jul 24, 2023
• ISBN: 9781088216941

Eric Schmidt

Eric Schmidt served as Google CEO and chairman from 2001 until 2011, Google executive chairman from 2011 to 2015, and Alphabet executive chairman from 2015 to 2018.

Book preview

Introduction

The coding interview process can be quite intimidating and scary for those who are really interested in landing a nice job in the industry. This is particularly true if it is still your first time going through the grueling interview process.

However, no matter how intimidating and challenging the coding interview is, you must do all the necessary preparations to succeed and earn your spot in your dream company. This is the key to landing the coding or programming job you have longed to get.

If you want to know how to ace the coding interview, this book can help. It aims to give you an idea of what you should expect throughout the interview process and what you should do to ensure that you are fully prepared to handle it.

With all the information in this book in the most simplified manner possible, you can crack your coding interview without hassle. You will come out confident and answer the questions by your interviewer without faltering.

You will also know how to show your skills, including soft and technical skills, that are all necessary for landing the job. The book also provides strategies for answering technical interview questions, insights, and an overview of how big tech companies recruit and hire developers for different roles.

You will even gain clear ideas on ensuring that your skills will be in sync with the ones needed by the company conducting the interview. After reading this book, you will become more confident during your scheduled interview since you now know how to leave a good impression on potential employers.

Chapter 1

An Overview of Coding Interviews and the Most In-demand Jobs in the Industry

Also called programming or technical interview, a coding interview refers to a type of job interview based on and revolves around a technical problem. The goal of the interview is to assess and scrutinize the skills and abilities of an applicant to determine if they fit a particular software development or programming position.

It is crucial to note that there are now modern techniques for conducting coding interviews. Pioneered and used by Microsoft first, specifically during the 90s, modern techniques were adopted and implemented by large tech companies, including Facebook, Google, and Amazon.

The modern ways of conducting coding interviews work in testing the technical knowledge, problem-solving skills, creativity, and, of course, candidates' technical knowledge. Also, to be considered for a coding job, one must earn a degree in computer engineering, information science, electrical engineering, or computer science.

Those who have successfully completed a degree in any of the mentioned areas can apply for a job and wait for an interview. During the interview, they will be asked to solve problems linked to programming, puzzles, and algorithms. If you scored a coding interview, you can expect it to be conducted either virtually or personally.

What Is Coding?

What exactly is coding? Basically, it refers to a process that makes it possible for you to develop apps, websites, and software that run on computers. Coding is important in the digital and modern world that we live in right now. As a matter of fact, your browser, phone apps, operating system, social media, like Facebook, and websites, were created with the help of a code.

Almost all electronic devices and gadgets people use now rely on codes to work. The ones who are responsible for coding or making a code are called developers, coders, and programmers. These professionals are the ones who work with PCs as a means of creating not only apps and websites but also games.

If you are still learning how to code, it is important to think of the mechanics of this process. You have to fully understand the exact things that happen when you code, the actual meaning when someone codes, and how different it is with programming.

It is also crucial to understand the specific language you may use in coding and how to start with it. By doing that, you can improve your coding skills, which will be a major help in acing your interview. Once you become a better coder, you will have a higher chance of landing any of the high-paying and in-demand jobs in the industry.

The Most In-demand Coding Careers at Present

Coding is one of the most rewarding, lucrative, and successful professional paths you can take. If you love to work with computers and numbers and have impressive analytical skills, then you are suitable for any coding job you can find.

The good thing about this field is that it is quite extensive. This means that plenty of jobs are available for you to explore, and you can pick one based on your skillset, passion, and interest. You just have to figure out the best career path that you should take in this industry.

With the various current coding jobs, choosing the right one for you may be confusing at first. If you are more on the artistic side, you may want to focus on creating beautiful and functional websites, as doing so allows you to combine your programming skills and creativity.

You may also choose to work with data, giving you the opportunity to help companies analyze data to gain actionable insights or keep sensitive data and information safe and protected from unauthorized access.

To satisfy your curiosity even further about the types of coding jobs that you can pursue, here are the most in-demand and lucrative ones. Figure out which one suits your skillset and interests the most, determine where you can apply for a job, and prepare for an interview.

Front-End Engineer

A front-end engineer is one of the most lucrative jobs available for those with coding skills and expertise. As a front-end engineer, you will be responsible for creating and managing all the elements and components of a website, including those necessary for the interaction.

The front-end engineer develops the things you see on a website or page, including the log-in screen and search result layout. If you are interested in this position, make sure you have a solid and comprehensive understanding of CSS, HTML, and JavaScript.

You need to know all the languages used in developing and creating the front end of mobile and web applications. Also, note that even if it is not completely necessary to have graphic and web design skills, it would be much better for you to at least have a bit of creativity, even if it is just basic.

Average annual salary: $105,800 – Some companies also offer a cash bonus of $2,500 per year.

Back-end Engineer

You can also choose to work as a back-end engineer. Note that regardless of how slick and well-designed your web pages and apps are, they will not be that good if they are incapable of providing you with your needed information. This makes it necessary to hire a back-end engineer.

Several apps and sites store data and information in huge databases. Expect them to be on remote services that you can easily access at a later time. The back-end engineer's job is to handle the website’s behind-the-screen parts.

In other words, every time you look for something, such as learn SQL, the back-end engineer is the one you should thank once you see the results that are crucial to your search. Being a back-end engineer also makes it possible to view the most recent available content quickly once you start to browse a site.

To be a good back-end engineer, it is necessary to have a passion for solving challenging technical issues. You will be responsible for providing the most efficient and logical solutions rather than aesthetics and engagement.

Your job will also include working with several databases with the aid of tools, such as Node.js, SQL, and JavaScript. Moreover, you need to fully understand the basics of the effective development, management, and creation of databases and the retrieval of data.

Average annual salary: $120,000, which may also be accompanied by a yearly cash bonus of $4,000

Full-stack Engineer

You can also fill the position of a full-stack engineer. This is the perfect job for you if you have coding expertise and you prefer handling jobs that showcase the creative side of front-end engineers and the ability to handle technical challenges linked to back-end engineering. In other words, your job will more likely be all-around.

To thrive well in this position, you need to fully appreciate every part and component of the web development process. You need to be an expert in tasks like building highly engaging and intuitive user interfaces and developing effective and efficient database structures.

Familiarize yourself with the languages used to develop back-end and front-end structures, such as CSS, HTML, SQL, JavaScript, and Node.js. You also need to fully understand both components and how they communicate and interact with one another.

Average annual salary: $100,000, usually with an annual cash bonus of $4,000.

Web Developer

Working as a web developer will also let you earn a decent amount. In this type of job, you will be responsible for using computer programming as a means of creating and maintaining websites.

If you get this coding job, your day will most likely be spent on testing and scrutinizing new apps and parts of websites. You will