Coding Interviews Are More Than Just Solving Problems

Effective Strategies from an Interviewer's Perspective

Solving 500 or 1000 problems does not guarantee success in interviews unless you follow some key rules and prepare accordingly. As a senior software engineer with experience on both sides of the interview table, I've learned that it's not just about the number of problems you solve but how effectively you approach them. Let's assume you already know the common Data Structures and Algorithms. Here are the steps you can follow:

First, always take the time to thoroughly understand the problem. Read the problem statement carefully and figure out exactly what’s being asked. For example, if you're on LeetCode, read the problem description twice to make sure you catch all the details. Think about which Data Structures and Algorithms you might need. Start by considering a simple brute-force solution without worrying about optimization. This approach will help you get an idea of the basic logic before diving into more complex solutions.

Next, code the brute force solution. Begin by handling edge cases and then write the main code. For instance, if you're solving a problem like "Two Sum," first think about checking all pairs before optimizing.

Be very careful to avoid typos, as they can be a major red flag during interviews. From my experience as an interviewer, clean and error-free code always makes a big impression.

Once you’ve written your code, test with your own test cases. If you are confident enough, submit it. If it fails, think about the error by yourself first without looking into the failed test cases, fix the issues and resubmit. If your code works but hits a Time Limit Exceeded (TLE) error, think about how you can optimize it. On LeetCode, check the runtime of your solution and compare it with others. Now, write the optimized solution and test it again. Sometimes using a HashMap instead of a simple array can make a huge difference in performance.

After your solution is accepted, take some time to compare it with the top solutions in the comments section. This is where you can learn some interesting tricks and optimizations. For example, you might find a solution that uses a different algorithm you hadn't considered. Try to understand better approaches and learn from them.

Solve the same problems as many times as you want, with different approaches, using different and more optimized data structure.

If you find yourself completely stuck on a problem, search for it on YouTube. There are many great explanations available that can provide a new perspective. Watch explanations from familiar sources but try to code the solution yourself without looking at the code directly. Think of these explanations as hints from an interviewer. As an interviewee, using hints effectively is a crucial skill.

If you’re still struggling, it might be a good idea to go back to basics. Relearn the essential Data Structures and Algorithms and start the process again. Practicing on platforms like LeetCode, Codeforces, HackerRank consistently and following these steps can significantly improve your problem-solving skills and boost your chances of success in coding interviews.

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