What is asked in Google interview?

Landing a job at Google is a dream for many tech enthusiasts, and their interview process is renowned for being both challenging and comprehensive. To help you navigate this journey, let’s break down the types of questions you can expect and how to ace them!

Types of Questions in a Google Interview

Google's interview process typically includes a mix of technical and behavioral questions designed to assess your problem-solving abilities, technical expertise, and cultural fit.

Coding Problems

Google places a strong emphasis on your ability to write efficient and correct code. You can expect questions that test your understanding of data structures, algorithms, and coding proficiency.

• What They’re Looking For: Efficient use of data structures (like hash sets) and optimal time complexity.

Sample Questions:

1. Two Sum:
   Given an array of integers, return indices of the two numbers that add up to a specific target.

2. Reverse a Linked List:
   Reverse a singly linked list.

3. Longest Substring Without Repeating Characters:
   Given a string, find the length of the longest substring without repeating characters.

4. Merge Intervals:
   Given a collection of intervals, merge all overlapping intervals.

5. Dynamic Programming - Knapsack Problem:
   Given weights and values of n items, put these items in a knapsack of capacity W to maximize the total value.

System Design

For more experienced roles, Google includes system design interviews to evaluate your ability to design scalable and robust systems.

• What They’re Looking For: Clear architecture, understanding of scalability, fault tolerance, and trade-offs in design choices.

Sample Questions:

1. Design a URL Shortener (e.g., bit.ly):
   How would you design a system that converts long URLs into shortened versions and redirects users to the original URL?

2. Design a Social Media Platform:
   Create a scalable architecture for a platform like Twitter or Facebook, considering aspects like data storage, real-time updates, and user interactions.

3. Design a Distributed Cache System:
   How would you design a caching layer to improve the performance of a web application?

Behavioral Questions

Google values how you work with others and fit into their culture.

Behavioral questions help them understand your soft skills and how you handle real-world situations.

• What They’re Looking For: Your ability to manage time, handle pressure, and collaborate effectively.

Sample Questions:

1. Tell me about a time you led a project. What was the outcome?
2. Describe a situation where you had to work with a difficult team member. How did you handle it?
3. How do you prioritize tasks when managing multiple projects?
4. Give an example of a challenging problem you solved. What was your approach?
5. Have you ever failed at something? How did you handle the failure?

"Googleyness" and Cultural Fit Questions

Google places significant emphasis on candidates who not only possess the technical skills but also embody the company’s culture and values.

Focus Areas:

• Innovation: Ability to think creatively and propose novel solutions.
• Collaboration: Working effectively within diverse teams.
• Adaptability: Handling change and uncertainty gracefully.
• User-Centric Mindset: Focusing on creating value for users.

Sample Questions:

1. How do you stay updated with the latest technologies and industry trends?
2. Describe a time when you had to learn something new quickly to complete a task.
3. What motivates you to work at Google?
4. How do you handle feedback and criticism?
5. Can you give an example of how you have contributed to a positive team environment?

Role-Specific Questions

Depending on the position you’re applying for, you may encounter questions tailored to the specific responsibilities and skills required for that role.

Examples by Role:

• Product Manager:

  • How would you launch a new feature for Google Maps?
  • Describe a product you admire and explain why.

• Data Scientist:

  • Explain the difference between supervised and unsupervised learning.
  • How would you handle missing data in a dataset?

• UX Designer:

  • Walk me through your design process for a recent project.
  • How do you incorporate user feedback into your designs?

How to Prepare for Each Type of Question

Master the Fundamentals

Ensure you have a solid grasp of data structures and algorithms. Focus on understanding how different structures work and when to use them.

• Recommended Course: Grokking Data Structures & Algorithms for Coding Interviews

Practice Coding Problems

Regular practice on platforms like LeetCode can help you become familiar with the types of problems Google asks.

• Recommended Course: Grokking the Coding Interview: Patterns for Coding Questions