The document summarizes Gayle Laakmann's advice for cracking the technical interview. It discusses the typical interview process, what companies look for in candidates, how to prepare for different types of technical questions, and tips for soft skills. The key points covered are researching the company, preparing projects and common data structures/algorithms, using strategies like pattern matching to solve problems, and demonstrating passion through good communication skills.

1. Cracking the Technical InterviewCracking the Technical InterviewGayle LaakmannFounder / CEO, CareerCup.com

2. My BackgroundPenn BSE / MSE ‘05 in CSEx-Engineer at Google, Microsoft and Apple + Offers from Amazon, IBM and others3 Years on Google Hiring CommitteeInterviewed 120+ candidates

3. CareerCupFounded 2005Largest source for technical interview questions (3000+ FREE questions)Services:BookVideoMock interviews

5. How are interviews structured?How are you evaluated?Process

6. Technical Interview ProcessInitial Screen (Phone / Campus)4 - 5 on site interviews10 min General40 min Technical10 min ClosingSometimes “blind” interview

7. Evaluation (What They Say)

8. Big Company Evaluation (Actual)Experience

9. Big Company Eval = No Red Flags“Better to lose a good candidate than to hire a bad one.”“Better to lose a good candidate than to hire a bad one.”

10. Smaller CompaniesInterview process variesCare more about experience / personalityMight ask to see “portfolio”

11. What do companies look for?Applying

12. What do companies look for?Project experience!Course workOpen sourceIndependent studiesWeiss Tech HouseKnow C++ or Java wellSkills PassionWork Ethic

13. Resume Advice:One Page. Seriously.3 Sections: Education, Employment, ProjectsList languages with experience levelPet Peeve: Save file with your name

14. Why do you want to work here? What was your favorite project?Interview prep – SOFT SKILLS

15. Research the company / teamPrepare questions:Genuine QuestionsThings you really want to knowInsightful QuestionsTechnical questions that show your CS knowledgePassion QuestionsQuestions that show your tech passionSoft Prep – The Company / Team

16. Create Preparation Grid for Projects+ (maybe) Behavioral GridSoft Prep – Yourself

17. Strengths vs. WeaknessesMediocre answer: “it was hard because I had to learn new languages / technologies”Not just answering Q’s – show who you are!Soft Prep – Yourself

18. How do you prep for coding questions?What do you prep?Interview prep – Tech SKILLS

19. Data structuresAlgorithmsConceptsWhat to study

20. How to implementWhen to use (pros / cons)Data Structures

21. ImplementationSpace vs Time ComplexityAlgorithms

22. ConceptsNot just a concept – know how to code!

23. Don’t practice on computer!

24. What do companies look for?Interview – soft SKILLS

25. The Interview: Chit ChatBeginning + End of InterviewWhat? Resume questions (hardest bug, etc)General questionsOpportunity for you to ask questionsWhy? Get to know your personality / interestsRELAXES you

26. The Interview: Chit Chat - TipsBe specific – not arrogant “Yeah, I did all the hard work for the team” “I implemented the file system, which was considered one of the hardest components.”Limited details (else too hard to follow)Ask good questions!

27. ituationctionesponseThe Interview: Chit Chat - TipsSstructure your responsesAR

28. How do you tackle hard tech questions?Interview – tech SKILLS

29. General Advice for Technical QuestionsTalk out loud – show us how you think!Good interviews = hard questionsDon’t be nervous if you can’t solve something!You’re not done untilthey say you’re done.

30. Question TypesStandard Coding and Algorithms“Reverse a linked list”Object Oriented Design“Design a parking lot”Large System Design“Design a program to crawl the web”Trivia“What does a “vtable” refer to in C++”

31. Standard Coding and AlgorithmsQuestion Type #1

32. 5 Steps#1Standard Coding and Algorithms

33. Asking QuestionsWhat are the data types?How much data?What assumptions do you need?Who is the user?NOTE: Especially important at Microsoft.#1Standard Coding and Algorithms

34. Algorithm Generation#1Standard Coding and AlgorithmsOMG! I have no idea how to solve this problem!

35. Algorithm GenerationPattern MatchingWhat problem is this similar to?Simplify / GeneralizeWhat if the data was a different type?Base Case & BuildCan you do this just for element 1? 1 and 2? …Data Structure BrainstormGo through all data structures – can they help?#1Standard Coding and Algorithms

36. Algorithm GenerationPattern MatchingWrite code to reverse the order of words in a sentence. Example: input: “iPad is an awful name” output: “name awful an is iPad”#1Standard Coding and Algorithms

37. Algorithm GenerationSimplify / GeneralizeWrite a program to remove the duplicate characters in a string without using any additional buffers.#1Standard Coding and Algorithms

38. Algorithm GenerationBase Case & BuildDesign an algorithm to print all valid combinations of n pairs of parentheses. Example: input: n = 3 output: ( )( )( ), ( ) ( () ), ( () )(), ((()))#1Standard Coding and Algorithms

39. Algorithm GenerationData Structures BrainstormDesign an algorithm to figure out if someone has won a game of tic-tac-toe. Make it as fast as possible.#1Standard Coding and Algorithms

40. Poking HolesWhat’s space / time complexity?What if there’s lots of data?Does your design cause other issues?If there are other issues, did you make the right trade offs?#1Standard Coding and Algorithms

41. Pseudo Code & CodePseudo code first – but say that!Use data structures generouslyWhat are the right ones?Define your own = shows good styleDon’t crowd your codingStart in the upper left corner of board, not bottom#1Standard Coding and Algorithms

42. TestingTest your code!Extreme casesCheck for user errorTest general casesCAREFULLY FIX MISTAKES#1Standard Coding and Algorithms

43. Object Oriented DesignQuestion Type #2

44. OOD Steps#2Object Oriented DesignClarifying QuestionsWhat are the core objects?What is the interaction (eg, methods)?Walk through uses. Have you missed anything? Are there any algorithms you need?

45. OOD Example#2Object Oriented DesignDesign the data structures for a restaurant

46. Restaurant OOD#2Object Oriented Design1. Clarifying QuestionsHow many guests?Buffet or entrees?What meals does it serve?

47. Restaurant OOD#2Object Oriented Design2. Core ObjectsGuestPartyServerTableMealOrder

48. Restaurant OOD#2Object Oriented Design3. InteractionServer assigned to Table by HostGuests order Meal from Menu via ServerOops! Forgot menu!

49. Restaurant OOD#2Object Oriented Design4. Walk Through UsesParty enters with Guest(s). Assigned to Table. Order items.

50. Restaurant OOD#2Object Oriented Design5. AlgorithmsHow do you find a free table?How do you remove out-of-stock item from menu?

51. Large ScaleSystem DesignQuestion Type #3

52. Large Scale Steps#3Large Scale System DesignSimplifyDevelop algorithm for simple caseGeneralizeWhat problems do you hit?Can you solve them?

53. TriviaQuestion Type #4

54. Trivia#4TriviaHopefully you know the answer!Practice more Else…Admit that you don’t knowTry to derive the answer

55. (eg, things that wouldn’t fit in elsewhere)FINAL THOUGHTS

56. The Interview: Ending ItSmile, be positiveIf you think you bombed, don’t worryFollow up with your recruiters (sometimes they forget)

57. The OfferIt’s always negotiableHelps if you have competing offerDon’t lie – companies know what competitors offerIs it really what you want?Money, career options, etc

58. My Red Flags: People who…… wrote code and didn’t test it… found mistakes and would make random fixes… jammed things messily into an existing data structure… didn’t consider the impact of their algorithms… were scared to try

59. Take Aways – Getting ReadyGet Project ExperienceShow project experience on resumeS. A. R. (Situation Action Result)Prepare Project / Behavioral Grids

60. Technical Interview PrepThings to know (data structures, algorithms, concepts)Simple  Know ImplementationComplex  Know ConceptsPractice interview questions!

61. At The Interview Be niceInterviews are supposed to be hardApproachesPattern MatchingSimplify / GeneralizeBase Case & BuildData Structure Brainstorm

62. Other ResourcesE-BookVideoMock InterviewsSlides posted at CareerCup.com/slideswww.CareerCup.com20% discount with code:[removed from online posting – email me to get it]I have removed the discount code from online posting because, well, things are Google-able and the code is intended for penn students. Please email gayle@careercup.com from your UPENN email address to get the code.