Google’s technical interview is one of the most challenging interviews among big tech companies. The interview process is the ultimate test of your coding and design capabilities. There’s more, though. The interview also evaluates your behavioral attributes and responses in workplace situations, as well as the scope of your professional experience to see if you’re the right cultural fit.
With a solid prep strategy in place, it is most certainly possible to land a deserving offer from your favorite company. An exhaustive study plan along with consistency is just the ingredients you need to succeed.
If you are preparing for a tech interview, check out our technical interview checklist, interview questions page, and salary negotiation ebook to get interview-ready! Also, read Google Interview Questions and How Hard It Is to Get a Job at Google for specific insights and guidance on Google tech interviews.
Having trained over 10,000 software engineers, we know what it takes to crack the toughest tech interviews. Since 2014, Interview Kickstart alums have been landing lucrative offers from FAANG and Tier-1 tech companies, with an average salary hike of 49%. The highest-ever offer received by an IK alum is a whopping $1.26 Million!
At IK, you get the unique opportunity to learn from expert instructors who are hiring managers and tech leads at Google, Facebook, Apple, and other top Silicon Valley tech companies.
Want to nail your next tech interview? Sign up for our FREE Webinar.
In this article, we’ll cover a 4-week study plan to help you land that coveted offer from Google. Although we strongly recommend that you commence your interview prep at least 8 weeks before your interview, a highly intensive 4-week study plan can work too.
Here’s what we’ll cover in this article:
The Google interview process is the ultimate test of your programming and problem-solving abilities. The process is spread across multiple rounds. It begins with the initial phone screen with a recruiter, followed by the technical phone screen, and ultimately, the on-site interview.
While the technical phone screen is conducted remotely, recruiters invite you to the Google campus for the on-site interview. The on-site comprises a coding, design, and behavioral round, each built to test your capabilities as a programmer and how good a fit you’d be for your role.
To learn more about the interview process, check out our comprehensive Google Interview Guide.
The Google technical interview tests the depth of your knowledge in core data structures and algorithms. It also evaluates your ability to design and develop scalable distributed systems.
There are essentially three main components in the interview:
Your knowledge of core DSA is evaluated in the coding rounds. You’ll be given a problem or two to solve during the technical phone screen and on-site interviews. The hiring manager will essentially test how you approach the problem and arrive at the most optimal solution.
The following topics are important to cover:
Recommended Reading:
Google Coding Interview Questions
How to Solve the Most Popular Whiteboard Google Interview Questions
The systems design round, which usually takes place during the on-site interview, tests your overall design knowledge. The design interview carries greater weightage for senior positions at Google. The following topics are essential in the context of design interviews at Google.
Check out Systems Design Interview Preparation Tips to thoroughly prepare for systems design rounds at on-site interviews.
The behavioral interview is mostly a test of your attitude, conduct, and how much you’ve learned from your past experiences and projects. Questions in the behavioral interview are primarily around the following areas:
To learn more, check out Behavioral Interview Questions For Software Engineers.
Now, onto the main part — the 4-week study plan to nail Google’s technical interview. Here it is:
These proven tips will help you make the most of your 4-week study plan!
Q. Are coding rounds more important than design rounds at the Google interview?
For junior software positions, coding rounds are more important than design rounds. For senior developer and managerial positions, design rounds and behavioral rounds hold more weight in hiring decisions.
Q. What type of behavioral questions are asked at Google’s technical interview?
Behavioral questions asked at Google’s interview are typically around the following topics:
If you’re serious about up-leveling your career, register for Interview Kickstart’s technical interview webinar to understand the best prep strategies to nail technical interviews at FAANG and tier-1 companies.
IK is the gold standard in tech interview prep. Our programs include a comprehensive curriculum, unmatched teaching methods, FAANG+ instructors, and career coaching to help you nail your next tech interview.