How to perform well in Interview¶

Step 1: Clarify the problem
Repeat it back in your own words
Ask about inputs, outputs, edge cases, performance
When/if to validate inputs
Error handling
Step 2: Solution Design
DON’T CODE YET
Consider some example inputs
Explain and discuss possible solutions
If none of your approaches will work, explain why
FOCUS ON TRADEOFFS
DISCUSS TIME AND SPACE COMPLEXITIES
Come to agreement w/ interviewer on solution to try before coding
Pseudocode if needed
- But let interviewer know real code is coming
ASK: Do you want me to code this now?
Step 3: Code
TALK THROUGH EVERYTHING
Confirm you can use the data structures or libraries you want to use
Use data structures generously
- Existing or of your own creation
Step through code with example input
Abstract away logic into helper functions that you can write later
- Later, confirm if the interviewer still wants you to write them
Step 5: Test Code
REVIEW EVERYTHING
Carefully analyze bugs before fixing
Step 5: Optimize
Increase performance
Add error handling
Handle edge cases
- e.g. Empty input, input of size one, input with duplicates
Refactor into multiple functions
Step 6: Check with interviewer if you’re done