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Mastering the Software Engineering Interview

Mia Minnes, Leo Porter, and Christine Alvarado

You’ve hit a major milestone as a computer scientist and are becoming a capable programmer. You now know how to solve problems, write algorithms, and analyze solutions; and you have a wealth of tools (like data structures) at your disposal. You may now be ready for an internship or (possibly) an entry-level software engineering job. But can you land the internship/job? It depends in part on how well you can solve new technical problems and communicate during interviews. How can you get better at this? Practice!

With the support of Google’s recruiting and engineering teams we’ve provided tips, examples, and practice opportunities in this course that may help you with a number of tech companies. We’ll assist you to organize into teams to practice. Lastly, we’ll give you basic job search advice, and tips for succeeding once you’re on the job.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Welcome & What is a Software Engineering Interview?

Welcome to our course on effectively communicating your technical abilities. This course focuses on landing a technical job and excelling in a technical role. To succeed in job interviews, you’ll need to be able to confidently articulate your ability to solve challenging problems and come up with new solutions under potentially stressful conditions. After getting a technical job, the role of communication increases even more. You’ll need to work with other members of the team, communicate technical challenges and successes, and potentially sell the value of your work to those outside the company. Our goal is that by the end of this course each and every one of you understands the importance of technical communication, and has received constructive feedback on areas of potential improvement. In achieving this goal you will also learn about algorithmic thinking on the fly, how to evaluate a good interview answer to a difficult technical problem, and how “soft” skills impact interview outcomes. In this module, we’ll begin to see what a technical interview looks like, from the perspective of a major tech company. We’ll then focus on how to best get the interview in the first place. If you're not in the job market right now, you might want to skim the videos in this module and skip ahead to the Resume Critique (for insights about how to present yourself in writing) or the Introductions assignment (on effectively presenting yourself in person).

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Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Develops technical communication skills, namely soft skills that are essential for on-the-job success

Examines different types of technical interview questions, including behavioral, whiteboard, and phone interviews

Teaches the STAR method for presenting work experience and problem-solving skills in a clear and concise manner

Develops skills in algorithmic thinking and live problem-solving using a systematic approach

Taught by instructors from Google, providing insights and practical tips from industry experts

Emphasizes the importance of job search strategies and interview preparation, providing a holistic approach to career development

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Reviews summary

Mastering the software engineering interview

According to learners, this course is a highly valuable resource for preparing for software engineering interviews. Students praise its structured approach and the way it covers essential aspects of the interview process, including live coding, algorithmic problem-solving, and explaining past projects using the STAR method. Many found the practice opportunities and peer review system particularly helpful for gaining confidence and receiving constructive feedback. While some noted the intensity of the material or the difficulty of certain assignments, the overwhelming sentiment is that the course provides a solid foundation and practical skills directly applicable to landing a technical job, making it a worthwhile investment.

Effective technique for explaining projects.

"The STAR method was a game-changer for structuring my project descriptions."

"It gave me a clear framework for discussing my past work experiences."

"Now I feel much more confident talking about my projects in behavioral interviews."

"Learned how to highlight my contributions and results using the STAR format."

Hands-on practice and review system helpful.

"The practice assignments and peer review system were invaluable for getting feedback."

"Reviewing others' work and getting reviews on mine was very insightful."

"This interactive component truly enhanced the learning experience and built confidence."

"The mock interview practice helped me identify areas for improvement."

Strong focus on coding and problem-solving.

"The sections on live coding and algorithmic thinking were particularly useful."

"Gained practical experience with challenging problems often seen in interviews."

"The 6-step process for algorithmic problems was incredibly helpful."

"Improved my ability to code under pressure during simulated interviews."

Covers key aspects of the tech interview.

"This course was a very valuable resource for preparing for software engineering interviews."

"I really appreciated the structured way the course broke down the different parts of a technical interview."

"It provided a clear roadmap for tackling various interview challenges."

"Learned how to handle live coding and explain technical concepts effectively."

Requires significant time and effort.

"This course is challenging and demands a significant time commitment."

"Be prepared for a lot of practice and detailed assignments."

"It's not a lightweight course; you need to put in the work."

"Some assignments felt quite intensive and took longer than expected."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Mastering the Software Engineering Interview with these activities:

Review basics of algorithms

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Refresh your understanding of basic algorithms and data structures to prepare for the course.

Browse courses on Algorithms

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Review notes or textbooks from previous courses.
Solve practice problems on sites like LeetCode or HackerRank.

Review Cracking the Coding Interview

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Read this classic book to gain insights into coding interviews and practice your problem-solving skills.

View Cracking the Coding Interview: 189 Programming... on Amazon

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Read through the chapters on algorithms and data structures.
Solve the practice problems at the end of each chapter.

Organize course materials

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Get organized for the course by compiling all materials in one place.

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Create a folder or notebook for all course materials.
Gather and organize notes, assignments, quizzes, and exams.

Six other activities

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Show all nine activities

Attend study sessions

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Join study sessions with peers to discuss course topics and practice problem-solving.

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Find a study group or organize one with classmates.
Meet regularly to discuss course material and work on assignments together.

Practice coding live

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Improve your coding skills by practicing live coding.

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Find a coding partner or join a study group.
Practice coding problems together and discuss solutions.
Use online platforms like CodinGame or HackerEarth for live coding challenges.

Attend coding workshops

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Attend workshops related to the course topics to gain practical experience and learn from experts.

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Find coding workshops offered by universities, companies, or online platforms.
Register for workshops that align with your interests and learning goals.
Attend the workshops and actively participate in the activities.

Develop a personal portfolio

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Create a portfolio of your technical projects to showcase your skills to potential employers.

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Gather your best coding projects.
Create a website or online portfolio to showcase your projects.
Include a resume, cover letter, and any other relevant materials.

Create a technical blog

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Write blog posts about technical topics to solidify your understanding and share your knowledge.

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Choose a topic related to the course material.
Research and write a detailed blog post on the topic.
Share your blog post with others and get feedback.

Participate in coding competitions

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Challenge yourself and test your skills by participating in coding competitions.

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Find coding competitions on platforms like Codeforces, HackerRank, or LeetCode.
Register for the competitions and compete against other participants.
Analyze your performance and identify areas for improvement.

Career center

Learners who complete Mastering the Software Engineering Interview will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, test, and deploy computer software. This course may be useful to a Software Engineer by teaching how to articulate problem-solving skills and solutions under stressful conditions. An understanding of algorithmic thinking, whiteboard problem-solving, and communication strategies are also covered in this course and can be helpful to a Software Engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Web Developer

Web Developers use programming languages and markup to create websites. A course that focuses on solving technical problems and communicating solutions may assist a Web Developer in improving how they approach building and designing websites. This course also provides practice in coding on the fly which can be helpful when debugging and resolving issues on a website.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer

Computer Programmer

Computer Programmers write and test code that allows computer applications and software programs to run. This course may be useful to a Computer Programmer by providing practice in analyzing solutions and coding on the fly. The course also covers how to effectively communicate technical abilities, which can be useful when working with other programmers and stakeholders.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Programmer

Systems Analyst

Systems Analysts study an organization's current business processes to define their needs. This course can be helpful for Systems Analysts by providing practice in analyzing problems and developing solutions. The course also covers different methods for presenting solutions, which can be useful when working with stakeholders.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Analyst

Database Administrator

Database Administrators maintain and administer databases, ensuring that they are running efficiently and securely. This course can be helpful for Database Administrators by providing practice in analyzing problems and developing solutions. The course also covers effective communication methods, which can be helpful in communicating with stakeholders about database issues.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator

Network Administrator

Network Administrators maintain and administer computer networks, ensuring that they are running efficiently and securely. This course may be useful for a Network Administrator by providing practice in analyzing problems and developing solutions. The course also covers effective communication strategies, which can be useful in communicating with stakeholders about technical issues.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Administrator

Quality Assurance Analyst

Quality Assurance Analysts test software to identify defects and ensure that it meets quality standards. This course can be helpful to a Quality Assurance Analyst by providing practice in analyzing problems and developing solutions. The course also covers effective communication strategies, which can be useful in communicating with stakeholders about software defects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Analyst

Technical Writer

Technical Writers create instruction manuals, technical reports, and other documentation to explain complex technical information. This course can be useful for a Technical Writer by providing practice in analyzing problems, developing solutions, and communicating technical information effectively. The course also covers algorithmic thinking, which can be helpful in understanding the technical concepts that need to be explained.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Information Security Analyst

Information Security Analysts plan and implement security measures to protect an organization's computer systems and networks. This course can be helpful for an Information Security Analyst by providing practice in analyzing problems and developing solutions. The course also covers effective communication strategies, which can be helpful when working with stakeholders to implement security measures.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst

Data Scientist

Data Scientists use scientific methods, processes, algorithms, and systems to extract knowledge and insights from data in various forms, both structured and unstructured. This course can be helpful for a Data Scientist by providing practice in analyzing problems, developing solutions, and communicating technical information effectively. The course also covers algorithmic thinking, which can be helpful in understanding the data analysis techniques that need to be used.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Software Architect

Software Architects design, build, and maintain the overall architecture of software systems. This course can be helpful for a Software Architect by providing practice in analyzing problems, developing solutions, and communicating technical information effectively. The course also covers algorithmic thinking, which can be helpful in understanding the design principles that need to be used.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Architect

Computer Systems Analyst

Computer Systems Analysts study an organization's current business processes to define their needs and design and implement computer systems to meet those needs. This course can be helpful for a Computer Systems Analyst by providing practice in analyzing problems, developing solutions, and communicating technical information effectively. The course also covers algorithmic thinking, which can be helpful in understanding the system design techniques that need to be used.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Systems Analyst

IT Project Manager

IT Project Managers plan, execute, and close IT projects. This course can be helpful for an IT Project Manager by providing practice in analyzing problems, developing solutions, and communicating technical information effectively. The course also covers effective communication strategies, which can be useful in communicating with stakeholders about project progress and issues.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Project Manager

Database Manager

Database Managers plan, implement, and maintain database systems to ensure that they are running efficiently and securely. This course can be helpful for a Database Manager by providing practice in analyzing problems, developing solutions, and communicating technical information effectively. The course also covers algorithmic thinking, which can be helpful in understanding the database design techniques that need to be used.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Manager

Information Systems Manager

Information Systems Managers plan, implement, and maintain information systems to ensure that they are meeting the needs of the organization. This course can be helpful for an Information Systems Manager by providing practice in analyzing problems, developing solutions, and communicating technical information effectively. The course also covers effective communication strategies, which can be useful in communicating with stakeholders about information systems needs and issues.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Systems Manager

Reading list

We've selected 39 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Mastering the Software Engineering Interview.

Cracking the Coding Interview

Save

Classic guide to preparing for coding interviews, and it is highly recommended for anyone who is serious about getting a job as a software engineer.

Mastering the Software Engineering Interview

Here's a deal for you

What's inside

Syllabus

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Save this course

Reviews summary

Mastering the software engineering interview

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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