Mastering LeetCode-Style Coding Interviews: An Interviewer's Perspective
Anthony D. Mays, a tech professional, shares insights into acing LeetCode-style coding interviews from the perspective of an interviewer. He emphasizes that a successful interview goes beyond simply knowing the answers.
Common LeetCode Mistakes
Memorization is Not the Answer
Many candidates incorrectly approach LeetCode by focusing on memorizing solutions. This strategy is ineffective because interviewers rarely use problems directly from LeetCode. Instead, they seek to assess your problem-solving skills on unfamiliar challenges.
Prioritize Pattern Recognition
Instead of memorizing specific solutions, focus on understanding underlying patterns. These patterns are transferable and will enable you to tackle novel problems more effectively. Mastering patterns allows you to adapt your knowledge to different contexts.
Avoiding AI Over-Reliance
Be cautious of over-relying on AI tools for solutions. Overdependence may lead to a resurgence of traditional whiteboard coding interviews, which demand genuine problem-solving abilities.
What Interviewers Really Want
Beyond the Right Answer
Interviewers are more interested in how you arrive at the solution than the solution itself. They need to understand your thought process, communication skills, and how you handle challenges. Providing the correct answer without demonstrating your problem-solving approach is unhelpful.
Embrace Getting Stuck
Getting stuck during an interview is normal and even expected. It's an opportunity to showcase your resilience and problem-solving strategies. Interviewers want to see how you approach and overcome obstacles.
Information Gathering is Key
Unlike LeetCode practice, interviewers often don't provide the complete problem statement upfront. It's crucial to actively ask clarifying questions to gather all necessary information. Don't expect the interviewer to volunteer details; take initiative to define the problem scope. Document the details that the interviewer has mentioned.
The Interviewer's Role: Helping You Succeed
Interviewers are on Your Side
Despite appearing intimidating, interviewers generally want you to succeed. They are there to assist you, so don't hesitate to ask questions and engage in a dialogue.
Asking the Right Questions
While there are no inherently "dumb" questions, asking questions that demonstrate a lack of attention or basic understanding can be detrimental. Pay close attention to the interviewer's initial explanation to avoid unnecessary inquiries.
Don't Rush into Coding
Avoid immediately typing out code after hearing the problem statement. Take the time to ask clarifying questions and fully understand the requirements before coding.
Leveraging Your Knowledge
Utilize your knowledge of algorithms, data structures, and Big O notation to formulate informed questions and narrow down potential solutions.
Brainstorm and Seek Guidance
If you have multiple potential solutions, it's perfectly acceptable to ask the interviewer which approach they prefer. This demonstrates your thoughtfulness and can save valuable time.
Multiple Solutions
If you can't come up with a better solution, it is okay to implement the naive solution. But, stop and think about the multiple ways of solving the problem first.