Technical Interview Readiness

7 out of 10 people lose their interview in the first 10 minutes, before the hiring manager even asks a question. But my clients used these exact strategies to land interviews at Google, Meta, and McKinsey. 1. Revisit the job description (but differently this time) Open the JD and ask yourself: → “Which 2 bullets here do I most want to speak to?” → “Which one am I least confident about?” Have a line or example ready for each. This keeps your answers relevant, not rehearsed. 2. Pull up the interviewer’s LinkedIn Check their background: → Where did they work before this? → Are they technical, business, or people-focused? Adapt your communication style accordingly. 3. Keep a metrics sheet next to you Open a one-pager that lists: → 3 projects → Key metrics (revenue impact, adoption, time savings) → Your specific role This avoids “uhh” moments when they ask for examples. 4. Have your browser tabs prepped like a cockpit Open just 3 tabs: → The JD → The company’s latest blog or product page (to drop a timely reference) → Your own resume (to scroll fast if needed) Prepare a 1-sentence summary for every job on your resume Not the tasks. The outcome. “If you had to explain what you achieved in 12 months — in one line — what would it be?” This builds clarity fast when they ask: “Walk me through your experience.” Reframe nervousness as a signal, not a threat Say this to yourself: “This isn’t fear, it’s energy. And I’m going to use it to stay sharp.” It shifts your focus from emotion to execution. Tactical prep beats positive thinking every time. Save this if you’ve got interviews lined up. Follow me for more practical tips on interviews, cracking the ATS, job search, and more! P.S. DM me if you are a tech professional in the U.S. looking to crack interviews and land high-paying jobs. Let's build a strategy that gets you there.

I’ve solved 300+ DSA questions, so I must be ready for interviews, right? That’s what my junior told me when we caught up recently. He’s in his 2nd year — excited, consistent, and grinding LeetCode daily. I smiled. Because I was him, a few years ago. So I asked, 👉 “How often do you practice interviews?” He paused. “Not really. I mean… isn’t solving DSA enough?” Here’s the hard truth no one tells you early enough: ✅ DSA builds problem-solving skills. ❌ But interviews test communication, structure, clarity, and confidence. It’s a different game. You’re expected to explain your thought process, structure your answers, and speak about projects with impact. And if you don’t practice that, you’ll feel underprepared — no matter how many problems you’ve solved. I shared this with him, and now I’m sharing this with you: 🧠 Start practicing interviews just like you practice DSA. 🎯 Be intentional. Be reflective. 🔁 Record yourself, use mock tools, and treat it like the real deal. And if you’re done with basic prep and ready to go beyond… We just started Chapter 8 of the System Design (DDIA) Series on YouTube. It’s not your usual textbook explanation — this is structured for real interviews, with analogies, case studies, and depth that actually makes you interview-ready. 🎥 Watch the DDIA System Design Playlist Here https://lnkd.in/gyd9wUBD Whether you’re aiming for internships, placements, or your next career move, now is the time to master system design — not just DSA. 💬 Let me know — have you ever felt confident with DSA but blanked out in an actual interview? Follow Aarchi Gandhi for more such insights :) #SystemDesign #DSA #MockInterviews #PlacementSeason #TechInterviews #DDIA #SoftwareEngineering #CrackTheInterview #aarchigandhi #YouTubeLearning #InterviewPreparation

Applying for jobs is tough, and interview preparation is even tougher. Having been through numerous interviews myself, I know the stress that comes with the preparation phase. So, how do you actually prepare for an interview? Let's clear up the basics: 1. Read the Job Description – Understand it! Don't just skim through it. Each word in the job description is there for a reason. Take the time to understand every line, and think about the questions they might form based on each point. For example, if it mentions "ability to work in a fast-paced environment," be ready to answer questions like, "Can you give an example of when you had to handle multiple tasks within a limited time frame?" You can even use ChatGPT to generate potential questions! When answering, use the STAR method: Situation: Describe the context within which you performed a task or faced a challenge. Task: Explain the actual task or goal you were working toward. Action: Detail the specific actions you took to address the situation. Result: Share the outcome of your actions. This method helps you structure your responses clearly and effectively. 2. Leverage Resources Like NodeFlair I recently came across a website called NodeFlair - Tech Salaries, Jobs & more It's a platform where professionals share the interview questions they were asked for similar roles, as well as information about expected salaries. This can be a game-changer in your preparation! By knowing what questions others have faced, you can better prepare and set realistic salary expectations. Besides tech roles, NodeFlair offers insights into a wide range of jobs, making it a valuable resource for any job seeker. You can explore company reviews, interview experiences, and salary data to help you be as prepared as possible! 3. Have Confidence Confidence is key in interviews. Even if you're unsure about a question, it's okay to ask for clarification or say, "I don't have direct experience in this area, but here's what I do know about it." It's not just about having the right answer—it's about how confidently you handle the question. Good luck with your interviews! You've got this! 🎯 #interviewpreparation #interviews

This is part 3 of how I spent 8 weeks job searching and landed several interviews and a new data role. I’m sharing exactly what I did in case even one part of it helps someone else. 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟯/𝟯: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗜 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 Interviewing is arguably the most stressful part of the job search (at least for me). I’m no interview expert - I get nervous, I ramble, and sometimes lose my train of thought, which is why preparation was everything. Here’s what helped me feel more confident going in: 📝 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽: • I picked the most impactful project from each of my roles and wrote it out in the STAR format (Situation, Task, Action, Result). This gave me a baseline story I could reuse across different questions. • I made a list of common behavioral questions (“Tell me about yourself,” “A time I drove business results,” “Why this company?”) and wrote bullet-point responses so I wouldn’t blank. • I asked ChatGPT to generate behavioral interview questions based on the job description, plus tips on how to answer. It gave me specific practice questions that I wouldn’t have thought of myself. • I typed out my answers, then practiced saying them out loud so I wouldn’t stumble as much in the moment. • I also found Madeline Mann's content very insightful! She shares how to interview better and why you may not be getting selected. Definitely worth a follow! 📊 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽: • I reached out to the recruiter/interviewer when possible and asked for specific topics that would show up on the technical interview. • I asked ChatGPT to generate technical interview questions based on the job description, plus an answer key. • I practiced SQL challenges daily, and my favorite resource was Data Lemur by Nick Singh 📕🐒 🖊️ 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄-𝘂𝗽: • I always followed up after each interview with a short note to thank them for their time and to express my interest in the role. It’s simple, but it goes a long way in leaving a positive impression. All this didn’t make me a flawless interviewer, but it gave me structure, confidence, and the space to be myself. If you found this series valuable, connect with me! I’ll continue sharing my journey through data and would love to connect with others along the way! 🚀 #DataAnalytics #JobSearch #CareerAdvice #InterviewTips

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐈 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐃𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 👩💻 During my Dassault Systèmes interview, I learned a crucial lesson that transformed the way I approach technical challenges—I wasn’t asking enough clarifying questions. Here’s what happened: In one of the technical rounds, I was given a problem that seemed straightforward. Confident in my ability, I immediately started coding without fully understanding the problem's nuances and requirements. Partway through, my solution started to fail, and I realized I had missed a critical detail in the problem statement. Fortunately, the interviewers were understanding and encouraged me to pause, ask questions, and reevaluate my approach. With their feedback, I clarified the requirements, adjusted my logic, and was able to complete the task successfully. This experience taught me that technical interviews at companies like Dassault Systèmes aren’t just about solving problems—they’re about demonstrating effective communication, logical thinking, and adaptability under pressure. Here’s my advice for anyone preparing for a technical interview: 👉 Understand the Problem Completely: Take a moment to ask clarifying questions before diving into a solution. It can save time and effort later. 👉 Communicate Clearly: Talk through your thought process and explain your reasoning. It allows the interviewer to understand your approach and guide you if needed. 👉 Practice Mock Interviews: Mock interviews are essential for improving your ability to handle pressure, articulate your ideas, and ask the right questions. If you’re looking for structured guidance in your interview preparation, Learnbay can help you: ✔️ Master DSA, System Design, and Core Development Skills through live interactive sessions. ✔️ Work on Industry-Specific Projects to enhance your practical expertise. ✔️ Practice Mock Interviews and Optimize Your Resume with help from experts. Learn directly from mentors who’ve succeeded at top companies, including Dassault Systèmes: https://bit.ly/4iX5kkp Let’s work together to ace that next interview! #interview #learnbay

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽: 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴! If you’re waiting to feel 𝟭𝟬𝟬% 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 before an interview, here’s the hard truth I learned from my brother: you’ll never feel fully prepared. There will always be more resources to read, more Leetcode questions to practice, and more topics to explore. But here’s what I’ve learned—𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻; 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲. Spend 50% of your time preparing and the other 50% doing mock interviews. Give at least 1 mock interview every day before your interview. Personally, I’ve been using Exponent for my mock interviews. They have options for different topics, like Product Management, System Design, DSA, Behavioral, SQL, and Data Science & ML. You get paired with peers who help you practice in a realistic, low-pressure setting. Mock interviews not only sharpen your skills but, more importantly, build the confidence you need when it matters most. Mock interviews have taught me how to communicate my thought process clearly, handle unexpected questions, and most importantly stay calm under pressure. So, if you’re preparing for an interview, my advice is: don’t just prepare—practice! That confidence boost can be your secret weapon in the hot seat. What’s your go-to strategy for interview prep? Let me know in the comments!