How to Prepare for a Technical Interview

Technical Interview Prep Guide

A structured plan to prepare for coding interviews at any company, from startups to FAANG.

Step 1: Master Data Structures & Algorithms

• Arrays, hash maps, linked lists, trees, graphs.
• Sorting, searching, recursion, DP.

Step 2: Practice on LeetCode

Solve problems by pattern (two pointers, sliding window, BFS/DFS). Aim for the "Blind 75."

Step 3: Learn System Design

For mid/senior roles — study scalability, databases, caching, load balancing.

Step 4: Prepare Behavioral Answers

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for stories about your experience.

Step 5: Do Mock Interviews

Practice on Pramp or with peers — talking through problems aloud is a skill.

The Interview Day

• Clarify the problem before coding.
• Think out loud.
• Start with brute force, then optimize.
• Test your solution with examples.

Timeline

Weeks	Focus
1-6	DSA + LeetCode
7-9	System design
10-12	Mock interviews

FAQs

How long to prepare?

2-3 months for most; longer for FAANG. More in our interview prep guides.

What if I get stuck?

Communicate your thoughts — interviewers value problem-solving approach.