When Paden Gayle went into his first actual spherical of tech interviews in 2020, he “failed horribly.”
“I assumed I would just must know tips on how to code, like, ‘Hey World,’ and I am going to get the job,” he mentioned. “I type of went in there blind, after which I noticed, oh, I do not know something.”
Gayle interviewed for full-time software program engineering roles for X, previously Twitter, and Bloomberg, in addition to an apprenticeship program for Google. He was rejected by all of them.
The next yr, he interviewed once more for seven corporations. This time, he acquired six provides — however Google as soon as once more rejected him for an entry-level place. Gayle mentioned since he had scheduled his interview with Google to make sure probably the most prep time, it was seemingly a mix of fatigue and nervousness that led to the failed consequence.
He then accepted the entry-level software program engineering function at Bloomberg, the place he remained for 3 years.
This yr, although, Gayle lastly obtained his Google redemption and acquired a proposal for an L4 software program engineering function.
This is a few of his greatest recommendation for touchdown a coding gig at a tech big like Google.
Examine the basics
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Earlier than you be taught calculus, it’s important to perceive addition and subtraction. Gayle mentioned that coding wants the identical mastery of the fundamentals to be able to reach extra difficult interview questions.
After his failed first try at tech interviews in 2020, Gayle mentioned he went again to “actually crack down on the basics of the issues.”
“So if an interviewer did ask me a query that I wasn’t accustomed to, I might nonetheless have the background data to work my method as much as an answer,” he mentioned. “In order that was actually my technique in 2021: to ensure I might have the ability to land a proposal. And fortunately, I landed six.”
Gayle advisable training issues utilizing coding interview prep web sites like HackerRank or LeetCode, a preferred platform amongst software program builders.
Nonetheless, he mentioned the most important mistake individuals make of their preparation is specializing in the variety of issues they are going to resolve as a substitute of understanding the reasoning behind them.
“If somebody asks you to resolve a query utilizing Algorithm A, be sure you perceive why you are utilizing Algorithm A, and have the ability to clarify what are the tradeoffs of it,” he mentioned. “Why are you selecting this one over a unique algorithm?”
With LeetCode changing into so ubiquitous amongst builders, tech corporations are additionally starting to catch on. Gayle mentioned the probabilities of seeing an issue from these websites have gotten more and more low, which causes some individuals to panic.
For his Google interview, Gayle mentioned that when he first acquired his questions, he had no concept the place to start out. As an alternative, he requested for a minute to look by means of the issue and dissect what abilities can be wanted and why.
“I took that 30 seconds, and I am like, ‘Okay, this appears to be like like I have to do a binary search right here, or I have to do DFS right here,'” he mentioned.
Gayle recommends doing mock interviews and LeetCode competitions, the place builders are given issues which might be typically new to the location, to be able to get snug with questions you’ve got by no means seen earlier than.
“As a result of on the finish of the day, with these tech interviews, half of it’s technical, however then additionally that different half is the communication half,” he mentioned. “That is additionally one thing that I discover lots of people, even once I was doing interviews at Bloomberg, did disintegrate in.”
Begin early
“I like to inform individuals, interviewing, job looking, all of it — it isn’t a dash,” Gayle mentioned. “It is actually only a marathon, and that is additionally in your preparation.”
Keep in mind that it is OK to really feel out alternatives whereas nonetheless employed. But it surely’s additionally essential to be real looking in regards to the present job local weather. Gayle mentioned that whereas job-hunting, he made positive to reign in his expectations about getting a proposal.
“I really feel like lots of people have this assumption that 2021 tech is the way it ought to have been. It is like everybody was getting a proposal, and when you did not get one, it was bizarre,” he mentioned. “So once I was interviewing this yr, I advised myself, do not have that expectation.”
He added, “It actually eased the stress to, oh, let me simply see what’s on the market and if one thing occurs. And that is how Google turned up.”
In 2023, Gayle linked with a Google recruiter a few months earlier than having to cease the method resulting from a hiring freeze.
Lockdowns on hirings and sweeping layoffs have run rampant throughout a number of corporations over the previous yr, leaving many employees feeling discouraged from discovering alternatives. Other than the worst of the COVID-19 lockdown, US employers are extending job provides on the lowest quantity since 2014, Enterprise Insider beforehand reported.
Nonetheless, Gayle and his recruiter continued to remain in contact till he was invited to interview a yr later. Regardless of the slumping job market, he mentioned you need to nonetheless repeatedly put together for interviews so that you just’re not “ranging from zero” when jobs start to open up once more.
“In case you’re not prepping for tomorrow, prep for a yr from now,” he mentioned. “So when corporations do begin hiring, you are prepared, versus the individual saying, ‘Oh, this market’s dangerous, so I am not going to prep now.'”
Fairly than condensing a excessive quantity of finding out into a short while span, Gayle recommends a gradual re-introduction of abilities and observe — like doing one LeetCode downside a day for a number of months.
“That small repetition can assist construct your tolerance to LeetCode and never burn you out whereas additionally sustaining the data,” he mentioned.
Make and preserve ‘actual’ connections
When Gayle introduced by way of a LinkedIn submit about becoming a member of Google, which garnered over 8,000 interactions, he acquired a number of messages, most of which instantly requested for a referral.
He mentioned solely round 30% talked about his earlier work or launched different connections — and people have been the messages he tried to answer.
“This individual not less than put in additional than 10 seconds of effort to have a look at my profile and perceive what I used to be doing beforehand,” he mentioned. “So I am going to give them the respect to achieve again out to them.”
Gayle mentioned that in the end, “persons are individuals” — together with recruiters. So, attempting to make extra human connections will seemingly aid you stand out and keep in contact.
“My recruiter, Karen, on our first dialog, we hit it off speaking about music — one thing quite simple,” he mentioned. “So anytime we linked, we made just a little remark or joke about that.”
Gayle mentioned he would primarily attain out to individuals by means of LinkedIn, but additionally at in-person networking conferences. He mentioned to hunt out conferences inside particular communities you determine with, like NSBE or AfroTech when you’re Black, the Grace Hopper Program for ladies, and Out In Tech for the LGBTQ+ group.
“Discover a Discord server, discover a subreddit, discover a group in LinkedIn the place you type of resonate with what they discuss,” he mentioned. “As a result of there’s lots of people searching for a connection, particularly in tech, since it may be type of isolating.”
