Round 1: 1st Onsite Round (9th September)
Questions:
Question
- The first question was related to n-ary trees, which could be solved using DFS and backtracking.
- The follow-up question involved converting the n-ary tree into a graph, leading to a union-find problem.
- We also discussed the implementation of Kosaraju's Algorithm.
Candidate's Approach
- Discussed the solution and coded it within 10 minutes for the first question.
- Coded the union-find solution in about 15 minutes.
- Engaged in a discussion about the implementation of Kosaraju's Algorithm.
Interviewer's Feedback
- Feedback from this interview was very positive.
Round 2: 2nd Onsite Round (11th September)
Questions:
Question
- The first question was related to graphs and DP, involving a matrix where water starts falling from each point, and the task was to find the point where the water would get stored.
- The follow-up question involved storing the list of points where the water would be collected.
Candidate's Approach
- Applied DFS and DP for the first question, completing the implementation in around 15 minutes.
- Used maps to store values for the follow-up question and completed the code within the next 10 minutes.
- Corrected a redundancy in the code during the discussion and analyzed the time and space complexity.
Interviewer's Feedback
- No specific feedback provided.
Round 3: 3rd Onsite Round (30th September)
Questions:
Question
- The question was related to binary search, where we had to find pivot elements in an array containing duplicates.
Candidate's Approach
- Struggled during this round and made several mistakes in the implementation.
- Each time thought the code was correct, but missed edge cases pointed out by the interviewer.
Interviewer's Feedback
- The interviewer appreciated the candidate's interaction and discussion of ideas despite the challenges.
Round 4: 4th Onsite Round (Googliness)
Questions:
Question
- Discussed various scenarios and how the candidate would respond to them in the context of working at Google.
Candidate's Approach
- Confidently answered all questions using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) pattern.
Interviewer's Feedback
- No specific feedback provided.
Team Matching Round 1 (15th October)
Questions:
- Discussed the team’s work and the candidate's past projects.
Candidate's Approach
- Felt confident about the round.
Interviewer's Feedback
- The manager put the candidate's profile on hold as he was still considering other candidates.
Team Matching Round 2 (15th November)
Questions:
- Discussed the team’s work and the candidate's past projects.
Candidate's Approach
- Found the team's work interesting and aligned with personal interests.
Interviewer's Feedback
- The manager wanted to move forward with the candidate's profile.
Final Outcome
- Passed the HC review and signed the offer letter on 26th November.
My Key Learnings:
- Patience is key; Google's hiring process takes time.
- One bad day isn’t the end; keep working hard.
- Consistency matters; practice consistently to stay prepared.