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Rejected

L3 (SDE) at Google

Difficulty
Process took
3-4 Weeks
Rounds
5
Format
Remote
Applied via
Company Website

How it went

  • Edge cases first: Before coding, quickly think about tricky inputs.
  • Dry run always: Even a small test can save you from major mistakes.
  • Explain your thought process: Structured problem-solving matters more than rushing to code.

What they would tell you

  • Edge cases first: Before coding, quickly think about tricky inputs.
  • Dry run always: Even a small test can save you from major mistakes.
  • Explain your thought process: Structured problem-solving matters more than rushing to code.

How to prepare

My advice:

  • Always clarify the problem and discuss edge cases upfront. It helps show your thought process, even if you stumble on implementation.
  • Use STAR format and prepare stories that show impact, ownership, and learning. Google focuses heavily on collaboration and mindset.

Round by round

  1. 1

    Phone screen Round60 min

    This round was scheduled for Feb 4th. We began with brief introductions, the coding task, find the smallest letter strictly greater than a target. I solved the task. I explained the approach and complexity, implemented it, and dry run.

  2. 2

    Technical Round 160 min

    Again with quick introductions.My task was Given two strings a and b, build a new string by alternating characters starting with the shorter string. If one string finishes first, append the remaining characters of the other. Return the result.

  3. 3

    Technical Round 260 min

    This round focused on Stack problem and I fumbled.I did well on clarifying questions and edge cases, but my chosen approach was off. Verdict: No Hire

  4. 4

    Technical Round 360 min

    The third on-site round on March 5th, I solved similar problem like Task Scheduler,The interviewer then gave a follow-up question , which I explained and implemented correctly. A second problem on valid palindrome checking with at most one deletion was also solved successfully, the interviewer seemed impressed.

  5. 5

    Googleyness60 min

    Finally, the fourth round on March 11th focused on Googleyness and behavioral questions, covering teamwork, manager feedback, adapting to changing priorities, and project experiences.

What came up

MediumRemote1 2 years

A candidate-reported account, lightly edited. Interview processes change by team and date.

Sources

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