How to Turn Interviews into Offers. Advice from Senior FAANG SWEs.

Experienced software engineers are getting job offers at a 0.8% to 2% rate (Devrim, DesignGurus).

Let me explain.

Candidates apply to hundreds of jobs: 100, 200, 300, or more jobs. Then, they get several call-backs for interviews. Devrim applied to 347 and got 8 callbacks. That’s 2.8% with past industry experience.

And then devs fail most of those interviews they get. After many months, they may get their first offer. This is actually a happy story I am describing. Some candidates don’t have this much success.

In April, I sat down with about 20 candidates who were still job hunting. They needed help.

Many still have not figured out how to pass the few interviews they get. And when the company doesn’t give feedback, it leaves you wondering what went wrong.

You may follow up with the recruiter or interviewer, and you don’t hear back. 

This is a painful process. It can make you question your abilities. And think about switching careers. 

But I promise, there is a realistic solution. 

I'm a FAANG SWE and college CS instructor. I thought I was prepared.

Then I took mock interviews with a senior FAANG engineer. I was shocked by how little I actually knew.

I had to relearn algorithms and patterns to reliably solve LeetCode problems.

It humbled me. But it was a needed reality check. After months of prep, I was consistently passing mock interviews I would have failed before.

Two reasons we fail interviews.

Speaking with recruiters taught me a lot about success in the interview process.

We all fail interviews for two core reasons:

1. You are not fully prepared.

2. The role or company wasn't a good fit for you.

You can control being prepared for the interview. The other, not as much. I will focus on preparation.

The interview process is more difficult than it was years ago. 

Even junior devs are doing 150+ LeetCode problems to be successful. 

The interview process is more difficult because:

• Top candidates are job searching too

• Increased interview rounds

• Interviews cover LeetCode medium and sometimes hard

• System design for early and mid-level is common

But that doesn’t stop us from being prepared. It just changes the way we prepare.

How to prepare for interviews:

1. Learn patterns of the top 150 to 200 core LeetCode problems

2. Study for system design

3. Do mock interviews

4. Prepare for behavioral interviews

Leetcode

It’s not just about solving the LeetCode Blind 150. You need to understand the patterns so you can solve them again in live interviews.

Focus on understanding the data structures, algorithms, and patterns needed to solve LeetCode Blind 150, which covers most of the basic topics in modern technical interviews.

There’s no better way to test your knowledge than live mock interviews or interviews at your non-dream company. 

Test Before Your Dream Company Interview

Focus on becoming fully prepared by training with mock interviews and self-study. I met with two candidates; one lacked understanding, and one lacked mock practice.

The first candidate interviewed at Amazon twice and failed. 

He solved 500 LeetCode problems. But he did not understand the patterns, data structures, or algorithms, which are most important. 

The other person interviewed at FAANG solved the problem correctly. But still no offer. She knew the material but rushed the process because she never mock-interviewed with a real person. 

You must do both.

System Design

Yes, you have to spend time learning system design. I recommend that early-career devs start getting familiar with concepts for system design too. HelloInterview is a great resource for this, along with mock interviews.

Prepare Then Apply

I actually used to preach applying first. Then I realized, studying and understanding can take a while, especially now. Usually, weeks to months, depending on your starting point. 

I sat down with two senior engineers at  FAANG and Big Tech companies. They both took months to study thoroughly. It made the difference.

If you have the right strategy to get interview callbacks and are prepared, you will get offers at a high rate. I will drop another article on that. 

Behavior Interview

That also means having your behavioral interview and work experience down pact. This is the silent killer. It’s hard to remember what work you did if you have been out of work for a while.

Reviewing and practicing this well helps. Along with knowing the values of the company

Summary

• Engineers are getting offers at 0.8% to 2%.

• Engineers fail for two reasons: 1) not prepared, and  2) not a fit for the role.

• Focus on being prepared.

• Thoroughly understand the technical material covered in interviews.

• Prepare before applying.

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