Overview
Tech interviews are notoriously challenging, but with the right preparation strategy, you can significantly improve your chances. This 4-week plan is designed for new graduates and career changers targeting software engineering roles.
4-Week Plan Overview
Time Commitment
This plan assumes 3-4 hours of daily practice. If you have less time, extend the timeline proportionally. Consistency matters more than intensity.
Types of Tech Interviews
Understanding what to expect helps you prepare effectively. Most tech interviews include a combination of these formats:
Coding Interview
45-60 minSolve 1-2 algorithmic problems while explaining your thought process
Common at: All tech companies
System Design
45-60 minDesign a large-scale distributed system (usually for mid-senior roles)
Common at: FAANG, Large Tech
Behavioral
30-45 minDiscuss past experiences using STAR method
Common at: All companies
Technical Deep Dive
45-60 minDeep discussion about a past project or technical topic
Common at: Startups, Some FAANG
1Week 1: Data Structure Foundations
Build a solid foundation with the most commonly tested data structures. Focus on understanding when and why to use each structure.
Arrays & Strings
- Two pointers
- Sliding window
- Prefix sums
- String manipulation
- Two Sum
- Valid Anagram
- Maximum Subarray
- Longest Substring Without Repeating Characters
Hash Tables
- Hash functions
- Collision handling
- Frequency counting
- Caching
- Group Anagrams
- Top K Frequent Elements
- LRU Cache
- Subarray Sum Equals K
Linked Lists
- Traversal
- Two pointers
- Dummy nodes
- Cycle detection
- Reverse Linked List
- Merge Two Sorted Lists
- Linked List Cycle
- Remove Nth Node From End
Review & Practice
- Review weak areas
- Time yourself
- Practice explaining solutions
- Mix of above topics
- Focus on medium difficulty
2Week 2: Core Algorithms
Tackle more complex data structures and algorithmic patterns. These topics appear frequently in technical interviews.
Trees & BST
- Traversals (BFS/DFS)
- Recursion
- BST properties
- Tree construction
- Maximum Depth of Binary Tree
- Validate BST
- Lowest Common Ancestor
- Binary Tree Level Order Traversal
Graphs
- BFS
- DFS
- Topological sort
- Union Find
- Number of Islands
- Clone Graph
- Course Schedule
- Pacific Atlantic Water Flow
Dynamic Programming
- Memoization
- Tabulation
- State transitions
- Optimization
- Climbing Stairs
- Coin Change
- Longest Increasing Subsequence
- House Robber
Review & Practice
- Identify patterns
- Practice under time pressure
- Review solutions
- Mix of trees, graphs, DP
- Focus on recognizing patterns
3Week 3: System Design
System design is crucial for mid-level+ roles but understanding the basics helps even new grads stand out.
System Design Fundamentals
- Load balancing
- Caching
- Database sharding
- CAP theorem
- Design a URL shortener
- Design a rate limiter
Distributed Systems
- Consistency models
- Replication
- Partitioning
- Message queues
- Design Twitter feed
- Design a chat system
Real-World Systems
- Microservices
- API design
- Monitoring
- Security
- Design Instagram
- Design Uber
Practice Presentations
- Structure your answer
- Draw diagrams
- Discuss trade-offs
- Time yourself (45 min)
- Practice with a friend
4Week 4: Mock Interviews & Final Prep
The final week focuses on simulation and refinement. Practice under realistic conditions to build confidence.
Mock Coding Interviews
- Schedule mock interviews on Pramp or interviewing.io
- Practice with friends
- Record yourself and review
Behavioral Preparation
- Prepare 8-10 STAR stories
- Practice Amazon Leadership Principles
- Research company values
Company-Specific Prep
- Review Glassdoor interview questions
- Study company's tech stack
- Prepare questions to ask
Rest & Light Review
- Light review of weak areas
- Get good sleep
- Prepare logistics for interview day
Best Resources
Quality resources make a huge difference. Here are the most recommended tools and platforms for tech interview prep: