[f0rfun]

The last time I had a chat with someone from a FANNG like company, the consensus was that it would not be unreasonable to be grinding algo/leetcode for 6 months to ace that FAANG interview.

However, my personal experience with a tech interviewer at FAANG is that the technical interview holds the same weight as other non-technical rounds (not sure if he's BSing me) and for good reasons. He is aware how broken coding interviews are but to be fair to FAANGs, they don't have a shortage of good applicants. The only way they can sieve/filter fast enough is as such. He is also acutely aware there are good engineers that they may lose simply because they can't perform during live coding but it's a trade-off atm. There just isn't a perfect solution. And he also reminded me that there are many applicants who didn't make it at first try only to succeed on Nth attempt. They don't discriminate applicants who retry and generally see it as a positive trait (grit and interest in company).

On this note, you'll have to ask yourself if investing 6 months to a year is worth the effort of acing only 1 part of the interview? Also, why FANNG? Introspect. Is it just for the brand on your resume? You ready to be a cog in a giant machine? Or it's genuine interest in their work or you need that paycheck? If so, go for it.

How about startups around your area?

[tundratoys]

To be clear, I am looking for Engineering Manager position. It’s already hard to get response from companies. Even smaller companies (50 to 250 people) in Bay Area have adopted to this style of interviewing. It’s no longer just FAANG who do this kind of interviews. That makes it super frustrating.

[f0rfun]

Yeah, everyone's thinking they are the next FAANG and they need to copycat their interview style. Coupled with the fact it's so easy to outsource technical interviews to leetcode/hackerrank, they'd be thinking why not?

Well, you might really have to play that game if you do come across THAT company which you are really interested in and they unfortunately, practice leetcode style interviews. Then you'd be glad you are already prepared for it than not.

[amrx431]

- the interviewer at FAANG is that the technical interview holds the same weight as other non-technical rounds (not sure if he's BSing me) and for good reasons.

Not true. I know someone in high ops of these things. For G I an A I can attest, you have to give the best runtime solution, otherwise its a NO.

[f0rfun]

Thanks for confirming! Have always been doubtful.