Programming Interviews. Exposed Secrets to Landing Your Next Job John Mongan Noah Suojanen Wiiey Computer NEW YORK + CHICHESTER + WEINHEIM + BRISBANE + SINGAPO!Publisher: Robert Ipsen Editor: Marjorie Spencer Assistant Editor: Margaret Flendrey Managing Editor: John Atkins Text Design & Composition: Publishers’ Design and Production Services, Inc. Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. In all instances where John Wiley & Sons, Inc, is aware of a claim, the ‘product names appear in initial capital or ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, Readers, however, should contact the appropriate companies for more complete information regarding trademarks and registration. This book is printed on acidfee paper. © Copyright © 2000by John Mongan, Noah Suojanen. Allrights reserved. Pablished by Joha Wiley & Sons, In Published simultaneously in Canada, [No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored ina retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or othecwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 ofthe 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA{1923, (978) 750-8400, fax (978) 750- 4744, Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158-0012, 212) '850-6011, fax (212) 850-6008, E-Mail: PERMREQ @ WILEY.COM. ‘This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. Its sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in professional services. If professional advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data: ‘Mongan, John, 1976 ‘Programming interviews exposed : secrets to landing your next job / John Mongan, ‘Noa Sugjanen, Pp. cm. “Wiles computer publishing.” ISBN 0-471-88356-2 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Employment interviewing, 2. Computer programming—Vocational guidanee. 1. Suojanen, Noah, 1978-1, Tile HIFS549.516 Mob 2000 650.14 ded 00-028904 Printed in the United States of America, 10987654321Preface Acknowledgments Chapter 1: Chapter 2: Chapter 5: The Job Application Process Contacting Companies Screening Interviews On-site Interviews Dress Recruiters Offers and Negotiation Accepting and Rejecting Offers Approaches to Programming Problems ‘The Process About the Questions Solving the Questions When You Get Stuck Analysis of the Solution Linked Lists Singly Linked Lists Modifying the Head Pointer ‘Traversing. Insertion and Deletion Contents eee De un u 13 “4 16 v7 23 24 25 26 27