Top 5 Books For Interview Preparation

Preparing for any job interview is necessary, but preparing for programming interview is a
challenge more. Talking about programming languages that you have mastered, the problems
that you solved in your career, an impeccable portfolio that you might have is just the tip of
the iceberg. The real game begins with the practical part of an interview. But how do you
prepare for this part? What type of tasks you can expect? We have prepared for you top 5
books for the interview preparation.

1. Coding Interview Questions

Narasimha Karumanchi, the founder of CareerMonk Publications, is an author of the 3hd

edition of Coding Interview Questions, published in 2016. If you already have a basic
knowledge and seeking for the intermediate and advanced level in data structures, algorithms,
meta-heuristics this may be the right choice. CIQ covers theoretical and practical problems in
various field such as basics of programming and computer networking, algorithms (
introduction, graph, selection, string, design techniques, greedy, dividing and conquering ),
data concepts and structures. The book doesn't offer just straight answers. It's about the
approaching to the problems and their solutions. It will force you to think about different
possible solutions to unique problems. And yet taking care that the first goal of this book is an
interview preparation, so keeping all the time consistent style and format. Another great
feature of this book is the problems difficulties gradation. Every problem may have different
more or less complex solution. On the other hand, the deficiency can be that certain codes are
untested and do not work. However, this critical-thinking approach that the book provides,
represent an excellent source for the interview preparation.

2. Coding Puzzles: Thinking in code

Another very useful book, which offers a nice background for an interview preparation is
Coding Puzzles: Thinking in code by codingtmd. The book is primarily intended for a
software development engineer positions to prepare programming interview questions. To be
able to go through this book with understanding and potential improvement, it is necessary
that you already have knowledge of data structures and algorithms. The book consists of two
parts: The first and the major part is focused on solving puzzles with existing data structures
and algorithms. It deals with the leetcode problems, which are presented using C / C ++
languages. The second part is an addendum intended for the designing question preparation. It
contains updated information, based on the author research, about industry work in the area of
design. The goal of this part is to keep design skills upgraded in order to SDE achieves higher
levels of their careers. At the end, maybe the code style in the book is occasionally written in
a non-comprehensible way still, Coding Puzzles may significantly improve your problem-
solving skills and give a solid foundation for the interview.

3. Elements of Programming Interviews: The Insiders' Guide

A group of authors has published in 2012 a very detailed and high-quality guidebook for
an interview preparation, called Elements of Programming Interviews: The Insiders' Guide
C++ version ( available in Java version too). Very quickly reached best-seller position. The
book is divided into four sections: 1) The interview - preparation and strategies; 2) Problems -
wide ranges of problems such as meta-algorithms, binary trees, linked lists, heaps, design
problems, discrete mathematics etc; 3) Hints and 4) Solutions. What makes this book
distinguishes from a group of similar interview guides is provided source code website, which
allows you to run the codes and compare it with your own. Also, the degree of difficulty of
the problems exceeds all other similar problems that you've ever encountered in the interview
preparation books. At the same time, it can be a disadvantage for those who are not very
advanced in the C ++ language, given that solutions can be too abstract. The book uses dry
academic style and the narrative may be hard to follow. Though, this book can be highly
recommended for those seeking careers in the top of the best companies.

4. Cracking the Coding Interview : 189 Programming Questions and Solutions

Perhaps the best-known book is this one, written by Gayle McDowell. What makes this
book remarkable is the fact that, apart from the practical questions and solutions, contains
revelations about the interview process, questions that are selected, the instructions to prepare
for a behavioral interview, and interview tips for companies such as Microsoft, Amazon,
Google, Apple, Facebook, and Palantir. Then you can get more familiar and prepared for
negotiation process and struggle with hire/non-hire decision. Interview questions contain
numerous problems and solutions within the data structures, concepts, and algorithms, Big O,
and some advanced topics such as Dijkstra's algorithm, Rubin-Kart substring search, Red-
black trees etc. What may seem like a drawback are very brief explanations for problems
regardless their difficulty and the lack of illustrations with figures. The author attempts to
explain how to solve the problem using text/code which may be confusing. However, this
book has a holistic approach to the interview process and a lot of detail put into the process of
optimization from the ground knowledge to the final code. Basically, Cracking the Coding
Interview touches the whole pipeline of the interview process.

5. Programming Interviews Exposed: Secrets to Landing Your Next Job

If you are seeking a job in the companies such as LinkedIn or other social networks,
Programming Interviews Exposed: Secrets to Landing Your Next Job may be the right fit for
you. Solutions to the problems are written in code C++, C#, and Java with a focus on object-
oriented solutions. Although, the solutions are very detail explained, the problems are
relatively easy and maybe not sufficient for those seeking senior developer positions, as they
encounter with more in-depth problems on their interview. However, this book is an excellent
base to start your interview preparation and for those looking for an entry level positions.

It is not the book, but the method that is more important

The most important thing during your search for the dream job is preparation for an interview
process. Gather your experience and knowledge, mix it with the constant improvement of
your skills and build confidence for any challenge that is in front of you. Carefully consider
the methods that are most suitable for you and based on that choose one of these brilliant
guidance books and practice until you master the questions. The practice is a halfway of
dreams come true. Goodluck with your interviews.