Programming Interviews Exposed: Secrets to Landing Your Next Job, 3rd Edition

Solving the Problems

When you begin solving a problem, don’t start writing code immediately. First, make sure you completely understand the problem. It may help to work through a simple, concrete example and then try to generalize the process to an algorithm. When you’re convinced you have the right algorithm, explain it clearly. Writing the code should be one of your final steps.

The Basic Steps

The best way to solve an interview problem is to approach it methodically.

1. Make sure you understand the problem. Your initial assumptions about the problem may be wrong, or the interviewer’s explanation may be brief or difficult to follow. You can’t demonstrate your skills if you don’t understand the problem. Don’t hesitate to ask your interviewer questions about the problem. Don’t start solving the problem until you understand it. The interviewer may be deliberately obscuring things to determine whether you can find and understand the actual problem. In these cases, asking the right clarifying questions is an important part of the correct solution.

2. When you understand the question, try a simple example. This example may lead to insights about how to solve the general problem or bring to light any remaining misunderstandings that you have. Starting with an example also demonstrates a methodical, logical thought process. Examples are especially useful if you don’t see the solution right away.

NOTE Make sure you understand the problem before you start solving it, and then start ...