Most candidates prepare by memorizing patterns—and then freeze when the prompt is slightly different. Interviewers aren’t looking for a perfect recall machine; they’re evaluating how you reason, communicate, and recover when you hit uncertainty.
Below is a practical, repeatable approach you can use for coding interviews, live-coding, and technical assessments.
Before writing code, spend up to 90 seconds to:
Why it works: Interviewers often score communication as heavily as correctness. A clear plan reduces backtracking and shows maturity.
When you choose an approach, anchor it with an invariant:
dp[i] represents the best answer up to index i.”Tip: If you get stuck, return to the invariant and ask, “What must always be true?” It’s a powerful way to debug mid-interview.
After outlining the approach, state:
Then ask: “Is this efficient enough given the constraints?”
This turns complexity into a collaboration moment rather than a last-minute scramble.
Instead of coding silently for 10 minutes, break it up:
Live-coding tip: Narrate what you’re doing, especially when you choose variable names or restructure logic.
To simulate real conditions:
Reflection prompts:
What part of technical interviews is hardest for you right now—coming up with the approach, communicating clearly while coding, or handling curveballs when you’re stuck?
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