There is a big hype for working in Google. At least, if you get an interview call from Google, then you are probably luckier than the hundreds of thousands of candidates thrusting to get it. Google’s interview process is damn tough, very random, and you may never have a clue how many rounds you have to go through. Surprisingly, you can’t find a lot of pages in internet that talk about real Google interview questions. Because, only few people get through the interview and merely few of them disclose the questions.

I have given my interview at Google, India few months ago. Since, I signed the NDA (Non Disclosure Agreement), I could not post my interview questions here. Anyway, I give tips to all Google aspirants. Here they go.

‘MUST HAVE’ Skill Sets

• Your educational background matters very much. If you are from IIT or NIT (formally known as REC), then your resume is a hot piece of cake for them. That is, you stand a good chance to get short-listed for the interview if you are graduated from premier institutions. Yet, if you are a M.Tech/M.S or PhD, then they love you The More number of Computer Science degrees you have, the more they like you.
• You have to be very very strong in computer science fundamentals. They are Algorithms, Data Structures, DBMS, Programming, Riddles, Puzzles, Discrete Math, Probability and Queuing Theory, logical reasoning. You can’t just flip through them, prepare a running note and mug them up in one night. You have to understand, interpret, analyze and solve problems in each area. That’s you should to better know where to apply what.
• Algorithms: Besides understanding back and forth of algorithms, read the time and space complexity measures. More tips,

• They ask you the time and space complexity (Big oh notation) for any solution you suggest. You always have to give the most efficient ones. For any given problem, try to apply the classical algorithms than your own. For example, if you are asked to represent a family using any data structure, you can use a tree data structure, than use tree traversal algorithms. The point is, you have to figure out the ‘class’ of problem type.
• I strongly recommend these algorithm books: 1. Introduction to Algorithms by Thomas H Cormen, 2. Programming Challenges
• If you are interviewed for C, C++ positions, then you will get screwed a lot on architecture basics like Big endian, Little endian, Memory representation, System programming and etc.
• If you are interviewed for Java positions, then you stand safer, but be prepared on JVM fundamentals. Google does very minimal work using Java/J2EE. Though you are interviewed for a java position, you will have very less chance to work on hardcore java applications.

‘Nice To Have’ Skill Sets

• Your involvement in Open Source Projects can give your resume a handsome look. If you have developed, contributed to any open source projects, then they consider it really great. If you get time, please enroll yourself in any big profile projects like Apache, Ant and etc.
• You should have some fundamental knowledge on scripting languages like HTML, DHTML, AJAX, Perl/Python.
• Protocols: Must know the working of HTTP, HTTPS. Don’t get surprised if they ask you to tell the HTTP response code number for a given scenario.

There is no fixed pattern for Google interviews. They may ask any question that is somehow related to Computer Science. Last but not least, never get depressed if you can’t get through the interviews. Failing in Google interviews does not always mean that the candidate is not talented. There have been cases where Google missed great brains that I know personally

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