Java Developer Interview Prep

Targeting Google & Top Tech Companies

💡 Pro Tip: Google focuses heavily on problem-solving, system design basics, and clean code. Practice coding on a whiteboard or paper!

Must-Know Topics:

OOP Principles (Inheritance, Polymorphism, Encapsulation, Abstraction)
Collections Framework (List, Set, Map implementations)
Multithreading & Concurrency
Exception Handling
JVM Architecture & Memory Management
Garbage Collection
Java 8+ Features (Streams, Lambda, Optional)
Spring Framework Basics
Common Java Questions:
  • • Difference between == and .equals()
  • • HashMap vs ConcurrentHashMap
  • • String vs StringBuilder vs StringBuffer
  • • Method overloading vs overriding

Essential Topics:

Arrays & Strings
Linked Lists
Stacks & Queues
Trees (Binary, BST)
Basic Graphs
Sorting Algorithms
Binary Search
Hashing
Practice Platforms:
  • • LeetCode (Easy → Medium problems)
  • • HackerRank Java domain
  • • GeeksforGeeks
Google-Style Questions:
  • • Two Sum, Three Sum
  • • Valid Parentheses
  • • Merge Two Sorted Lists
  • • Binary Tree Traversals
  • • First Non-Repeating Character

As a fresher, you'll get basic system design questions. Focus on fundamentals:

Database basics (SQL vs NoSQL)
REST APIs
Basic Caching concepts
Horizontal vs Vertical Scaling
Load Balancing basics
Microservices vs Monolith
Sample Questions:
  • • Design a simple URL shortener
  • • Design a basic chat application
  • • How would you design a simple e-commerce system?

Google values Googleyness - be authentic, show growth mindset, and demonstrate leadership potential.

Prepare STAR Method answers for:

Tell me about a challenging project you worked on
Describe a time you failed and what you learned
Give an example of working in a team
Tell me about a time you showed leadership
How do you handle disagreements?
Why do you want to work at Google?
How do you stay updated with technology?
Google-Specific Tips:
  • • Show passion for technology and continuous learning
  • • Demonstrate problem-solving approach
  • • Mention any open-source contributions or personal projects
  • • Be ready to discuss your projects in detail

🎯 Final Preparation Checklist

Polish your resume with quantifiable achievements
Prepare 2-3 projects to discuss in detail
Prepare thoughtful questions about Google/role
Do mock interviews with friends/online
Research Google's products and culture
Solve 2-3 coding problems daily

Remember: Google hires for potential, not just current skills. Show your passion for learning and problem-solving! 🚀