Question: Why Amazon, why this intern program? Describe a situation where I had to make a quick decision. Another question was deadline-related. Overall, behavioral questions are likely, but the specific questions and follow-ups are random and depend on the interviewer.
Round 2: Coding
Question: Given two ascending arrays, arr1 and arr2, merge arr2 into arr1 without using extra space, such that arr1 remains in ascending order. I solved it using two pointers. Follow-up questions: How to merge if the arrays are in descending order? How to handle it if the array is unsorted?
Details
Preparation Tips & Key Takeaways
What I Learned
Behavioral questions are common and can vary significantly. It's important to prepare for a wide range of behavioral questions.
Being able to quickly adapt solutions to different constraints is important (e.g., ascending vs. descending order).
Understanding the limitations of algorithms (e.g., sorted vs. unsorted data) is crucial.
Recommended Preparation
Coding Practice
Practice array manipulation problems, focusing on merging and sorting.
Review different sorting algorithms and their complexities.
Behavioral Questions
Prepare STAR stories for common behavioral topics like decision-making and handling deadlines.
Practice explaining my thought process and how I approach problems.
Resources I Recommend
LeetCode for array manipulation problems.
Cracking the Coding Interview for behavioral question preparation.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Not considering edge cases when implementing the merge algorithm.
Failing to clearly communicate my thought process during the coding round.