Sahil Gaba, a software engineer of Indian origin based in Seattle, has gained widespread recognition for his unique approach towards succeeding in coding interviews. With more than six years of experience, including roles at major tech companies like Google and Amazon, Gaba recently shared his valuable insights on LinkedIn, highlighting the crucial role interviewers play in the hiring process.
In his post, Gaba questioned the conventional view of interviewers as just evaluators, proposing that candidates should see them as valuable resources instead. He outlined several strategies to adopt this way of thinking.
“Ask clarifying questions before writing a single line of code. If you ask the right questions, the interviewer will not be able to help but drop some useful hints, he wrote.
In the second point, he said, “Think out loud—always. When you vocalize your approach, interviewers who see you heading down a wrong path will often nudge you in the right direction. Everyone feels a little satisfaction in course-correcting others.”
“When stuck, don’t panic silently. Frame it as: “I’m considering approach A and approach B. I’m leaning toward A because…”. This invites collaboration without asking for direct help.” he wrote in the third point.
Gaba shared a personal experience from an Amazon interview, where he encountered a challenging dynamic programming problem. Rather than succumbing to the pressure, he discussed two potential solutions with the interviewer, who gently guided him toward a more practical approach. This exchange reinforced his belief that interviewers value thoughtful discussions over simply observing candidates.
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The post struck a chord with many leading to several comments from internet users. Notably, Google’s official LinkedIn account recognised Gaba’s insights and left a comment that read, “Thanks for sharing awesome tips, Sahil.”
“Thanks for sharing the interview tips. I am currently attending coding rounds but struggling to explain my approach and feeling tense. Now, I have a clearer picture,” wrote one of the LinkedIn users.
“What a fantastic reminder of the importance of leveraging the interviewer as a valuable resource during coding interviews! Your insights on asking clarifying questions, thinking out loud, and inviting collaboration are spot on,” added a second user.
