Top Tech Interview Secrets: Why You’re (Probably) Doing LeetCode Wrong – Advice from a Google Engineer
Written by Massa Medi
Sup nerds? If your coding interview prep involves endlessly grinding LeetCode questions and collecting “easy” badge streaks like Pokémon cards, hold up. Anthony D. Mays here—everyone’s favorite tech diversity hire, reporting for roll call and ready to keep it real with you.
Today, we’re breaking down the infamous LeetCode-style interviews you love to hate. And yes, you’re probably doing them all wrong. Harsh? Maybe. Needed? Absolutely. Over 32,000 readers vibed with my original 2022 article, and 2,000 of them even smashed the like button. Apparently, people are desperate for honest advice about tech interviews (and maybe overdue for a dose of tough love).
Below, I’ll walk you through what most people get wrong in their coding interview prep and the “why” behind my advice. I’ll give you the perspective straight from the interviewer’s side—yes, that’s me—so you can finally prepare for those top tech company interviews the right way.
Stop Memorizing LeetCode Questions
Let’s start with some real talk: I don’t trust you. Sorry, but it’s true! There’s a lot of money on the line for these tech jobs—think $300K, $400K, even $500K engineer salaries. I have to know you’re the real deal, not just a cunning LeetCode parrot or a wizard with a cheat sheet. That’s why, as interviewers, we don’t handpick problems straight off LeetCode and toss them to candidates. I mean, who knows what you might have memorized or what “unofficial aids” you might have lying around?
If your prep strategy is to brute-force memorize every problem in the LeetCode vault—especially those dreaded hard problems—you’re missing the point entirely. It’s a complete waste of time to camp out in LeetCode Hell and speedrun to the first solution that comes to mind for each problem.
Patterns, Not Problems
Here’s where you’re messing up: Memorizing solutions doesn’t make you a good problem solver. The solution you memorized probably isn’t going to show up. Sure, you MIGHT stumble into something similar, but the odds aren’t in your favor. What’ll actually help you in interviews? Recognizing and applying patterns. Learn fundamental algorithms and coding patterns (like sliding window, recursion, divide and conquer)—because those are the tools you’ll reach for when faced with an unfamiliar challenge.
Hundreds of solved problems won’t mean much if you freeze the moment you see a new twist or don’t spot the underlying pattern. Practice recognizing, combining, and flexibly applying these patterns in new contexts. Trust me, that’s what interviewers want to see.
What’s Next: The Return of Whiteboard Interviews?
Some of y’all are going wild with AI, prompting suspicions and making things harder for everyone (your shenanigans might just bring back the dark age of in-person, computer-free, whiteboard interviews—yep, just like the “olden days”). It’s all fun and games until the keyboard gets taken away!
It’s Not Just About Being “Right”
Okay, you made it this far, so here’s the next truth bomb: I need more than just a correct answer. In fact, I might not even care if you nailed the final result on your first shot.
What I really want is to pick your brain. I want to understand how you think, how you break down problems, and (most importantly) how you communicate when you get stuck. If you see a question and immediately know the answer because you memorized the problem, you’re not showing me your superpower—you’re hiding your process.
Think of it like a math test. If you just hand in the answer but don’t show the steps, how do I know you didn’t just copy? Same principle here: interviews are about process over product. I’d rather watch you wrestle with the unknown than regurgitate a slick, polished solution.
“Getting Stuck” Is Part of the Process
What happens if you hit a wall? Great! I WANT to see how you tackle the unknown. If I hand you a softball and you crush it, I’ll just throw a curveball or up the difficulty until I see what happens when you’re out of your comfort zone.
Interviews are spaces for exploring—not for being perfect. If you fear getting stuck and avoid it at all costs, you’re not showing me what I need to know. Most people aren’t superhumans with instant recall for everything. Success is about adaptability and creative problem-solving, not just perfect memorization.
Interviews Aren’t Like LeetCode at Home
Here’s something candidates overlook: during real coding interviews, you’re NOT given the full, detailed problem description, all examples, and hints up front. This isn’t a take-home exam or a LeetCode sandbox. Often, you’ll only get the basic setup. It’s up to you to ask for further clarifications or test cases.
I can’t tell you how many times people ask, “Are you going to paste the question in the chat?” Sorry champ, it’s your job to track what I say—ask for repetition if needed, but don’t expect handholding. Take notes. Gather requirements. Show initiative.
Asking Good Questions: Your Secret Weapon
Here’s your cheat code: Ask smart, targeted questions. As the interviewer, I want you to dig deeper, clarify the scope, and make sure you truly understand the task. And no, I’m not going to do the work for you. Your responsibility is to document what you hear and keep your own reference material clear—especially when the clock is ticking.
By the way, there is such a thing as a dumb question—especially in a tight 45-minute (or one hour) interview. If I already gave you the answer and you weren’t listening, repeating your question just wastes everyone’s time. Listen carefully, and ask what really matters for you to move forward.
Don’t Start Coding Immediately: Plan First!
A telltale sign someone’s going to flop the interview? The moment they get the problem, they leap straight into coding. If you do this, you’re almost guaranteed to fail before you even type the first line. Why? Because you can’t solve what you don’t fully understand!
Take the time to clarify, plan, and think through your approach. Gather all the requirements—don’t be shy about requesting clarifications or constraints. The interview is your opportunity to show how you collect and synthesize information under pressure.
How LeetCode and Similar Tools Actually Help
Wait—didn’t I just say LeetCode isn’t everything? True! But using platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank is still valuable: they expose you to diverse problem types and teach you how to ask the right questions. For example, by working through enough problems, you start developing intuition. You learn to inquire, “Is the input sorted?” or “Do I need to handle negative numbers?” (Because if your interviewer says the list is already sorted, you know that running a sorting algorithm is pointless—take that tool off your mental shelf!)
Ultimately, the questions you ask help you filter out which data structures and approaches are appropriate. By narrowing the field, you’ll make more informed decisions about which solution fits best. And if you can think of multiple approaches, ask for feedback. There’s nothing wrong with saying, “Would you prefer I try approach A or B?” Sometimes, I’ll nudge you toward the optimal path or save you time if one solution is more relevant to the conversation.
And hey, sometimes I’ll want you to implement the naive (“brute-force”) solution before attempting optimizations. If you’re going to struggle with the straightforward approach, there’s no need to waste time trying the fancy one.
Final Thoughts: Communicate and Collaborate!
Remember, I’m not here as your enemy. Darth Vader to your Luke Skywalker? Maybe in your mind. But really, as your interviewer, my job is to help you, not try to trip you up! Success in the interview room is a conversation, not a monologue.
If you’re not talking to me, asking smart questions, and brainstorming solutions aloud, I simply can’t help you. If you hit a wall, let me know. Invite me in to help you overcome obstacles—don’t go silent and hope for the best.
Don’t just jump on the first solution that comes to mind. Take a beat. Consider multiple approaches. Discuss your plan and invite feedback at every step.
Sound Off: How’s Your Prep Going?
Did this advice light a bulb for you? Share your experience! How’s your LeetCode grind? Are you prepping for interviews, or already got ones on the schedule? Drop a comment below and let’s talk—I read them all and love seeing how you’re leveling up.
And don’t forget: Hit like, drop a comment, subscribe for more interview wisdom, and check out the description for links to my articles and resources that'll turbocharge your prep.
Until next time, I’m Anthony D. Mays, also known as Mr. From Compton to Google. Peace!