Big Tech Interview Prep: Google, Amazon, Meta, LinkedIn

Big tech interview prep isn't one playbook. Each company optimises for a different signal — match the prep to the loop.

Google

• Coding: hard mediums, deep follow-ups, time complexity matters.
• System design: tradeoffs > perfect diagrams.
• Behavioural: "Googleyness" — collaboration, low ego, ambiguity tolerance.

Amazon

• LPs are the loop. Map every story to a Leadership Principle.
• 1 dedicated bar-raiser round, often the deciding vote.
• Coding rounds usually 1–2; system design from L5+.

Meta

• Coding: 2 problems / 35 min — speed matters.
• System design: at senior+; product sense round for some teams.
• Behavioural: Jedi / "drives results" theme.

Microsoft

Classic medium DSA + scenario-based behavioural. Less LeetCode-grindy than FAANG; cleaner signal on systems thinking and collaboration.

LinkedIn

• Strong host-matching round (cultural fit, "growth mindset").
• Coding: medium DSA + 1 product/business round for some IC roles.
• System design at senior+; emphasis on social-graph-style problems.

Apple

Highly team-dependent. Often 5 back-to-back interviews with one team — coding, design, depth, behavioural, manager. Prep team-specific (CoreOS vs Services vs Hardware look very different).

What they all share

• Structure beats charisma.
• Quantified results in every behavioural answer.
• 4 thoughtful questions to ask back.
• Same-day thank-you email (yes, even at Google).

Pair with the SWE interview prep playbook.