How I Prepare for FAANG Coding Interviews
My 4-step process that helped me ace Meta and Spotify
I’ve failed countless coding interviews staring at the "Thank you for your time" email.
But everything changed when I stopped treating coding like a math test and started treating it like a performance.
After developing my system and refining my own "ADDA" framework, the rejections stopped and the success started rolling in from tech giants like Meta and Spotify.
The secret isn't just knowing the syntax; it's surviving the heat.
You need to mimic:
The pressure
The ticking clock
And the awkwardness of explaining your logic while your brain screams at you to just finish the loop.
Let me show you my 4 steps to practice coding interviews. You’ll need:
A timer
A way to record yourself
Step 1: Pick your weapon and stick to it
Most people drown in a sea of “which site is best” before they even write a single line of SELECT *.
You might think you need every resource on the internet, but that’s just a clever way to procrastinate.
Grab one tool and commit to it.
Practice consistently - and at least 30 minutes every day 2 weeks before your interivew.
Here’re my top sites for SQL:
sqlzoo: Hands-on practice questions
Mode: Visual code illustrations with examples and practice problems
Here’re my top sites for Python:
learnpython.org: Practice questions
dataford: Real questions from real companies
Stop scrolling through Reddit threads about the "best" platform.
Pick one, start the engine, and let the code fly.
Step 2: Race against the relentless ticking clock
In a real interview, time doesn’t just pass - it evaporates.
You usually have 30 to 45 minutes to solve 3 or 4 problems.
If you practice without a timer, you’re essentially training for a marathon by taking a leisurely stroll in the park.
To get ahead, you must simulate the rush.
For a 30-minute sprint:
Grab 1 easy, 1 medium, and 1 hard question.
Allocate 10 minutes for each.
For a 45-minute marathon:
Pick 3 questions ranging from medium to hard.
Give yourself 15 minutes per problem.
When that timer hits zero, stop.
Even if you’re one bracket away from a solution, drop the mouse.
This discipline builds the “internal clock” you need to pivot when a solution isn’t working during the actual interview.
Step 3: Perform like the stage lights are on you
I used to dive straight into the code, my fingers flying across the keys while my brain struggled to keep up.
Never start coding immediately. Instead, use the ADDA framework to structure your thoughts out loud. This ensures the interviewer follows your logic path like a breadcrumb trail.
Picture yourself navigating these three phases:
The 2-minute Intro: Use the 3W framework (Who, What, Why) to nail the “Tell me about yourself” opener.
The Code Performance: Explain your logic while you type. If you hit a snag, say it. “I’m thinking about the time complexity here,” sounds much better than dead silence.
The Power Move Q&A: Spend the final 2 minutes asking high-quality questions. Ask things that probe the team’s goals and challenges while subtly reminding them why you’re a rockstar candidate.
Step 4: Face the cringeworthy playback
Watch your own recordings.
I know, it makes your skin crawl and your stomach flip.
I used to groan and cover my eyes when I saw myself rambling, but that discomfort is where the growth hides.
This is the only way to kill bad habits before they kill your chances. As you watch the video, look for these specific cues:
The Melody: Does your voice sound like a flat monotone, or do you vary your pitch to keep the listener awake?
The Hands: Are you using gestures to amplify your points, or are you sitting like a statue?
The Flow: Do you move through logical steps, or does your explanation sound like a confusing maze?
Confidence isn’t something you’re born with; it’s something you build by fixing the cracks in your performance.
Imagine walking into your next interview knowing exactly how you look and sound to the person across the screen.
I’ve used this exact system to transition from “rejected candidate” to “FAANG Data Scientist.”
Now, it’s your turn to go crush your interviews in 2026.