The first two rounds felt solid so I went into the third with some confidence.
First, clarify the problem requirements and edge cases, then walk through your algorithm with a small example to ensure correctness. When debugging, systematically trace the code with the given input to identify where the output becomes incomplete, and explain how you would fix it and verify the solution.
Pro tip: Demonstrate strong debugging skills by using a debugger or print statements to isolate the bug, and always test with edge cases like empty input or maximum constraints to catch incomplete outputs.
Restate the problem in your own words, ask clarifying questions about input/output formats, constraints, and edge cases. Confirm your understanding with the interviewer.
Outline your approach, including data structures and algorithms, and analyze time and space complexity. Walk through a small example to validate the logic.
Write clean, modular code with meaningful variable names. Explain your code as you write, and handle edge cases explicitly.
If the output is incomplete, systematically trace the code with the given input. Use print statements or a debugger to inspect variables and identify where the logic fails.
Once the bug is identified, explain the fix, apply it, and re-test with the original input and additional edge cases to ensure the output is complete and correct.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.