Interview Prep Courses for Software Engineers

When my team got laid off in June 2022, I felt extremely underprepared for applying to jobs. Updating my resume wasn't difficult, but I was extremely intimidated by the technical interview process. I come from a non-traditional tech background, which means I bring a lot of skills to the table that traditional software engineers don't have in their tool belt. But it also means that I didn't spend four years at a university studying data structures and algorithms or design systems, all topics that are at the core of technical assessments and technical interviews.

Given the tech company layoffs in the past couple months, I wanted to share some of my favorite resources I used for interview prep this summer when I was looking for my next role. These courses might be too elementary for more experienced software engineers, but I think they're all beneficial for someone coming from a similar background to mine--I have a bachelors degree in creative writing and theater from DePauw University , but completed a certification course in software engineering through Flatiron School in 2020.

Online Courses

Data Structures and Algorithms

• Code with Mosh: The Ultimate Data Structures & Algorithms Course I really liked this course and it was one of the courses I worked through most while preparing for technical interviews. (The "original cost" says something like $150, but if you click on the enroll button, you'll see the course is only $29 as of the time I'm writing this.)
• Code with Mosh: The Ultimate Design Patterns Course If you're familiar with the Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software book, this is essentially a video course talking through all of the design patterns explained in the book. I wasn't able to make it through all of the patterns before my interviews, but this course was very helpful. (The "original cost" says something like $150, but if you click on the enroll button, you'll see the course is only $29 as of the time I'm writing this.)

Cloud Computing / AWS

If you're new to tech, want to learn more about cloud computing, or want to get a certification while you are between jobs, I always suggest getting an AWS certification like the Cloud Computing or Solutions Architect certifications. There are other cloud services, but AWS had a seven year head start on competition like Google Cloud / Microsoft Azure, so most companies use AWS or a combination of AWS and another cloud service.

This is a four part LinkedIn Learning course that I watched after completing my bootcamp. I really love Hiroko Nishimura and how accessible she makes the information. I used this as my primary resource for studying for and passing the AWS Cloud Practitioner Exam in January 2024.

• Introduction to AWS for Non-Engineers: 1 Cloud Concepts
• Introduction to AWS for Non-Engineers: 2 Security
• Introduction to AWS for Non-Engineers: 3 Core Services
• Introduction to AWS for Non-Engineers: 4 Billing and Pricing

Another course I've started is:

• A Cloud Guru: AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate This is a 45 hour course that helps you learn the material and prepare for the Solutions Architect certification exam. It's more expensive than other courses I've seen online, and you can certainly study the same information through other platforms for a lower cost, but every time I get to work on this class I love how thorough it is and how well the instructors teach the information. A Cloud Guru also offers several other courses if you have other areas you'd like to study, so you might to decide to purchase a personal access account and complete a few different courses.

Computer Science Basics

• Crash Course: Computer Science (PBS Learning Playlist on YouTube) I found this learning playlist on YouTube and while I think it's probably targeted at high school students, it covered information I had never learned anywhere else, and if you check out the comments, several viewers said the same thing, despite studying or working in tech. It's very accessible and jam packed with information.

Book Recommendations

I've received and read about several book recommendations. Personally I have a hard time reading written information without seeing practical application of the information communicated, so I prefer watching video courses. (Especially for data structures, it's much easier to see how the sorting works in a video than in a diagram on a printed page.) That said, if you prefer books or want to use them to supplement your learning, these are few that I own or heard great things about.

• Cracking the Coding Interview This is one I've seen on a lot of lists, but I got a couple job offers before I was able to dig into it.
• Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software As far as I understand this is the holy text of design patterns.
• Data Structures and Algorithms in C++ Consider getting a data structures book in your preferred/primary language. I read this one when I was trying to learn C++ while working on the WorkSpaces Streaming Protocol at Amazon Web Services (AWS) . If you don't typically work on C++ though, don't torture yourself.
• Networking for Beginners This isn't necessarily a book I'd suggest for interview prep, but it was great to read to get some basic knowledge on networking and transport protocols.

I hope this information is helpful to anyone out there preparing for job applications and job interviews. I wasn't able to get through all of these courses this summer, and I did bounce off a couple technical assessments, but I interviewed for three different roles, passed all of the interviews (including an Amazon final round technical interview), and received three offers, including my first choice--working as a software engineer on the Model-Driven Drug Discovery team at Eli Lilly and Company .