Just landed my first job as a software engineer and I can’t help but reflect on how I prepared for interviews. It was intense but rewarding. I spent countless hours on LeetCode and HackerRank, but the real game-changer was doing mock interviews with peers. Having someone critique my problem-solving approach was invaluable. It’s so different when you’re in a simulation versus the actual interview setting.

One interesting thing I learned is that you have to prepare for behavioral questions just as much as the technical ones. The STAR method really helped me organize my thoughts. What questions caught you off guard? For me, it was about how I dealt with project failures. I’d love to hear about how others approached behavioral prep and if any particular tools or resources stood out for you!