ChatGPT for Interview Preparation

Introduction

Despite reading numerous forums and blogs, you feel unprepared for the technical questions that interviewers might throw at you. Isn't there a more efficient way?

The countdown during a timed coding test.

The watching eyes of an interviewer - make you blank out.

Leading to regrets about not practicing in a more realistic setting.

What if there was a tool available 24/7, that can not only answer your questions but also engage with you, much like an interviewer would?

Enter ChatGPT, your personalized interview coach.

Using ChatGPT for interview preparation is like having a personal trainer at the gym.

While you can definitely exercise on your own, the trainer (or in this case, ChatGPT) guides you:

It corrects your mistakes,
Provides targeted exercises (solutions)
Improve your weak areas.

Let’s put ChatGPT to the test with a hands-on exercise:

Setting up a mock interview for Senior Java Role
Doint theoretical and coding questions
Getting feedback for our answers

Bonus: We will also check if it can make my learning entertaining.

Here are Little-Known Ways to Ace Your Dev Interview with ChatGPT

Step 1: Set your level

ChatGPT doesn't know your level, so we need to set proper expectations

Step 2: Setup rehears mock interview

Now, we need to let ChatGPT know that we are not interested in answers, but rather feedback.

Here is the full prompt:

I want to rehear for the senior java interview

Currently, I am junior and have experience only 
with basics and helloworld examples 

don't show me the answer yet once I answer, check if I was correct

Here is the result:

ChatGPT

Of course! Let's simulate a senior Java interview scenario. I'll provide questions that are often asked for a senior Java position. Try to answer them to the best of your ability, and then I'll provide feedback.

Question 1: Explain the difference between ArrayList and LinkedList in Java.

Go ahead and provide your answer when you're ready.

User

I think arraylist uses dynamic array while linkedlists stores data 
in different objects and acts as a queue

ChatGPT

You've touched on the basics, but let's dive a bit deeper.

ArrayList:

Internal Structure: As you correctly mentioned, ArrayList uses a dynamic array to store its elements. This means its capacity grows automatically when we add more elements than its initial capacity.
Access Time: Because of this structure, accessing an element by its index is fast, i.e., O(1).
Insertion/Deletion Time: However, inserting or deleting an element from anywhere except the end of the list takes O(n) time on average, as it may require shifting elements.
Memory Overhead: It's relatively low, as you're mostly dealing with the raw array and a few integer counters.

LinkedList:

Internal Structure: LinkedList uses a doubly-linked list. Each element (node) has a data part and two pointers, one pointing to the next element and the other to the previous element.
Access Time: Getting to an element by index isn't as fast, since it requires walking through the list. It's O(n) in the worst case.
Insertion/Deletion Time: However, once you have a reference to a node (say via an iterator), adding or removing is O(1), provided you don’t need to search for the node.
Memory Overhead: Higher than ArrayList because of the two pointers with each data item.

Now, one more nuanced point: ArrayList performs better in scenarios where you are frequently accessing elements via their indices and have fewer insertions/deletions. LinkedList is better suited for operations that involve frequent insertions or deletions from the beginning or middle of the list.

You had a good start! Keep refining your understanding, and you'll be on your way to senior-level knowledge. Would you like to proceed with the next question?

Step 3: Now, the coding test

We can now instruct ChatGPT to give us coding question

give me one more question, this time coding question

ChatGPT

Of course! Here's a simpler coding problem:

Question: Implement a method that takes an array of integers and returns the sum of all even numbers in the array.

Method Signature:

public int sumOfEvens(int[] numbers) {
    // your code here
}

Please go ahead and implement this, and I'll review your solution afterward!

User

int sum = 0;

    for (int number : numbers) {
        if (number % 2 == 0) {
            sum += number;
        }
    }

return sum;

ChatGPT

That's correct! Your solution is concise and to the point.

Here's the complete function for clarity: ….

Step 4: Make it fun

To spice up the interview a bit, let’s make chatGPT talk in a funny way so we can get some laughs along the way

Prompt:

write every sentence in a speaking style of a fast-talking wise guy from 1940's gangster movies

ChatGPT

Alright, alright! I'll take it down a notch for you. No need to get all flustered.

Question 3: Look here, champ, you ever heard of this thing called "Encapsulation"? It's one of those big fancy terms they throw around. Can you give me the lowdown on what it means in Java? Just the basics, ya know?

Alright, give it your best shot! And remember, keep your chin up, kid!

User

It's basically means binding variables and methods together 
into a single unit and preventing them from being accessed by other classes

ChatGPT

Hey, not too shabby, kid! You've got the right idea. Encapsulation, in Java and many other object-oriented languages, is about keeping the internal states or data of an object private and only allowing modification through public methods. It's a way to protect the integrity of the data and control how it's accessed or modified. It's like having a vault, see? You don’t just let anyone waltz in and take whatever they want. You got guards, and specific ways to access what's inside.

Good job, kiddo! Anything else you wanna test your chops on, or are we square?

You can find the full chat on this link:

https://chat.openai.com/share/b9f8af45-1187-4fa9-a884-4565f37d2884

Limitations

Keep in mind that ChatGPT is not always correct, even though it can sound convincing.

If you are unsure, always double-check your solution with a compiler for coding answers.

Conclusion

ChatGPT is your ticket to mastering technical interviews.

Using ChatGPT ensures you get direct, concise, and often up-to-date explanations on specific problems, making your interview preparation more efficient.

Engage, learn, and get instant feedback to always stay a step ahead.

As the next step, try it yourself and practice.

Remember: