The Recent Questions Strategy: Crack FAANG Interviews in 2 Weeks Using Glassdoor & LeetCode

Short on time before your FAANG interview? This guide reveals the most effective last-minute interview preparation strategy: focusing on recently asked questions from Glassdoor and LeetCode. If you already know the basics, this approach can dramatically increase your success rate in just 1-2 weeks.

TL;DR - The Recent Questions Strategy

• Core Idea: Companies reuse 60-70% of interview questions within 6 months
• Sources: Glassdoor, LeetCode Discuss, Blind, TeamBlind, company-specific tags
• Time Required: 1-2 weeks (10-15 hours total)
• Best For: Candidates who know basics but have limited prep time
• Success Rate: Candidates report 40-60% question overlap using this method
• Key Risk: Does not replace fundamental knowledge

Table of Contents

1. Why the Recent Questions Strategy Works
2. Where to Find Recent Interview Questions
3. How to Filter and Prioritize Questions
4. The 2-Week Quick Prep Plan
5. Company-Specific Question Patterns
6. How to Practice Recent Questions Effectively
7. Risks and Limitations
8. Combining with Pattern-Based Learning
9. Frequently Asked Questions

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Why the Recent Questions Strategy Works

Here is something most interview prep guides will not tell you:

FAANG companies reuse interview questions. A lot.

Why? Because creating good interview questions is hard. A good question needs to:

• Be solvable in 30-45 minutes
• Have multiple solution approaches
• Test specific skills without being obscure
• Work for different experience levels

When interviewers find questions that work well, they use them repeatedly. Sometimes for months. Sometimes for years.

The Data Behind Question Reuse

Based on analysis of thousands of interview reports on Glassdoor and LeetCode:

• Google: Reuses approximately 60% of coding questions within a 6-month window
• Meta: Known for a smaller question pool. Higher reuse rate, estimated 70%+
• Amazon: Rotates questions by team, but popular questions persist for 3-6 months
• Microsoft: Moderate reuse rate, approximately 50-60%
• Apple: Smaller data set available, but significant reuse reported

What this means for you: If you study questions asked in the last 3-6 months, there is a real chance you will see the same or very similar questions in your interview.

Why This Strategy is Underused

Most candidates do not use this strategy because:

1. It feels like cheating - It is not. You still need to solve the problem yourself.
2. They do not know where to look - We will fix that in this guide.
3. It requires filtering - Not all reported questions are accurate or relevant.
4. Traditional advice says otherwise - Most guides push pattern-based learning (which is also valuable, but takes longer).

Important Disclaimer

This strategy works best when you already have fundamental knowledge of data structures, algorithms, and coding. It is not a replacement for basics. It is an optimization for people who know the basics but have limited time.

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Where to Find Recent FAANG Interview Questions

Here are the best sources for finding recently asked interview questions at Google, Meta, Amazon, and other tech companies.

1. LeetCode Company Tags (Premium Feature)

Best for: Coding interview questions with exact problem references

LeetCode Premium ($35/month) gives you access to company-tagged questions. For each company, you can see:

• Questions asked in the last 6 months
• Questions asked in the last year
• Questions asked in the last 2 years
• Frequency of each question

How to use it:

1. Go to LeetCode → Problems → Filter by Company
2. Select your target company (Google, Meta, Amazon, etc.)
3. Sort by frequency (how often the question is asked)
4. Filter by "Last 6 months" for most relevant questions
5. Focus on Medium difficulty (most common in interviews)

Pro tip: The "frequency" bar shows how often a question appears. Focus on questions with high frequency bars first.

2. Glassdoor Interview Reviews

Best for: Understanding the full interview experience, including system design and behavioral questions

Glassdoor has thousands of interview reviews for each FAANG company. Each review often includes:

• Specific questions asked
• Interview difficulty rating
• Whether the candidate received an offer
• Date of the interview

How to use it:

1. Go to Glassdoor → Search for company → Interviews
2. Filter by job title (Software Engineer, etc.)
3. Sort by most recent
4. Look for reviews from the last 3-6 months
5. Note any questions that appear multiple times

Pro tip: Reviews that say "I received an offer" often have more detailed question information.

3. Blind (TeamBlind) App

Best for: Candid, detailed interview reports from verified tech employees

Blind is an anonymous professional network where verified employees share interview experiences. The quality of information is often higher than Glassdoor because:

• Users are verified employees at tech companies
• Anonymity encourages more detailed sharing
• Active community discusses specific questions

How to use it:

1. Download Blind app or visit TeamBlind.com
2. Search for "[Company] interview questions 2026"
3. Browse the Interview Prep section
4. Look for posts with specific question details

4. LeetCode Discuss Forum

Best for: Detailed solutions and discussions for recent interview questions

After interviews, many candidates post their experience on LeetCode Discuss. These posts often include:

• The exact questions asked
• Solutions and approaches
• Interview tips for that specific company

How to use it:

1. Go to LeetCode → Discuss → Interview Experience
2. Search for your target company
3. Sort by most recent
4. Focus on posts from the last 3-6 months

5. Reddit (r/cscareerquestions, r/leetcode)

Best for: Community discussions and question compilations

Reddit has active communities where people share interview experiences. Useful subreddits:

• r/cscareerquestions - General interview discussions
• r/leetcode - Specific problem discussions
• r/csMajors - Interview experiences for new grads

How to use it:

1. Search "[Company] interview questions 2026"
2. Look for interview experience posts
3. Check compiled lists that users sometimes create

Source Comparison Table

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How to Filter and Prioritize Interview Questions

Not all reported questions are equally valuable. Here is how to filter and prioritize effectively.

Step 1: Focus on Recent Questions (Last 6 Months)

Questions from 6+ months ago may have been rotated out. Prioritize:

• Last 3 months: Highest priority
• 3-6 months ago: High priority
• 6-12 months ago: Medium priority
• 1+ year ago: Low priority (only if still showing up frequently)

Step 2: Look for Patterns in Reports

If the same question appears in multiple independent reports, it is more likely to be asked again.

Example analysis:

Google Software Engineer interviews (last 3 months):
- "LRU Cache" - mentioned 8 times
- "Word Ladder" - mentioned 5 times
- "Merge Intervals" - mentioned 4 times
- "Random problem X" - mentioned 1 time

Priority: LRU Cache > Word Ladder > Merge Intervals > Random problem X

Step 3: Match Your Interview Round

Different rounds ask different types of questions:

• Phone Screen: Usually 1-2 Medium LeetCode-style problems
• Onsite Coding: Medium to Hard problems, 2-4 rounds
• System Design: Design problems (not on LeetCode)
• Behavioral: Leadership and teamwork questions

Focus on question types that match your upcoming round.

Step 4: Filter by Role Level

Questions differ by experience level:

• New Grad / Junior: More emphasis on data structures, less on system design
• Mid-Level: Balance of coding and system design
• Senior+: More system design, architectural questions

Look for interview reports from people at similar experience levels.

Step 5: Create Your Prioritized List

After filtering, create a focused list:

Example: 2-Week Google Prep List

Aim for a list of 30-50 questions for a 2-week prep period.

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The 2-Week Quick Interview Prep Plan

Here is a focused plan for candidates with limited time who already know the basics.

Prerequisites

This plan assumes you already:

• Understand basic data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash tables)
• Know common algorithms (sorting, searching, BFS, DFS)
• Can code in your chosen language without syntax issues
• Have some prior problem-solving experience

If you do not have these basics, this strategy will not work well. Spend time on fundamentals first.

Week 1: Research and Coding Questions

Days 1-2: Research (4-5 hours)

1. Subscribe to LeetCode Premium (optional but recommended)
2. Compile questions from all sources for your target company
3. Filter and prioritize questions (use the method above)
4. Create a list of 30-40 high-priority coding questions
5. Identify 5-7 system design topics mentioned in reports
6. Note any behavioral questions that appear repeatedly

Days 3-7: Solve Coding Questions (2-3 hours/day)

• Solve 5-7 questions per day from your prioritized list
• Start with highest priority questions
• Time yourself (45 minutes per problem max)
• If stuck after 20 minutes, look at hints
• If stuck after 30 minutes, study the solution
• After solving, understand the pattern and write notes

Daily Schedule Example:

Morning (1 hour): Solve 2-3 problems
Evening (1-2 hours): Solve 2-4 problems, review solutions
Before bed (15 min): Review notes from the day

Week 2: System Design, Behavioral, and Review

Days 8-10: System Design (3-4 hours/day)

Focus on system design topics mentioned in recent reports. Common ones include:

• Design a URL shortener
• Design Twitter / News Feed
• Design a Rate Limiter
• Design a Chat Application
• Design a Notification System

For each design:

1. Understand requirements (5 min)
2. High-level design (10 min)
3. Deep dive into 2-3 components (20 min)
4. Discuss trade-offs (5 min)

Days 11-12: Behavioral Preparation (2-3 hours/day)

Prepare stories for common behavioral questions reported on Glassdoor:

For Google:

• "Tell me about a challenging technical problem you solved"
• "Describe a time you disagreed with a teammate"
• "Tell me about a project you are proud of"

For Amazon (Leadership Principles):

• Customer Obsession examples
• Ownership examples
• Dive Deep examples
• Deliver Results examples

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for each story.

Days 13-14: Review and Mock Practice (2-3 hours/day)

1. Review all problems you solved
2. Re-solve any problems you struggled with
3. Do 1-2 mock interviews (use Pramp or a friend)
4. Practice explaining your thought process out loud
5. Get good sleep before your interview

2-Week Plan Summary

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Company-Specific Interview Question Patterns

Each FAANG company has tendencies in the questions they ask. Here is what recent data shows.

Google Interview Questions (2026-2026 Trends)

Coding question patterns:

• Heavy emphasis on graphs (BFS, DFS, shortest path)
• String manipulation problems
• Dynamic programming (medium difficulty)
• Tree traversals and manipulations
• Design questions disguised as coding (LRU Cache, etc.)

Frequently reported questions:

• LRU Cache
• Word Ladder / Word Ladder II
• Merge Intervals
• Number of Islands
• Course Schedule
• Decode Ways
• Longest Substring Without Repeating Characters

System design topics:

• Design Google Search
• Design YouTube
• Design Google Maps
• Design Gmail
• Design Google Docs

Behavioral focus:

• "Googleyness" - Collaboration, ambiguity handling
• Past project deep dives
• Technical leadership examples

Meta (Facebook) Interview Questions (2026-2026 Trends)

Coding question patterns:

• Faster-paced (often 2 problems in 45 minutes)
• Array and string manipulation heavy
• Binary search variations
• Tree problems (especially BST)
• Graph problems (less emphasis than Google)

Frequently reported questions:

• Valid Palindrome II
• Binary Tree Vertical Order Traversal
• Subarray Sum Equals K
• Random Pick with Weight
• Minimum Remove to Make Valid Parentheses
• Buildings With an Ocean View
• Nested List Weight Sum

System design topics:

• Design Facebook News Feed
• Design Instagram
• Design Messenger
• Design Facebook Live
• Design Ad Click Aggregator

Behavioral focus:

• "Why Meta?"
• Impact and metrics-driven stories
• Collaboration examples

Amazon Interview Questions (2026-2026 Trends)

Coding question patterns:

• Practical, real-world problem framing
• Array manipulation
• Tree problems
• Graph problems (moderate emphasis)
• String problems

Frequently reported questions:

• Two Sum and variations
• LRU Cache
• Merge K Sorted Lists
• Word Search
• Number of Islands
• Rotting Oranges
• Meeting Rooms II

System design topics:

• Design Amazon.com
• Design a Parking Lot System
• Design a Rate Limiter
• Design Amazon Prime Video
• Design a Warehouse System

Behavioral focus (Leadership Principles):

• Customer Obsession (most important)
• Ownership
• Invent and Simplify
• Dive Deep
• Deliver Results
• Disagree and Commit

Amazon Tip

Amazon heavily weights Leadership Principles in their hiring decisions. Prepare 2 stories for each of the top 6 Leadership Principles. Use the STAR method and include specific metrics when possible.

Microsoft Interview Questions (2026-2026 Trends)

Coding question patterns:

• Balanced difficulty (mix of easy, medium, some hard)
• Array and string problems common
• Linked list problems more common than at other companies
• Tree problems
• Less emphasis on graphs than Google

Frequently reported questions:

• Reverse a Linked List
• Two Sum
• Merge Two Sorted Lists
• Valid Parentheses
• Binary Tree Level Order Traversal
• Longest Palindromic Substring
• Add Two Numbers

System design topics:

• Design OneDrive / Dropbox
• Design Microsoft Teams
• Design Outlook
• Design Azure Blob Storage
• Design a Search Engine

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How to Practice Recent Questions Effectively

Finding questions is only half the battle. Here is how to practice them effectively.

The Right Way to Solve a Problem

Step 1: Read and Understand (5 minutes)

• Read the problem completely
• Identify inputs and outputs
• Note any constraints
• Ask clarifying questions (pretend the interviewer is there)

Step 2: Plan Your Approach (5-10 minutes)

• Think of 1-2 possible approaches
• Consider time and space complexity for each
• Choose the best approach
• Explain your thinking out loud

Step 3: Code the Solution (15-20 minutes)

• Write clean, readable code
• Talk while you code (practice this)
• Handle edge cases
• Do not worry about perfection on first pass

Step 4: Test Your Solution (5 minutes)

• Walk through with a simple example
• Test edge cases
• Fix any bugs you find

Step 5: Optimize if Needed (5 minutes)

• Can you improve time complexity?
• Can you improve space complexity?
• Discuss trade-offs

What to Do When You Are Stuck

If you are stuck after 15-20 minutes:

1. Look at the problem tags - LeetCode shows which patterns the problem uses
2. Read the first hint - Just enough to get unstuck
3. If still stuck after 25 minutes - Read the solution
4. After reading solution - Code it yourself without looking
5. Add to review list - Come back to this problem later

The Review Process

After solving a problem:

1. Identify the pattern - What technique did this problem use?
2. Note the key insight - What made this problem tricky?
3. Connect to similar problems - What other problems use this pattern?
4. Add to your notes - Quick reference for review

Example note:

Problem: LRU Cache
Pattern: Hash Map + Doubly Linked List
Key Insight: Need O(1) for both get and put, so combine
hash map (O(1) lookup) with doubly linked list (O(1) removal)
Similar to: LFU Cache, Design In-Memory File System

Track Your Progress

Keep a simple spreadsheet:

Review problems marked "Need Review" before your interview.

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Risks and Limitations of This Strategy

This strategy is powerful but not perfect. Understand the risks.

Risk 1: Questions Can Change

Companies do rotate questions. You might study 40 questions and none of them appear.

Mitigation: Focus on understanding patterns, not just memorizing solutions. Even if you do not get the exact question, understanding the underlying pattern helps.

Risk 2: Does Not Build Deep Understanding

Studying recent questions without understanding the underlying concepts is fragile. You might solve the problem you studied but fail a slight variation.

Mitigation: For each problem you study, understand why the solution works. Practice explaining it.

Risk 3: Inaccurate Reports

Not all Glassdoor or Blind reports are accurate. Some people misremember questions. Some questions are from different teams or locations.

Mitigation: Focus on questions that appear in multiple independent reports. Higher frequency = higher confidence.

Risk 4: System Design and Behavioral Are Harder to Study This Way

This strategy works best for coding questions. System design and behavioral questions are less likely to be exactly repeated.

Mitigation: Use recent reports to understand the types of questions asked, then prepare more broadly.

Risk 5: Can Feel Like Cheating

Some candidates feel uncomfortable studying recent questions.

Reality check: Preparing smartly is not cheating. You still need to understand and solve the problems. The company knows their questions are shared online and continues using them anyway.

When NOT to Use This Strategy

This strategy is not ideal if:

• You do not have basic data structure and algorithm knowledge
• You have 3+ months to prepare (use pattern-based learning instead)
• You are interviewing at a smaller company with less data available
• You want deep understanding rather than quick preparation

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Combining Recent Questions with Pattern Learning

The best approach combines recent questions with pattern-based learning.

The Hybrid Strategy

Use recent questions to:

• Prioritize which patterns to study
• See how companies phrase problems
• Build confidence with likely questions
• Optimize your limited time

Use pattern learning to:

• Build transferable skills
• Handle question variations
• Fill knowledge gaps
• Build long-term interview skills

Example Hybrid Plan (3-4 Weeks)

Week 1: Research and identify patterns

• Compile recent questions for your target company
• Identify which patterns appear most often
• Note: "Google asks many graph problems" → prioritize graph patterns

Week 2: Study high-priority patterns

• Focus on patterns that appear in recent questions
• Solve both recent questions AND other problems with same pattern
• Example: If "Number of Islands" is frequently asked, study BFS/DFS pattern broadly

Week 3: Expand and practice

• Solve more recent questions
• Add questions from related patterns
• Start system design and behavioral prep

Week 4: Review and mock interviews

• Review all problems
• Do mock interviews
• Final preparation

The Pattern-Question Connection

When you find a recent question, identify its pattern:

Study both the specific question AND other questions that use the same pattern.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How accurate are Glassdoor interview questions?

Glassdoor interview questions are generally accurate but not always complete. Studies suggest about 70-80% accuracy. Questions from verified reviews and those appearing multiple times are more reliable. Always cross-reference with LeetCode and Blind for confirmation.

Is LeetCode Premium worth it for interview prep?

Yes, LeetCode Premium is worth it if you are preparing for a specific company. The company tags and frequency data save significant research time. At $35/month, it pays for itself if it helps you land a job. You can cancel after your interviews.

How many recent questions should I study?

For a 2-week prep, aim for 30-50 high-priority questions. Quality matters more than quantity. It is better to deeply understand 30 questions than to superficially see 100. Focus on questions reported multiple times.

Can I rely only on recent questions for interview prep?

No, recent questions should supplement, not replace, fundamental preparation. This strategy works best when you already know basic data structures and algorithms. Without fundamentals, you will struggle with variations and follow-up questions.

How do I find recent questions for smaller companies?

For smaller companies, try these approaches:

• Search LeetCode Discuss for the company name
• Look for employee posts on Blind
• Check company-specific forums or Discord servers
• Network with current or former employees
• Look for similar companies in the same industry

Do companies know their questions are on Glassdoor?

Yes, most companies know their questions are shared online. They either accept this or rotate questions periodically. The fact that questions remain on LeetCode with company tags suggests companies are okay with it to some degree.

What if I see a question I studied in my actual interview?

Solve it naturally, as if you have not seen it before. Do not say "I have seen this before" - it may make the interviewer change the question. Walk through your thought process normally. The interviewer may ask follow-up questions to test deeper understanding.

How recent should the questions be?

Focus on questions from the last 3-6 months for best results. Questions older than a year are less likely to still be in rotation, though popular questions can persist for years. Prioritize newer reports.

Should I memorize solutions to recent questions?

No, do not memorize solutions. Understand the approach and be able to recreate it. Memorizing without understanding will fail when you face follow-up questions or slight variations.

What is the best source for system design questions?

For system design, Glassdoor and Blind are better than LeetCode. System design questions are not as standardized, so reading full interview experiences gives better insight into what companies ask and expect.

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Key Takeaways: The Recent Questions Strategy

To summarize this last-minute FAANG interview preparation guide:

1. Companies reuse questions - 60-70% of questions repeat within 6 months
2. Use multiple sources - LeetCode Premium, Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit
3. Filter aggressively - Focus on recent, frequently-reported questions
4. Understand, do not memorize - Know why solutions work
5. Match your timeline - 2-week plan for quick prep, combine with patterns for longer prep
6. Know the risks - This strategy is powerful but not foolproof

Your Next Steps

1. Today: Decide if you have the fundamentals (if not, focus there first)
2. Tomorrow: Subscribe to LeetCode Premium, start compiling questions
3. This week: Create your prioritized list of 30-50 questions
4. Next week: Solve questions, prepare system design, practice behavioral

Remember: This strategy is about working smart with limited time. If you have more time, combine it with pattern-based learning for the best results.

Good luck with your Google, Meta, Amazon, or other tech interviews!