Introduction:
Preparing for a FAANG interview is a challenge in itself. But doing it while managing a full-time job, academic workload, or family responsibilities? That’s a whole different level of difficulty.
Still, thousands of successful engineers have made it to FAANG companies like Facebook (Meta), Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Google—even while juggling life’s other demands. How? With focused, smart, and sustainable FAANG interview prep.
If you’re short on time but high on ambition, this guide is tailored for you. We’ll walk through a practical plan that aligns with real-life constraints and still gets results.
Why Most People Struggle With FAANG Interview Prep
Before we jump into the strategy, it’s worth calling out the common pitfalls that derail most candidates:
- Lack of structure: People dive into random LeetCode problems without a clear goal or progression path.
- Burnout: Cramming 5 hours of prep after work every night leads to fatigue and inconsistent performance.
- Resource overload: Jumping between 10 different courses, platforms, and YouTube channels creates confusion, not clarity.
The antidote to all of this is intentional, time-boxed FAANG interview prep that fits your schedule—not burns it out.
Step 1: Set Your Weekly Time Budget
Start by being honest: how much time can you realistically commit each week?
- Minimum: 7–10 hours/week (ideal for working professionals)
- Optimal: 12–15 hours/week (for deeper focus)
- Weekend heavy: 2 hours on weekdays, 6–8 hours on weekends
Once you define your limit, plan accordingly. Even just 90 focused minutes a day can lead to major gains over 8–10 weeks.
Step 2: Structure Your FAANG Interview Prep into Phases
To avoid burnout and maximize your time, organize your prep into four focused phases.
Phase 1: Foundation (Weeks 1–2)
- Topics: Arrays, Strings, Hash Maps
- Practice: 2–3 easy problems per day
- Build: A spreadsheet to log each problem, approach, and takeaway
- Bonus: Begin outlining behavioral stories (1–2 per week)
Phase 2: Core Algorithms (Weeks 3–5)
- Topics: Recursion, Trees, Graphs, Sliding Window, Two Pointers
- Practice: Mix of easy and medium-level problems
- System design: Watch short 15–30 min videos (2–3 per week)
- Mock: Schedule your first mock interview (use Pramp or Interviewing.io)
Phase 3: Advanced and Application (Weeks 6–8)
- Topics: Dynamic Programming, Backtracking, Tricky Graphs
- Practice: 1 hard problem/day or 2 medium
- System design: Sketch and explain simple systems (URL shortener, Rate limiter)
- Behavioral: Record and refine 6–8 STAR stories
Phase 4: Simulation & Review (Weeks 9–10)
- Mock: Do 2 full mock interviews/week
- Review: Revisit past weak areas
- Rehearse: Behavioral stories until you’re fluent and natural
- Reset: Prioritize mental clarity over cramming
This timeline supports a full-time schedule and keeps you progressing steadily.
Step 3: Build the Ultimate FAANG Prep Toolkit (Lean Version)
You don’t need every platform. Just a few powerful ones:
Daily Practice:
- LeetCode: The go-to for problem-solving
- Blind 75: Core problem list for efficient coverage
- NeetCode: Pattern-based playlists for structured learning
Mock Interviews:
- Interviewing.io: Anonymous, realistic mock sessions
- Pramp: Peer-to-peer technical interviews
- Glassdoor: Check FAANG-specific questions by role
System Design:
- System Design Primer (GitHub)
- YouTube (Gaurav Sen, Tech Dosis)
- Excalidraw or Whimsical for sketching systems
Keep your resource stack small and focused to avoid decision fatigue during your FAANG interview prep.
Step 4: Don’t Skip Behavioral Interview Preparation
At FAANG companies, culture fit and leadership principles matter just as much as your code.
Here’s how to prep:
- Use the STAR format: Situation, Task, Action, Result
- Draft at least 8 real-life stories based on past roles, side projects, or challenges
- Cover these themes:
- Ownership and leadership
- Overcoming failure
- Working in ambiguous situations
- Mentoring or cross-functional collaboration
Practice answering out loud. Record yourself. It may feel awkward at first—but it will pay off when you're calm and fluent during the real thing.
Your FAANG interview prep isn't complete until you’re confident talking about how you work—not just what you code.
Step 5: Make Your Prep Sustainable
You’ll never make it through 8–10 weeks if you’re mentally drained. Sustainable prep beats brute force.
Tips to help you stay consistent:
- Timebox your sessions (e.g., 90 minutes max per session)
- Take 1–2 rest days per week
- Don’t punish skipped days—adjust and move on
- Track wins, not just tasks (e.g., “I solved a hard DP problem!”)
- Join a community or accountability partner
Remember: small consistent effort > massive burnout followed by inconsistency.
Step 6: Reframe Success (and Failure)
Not every FAANG interview ends in an offer. That’s okay. Success isn’t just about landing one job—it’s about building the skillset to compete at that level.
Every hour of FAANG interview prep improves:
- Your technical depth
- Your communication clarity
- Your systems thinking
- Your professional storytelling
Even if the first offer takes time, you’re becoming the kind of engineer who can stand out anywhere.
Final Thoughts:
There will always be someone who has more hours in the day. But that doesn’t matter.
You have the power to make your FAANG interview prep work for you—even in small windows of time—if you approach it with intention, structure, and discipline.
You’re not behind. You’re not late. You’re right on time—as long as you start today.
So start small. Stay consistent. And remember: when the opportunity shows up, you won’t need to scramble. You’ll already be ready.