I recently interviewed for a DevOps role at Amazon and went through several rounds, starting with an online assessment that included logic, Linux commands, Docker basics, and behavioral questions. After passing the OA, I had a live coding interview focused on data structures, algorithms, and object-oriented programming, which I felt went quite well. However, I faced challenges in the scripting and troubleshooting round. The interviewer questioned the quality of my Bash scripts, which I had created based on my experience, even though they functioned correctly. He suggested there might be better approaches, and ultimately, I received a rejection email. Now, I'm looking for ways to sharpen my Bash scripting skills since I usually work with Python and AWS CDK and also to handle tough interviewer questions more effectively. Any suggestions?
4 Answers
Focus on practicing. Create a small project where you can apply Bash scripting regularly. Also, when asked about your approach in interviews, it’s important to elaborate on why you chose a certain method and any potential alternatives you considered. Showing that you can evaluate different approaches will definitely impress interviewers next time!
Absolutely! Demonstrating your thought process can make a big difference.
I totally get what you're saying. Sometimes those interviewers can be extremely picky! It might help if you can share a recent Bash script or describe the task you were given. That way, others can provide specific feedback on how to improve. Also, learning to explain your script's logic while coding can really show your thought process, which might help in future interviews.
Exactly! Highlighting areas for improvement during the interview can really demonstrate your critical thinking. Let's hear about that specific feedback you got!
For sure! It’s all about showing your problem-solving skills under pressure.
Honestly, FAANG interviews can be tough, and they often reject many qualified candidates to maintain their standards. It might be better to practice scripting with Python since you’re already familiar with it. You could even write scripts in Python that can perform similar tasks as Bash scripts to make your process easier. Plus, brush up on some key algorithms and data structures used in Bash to impress interviewers next time!
Great point! Python can sometimes be more intuitive, and it might show flexibility in your coding abilities.
For sure! Learning the nuances of both can make you a versatile candidate.
It's surprising to hear that you got rejected despite having working scripts, but it does happen. Rejections from big companies can sometimes be more about their standards than your actual skill level. I’d suggest digging deeper into Bash scripting by practicing solving problems on platforms like LeetCode or Codewars where you can focus specifically on optimizing your scripts. Check resources like 'The Linux Command Line' for comprehensive learning and try to incorporate some of those optimization techniques into your scripts as you practice.
And remember to brush up on the specific nuances of the languages you're using!