Let’s break down the preparation plan for the next 7 hours to ensure you’re covering the right topics and maximizing your chances for success. Given your background and the job description, we will prioritize based on both the technical skills required and the experience you already have. I’ll guide you step-by-step, with focus on the most relevant areas.
Hour 1: Technical Foundation & Python Focus
Key Areas: Python, Object-Oriented Programming (OOP), REST APIs, and Microservices
- Python Basics & OOP:
- Understand the core concepts of OOP (Classes, Inheritance, Polymorphism, Encapsulation).
- Practice writing Python code for data structures (lists, sets, dicts) and algorithms. Focus on optimizing code and understanding edge cases.
- Focus Areas:
- Classes & Objects: Creating and using classes.
- Inheritance: Extending classes, overriding methods.
- Decorators: Using @staticmethod, @classmethod, and custom decorators.
- Exceptions: Handling custom exceptions, error logging.
Example Problem:
- Write a Python class that implements a simple cache system (like an LRU cache).
- Discuss time complexities (e.g., O(1) for cache operations).
- REST API Development (Flask/FastAPI):
- Since you have experience with Flask and FastAPI, ensure you know how to design APIs that are scalable and easy to maintain.
- Focus Areas:
- FastAPI: Asynchronous APIs, dependency injection, and background tasks.
- Flask: Route handling, request/response cycles, and error handling.
- Example Problem:
- Create a basic REST API to manage user profiles (CRUD operations). Ensure the app handles validation, error handling, and responses using FastAPI or Flask.
Hour 2-3: AWS & Cloud Architecture
Key Areas: EC2, Lambda, SQS, Step Functions, and Microservices Design
- AWS Services Review:
- AWS EC2: Understand scaling strategies (Auto Scaling, Load Balancer, AMIs).
- AWS Lambda: How to create serverless functions, integrate with API Gateway, and deal with event-driven architectures.
- SQS & Step Functions: Learn how these services fit into a microservices architecture. Step Functions for orchestrating workflows, SQS for decoupling services.
- Focus on real-world scenarios: Consider how these services interact in a microservices-based environment. Be able to draw system diagrams and explain your reasoning.
Scenario Question:
- Design a microservices-based architecture using AWS services. You need to implement a payment processing system where a payment service sends messages to a fraud detection service and then updates the order status in a database. Which AWS services would you use and why?
- Designing Cloud-Based Systems:
- Emphasize designing scalable, fault-tolerant systems. Practice breaking down systems into loosely coupled services.
- Focus on event-driven architecture, decoupling, and state management.
- Example Question:
- “How would you design a real-time data pipeline for monitoring IoT devices using AWS?”
Hour 4: Data Engineering, Databases, and ETL
Key Areas: PostgreSQL, Redshift, MongoDB, DynamoDB, Data Pipelines, ETL
- SQL & NoSQL Databases:
- PostgreSQL: Focus on joins, subqueries, window functions, and query optimization.
- Redshift: Understand distribution styles, sort keys, and query optimization for large datasets.
- MongoDB/DynamoDB: Be ready to discuss schema design, indexing strategies, and performance optimization in NoSQL databases.
Scenario Question:
- Given an e-commerce platform with millions of products, how would you design the database to ensure fast query performance? Discuss normalization vs denormalization for relational vs NoSQL databases.
- Data Pipelines & ETL:
- Review building ETL processes and data quality frameworks, which are critical in data engineering roles.
- Key Concepts: Batch vs Stream processing, Data transformations, Error handling.
- Discuss AWS Glue for ETL processes and Airflow for orchestration.
Example Problem:
- Design an ETL pipeline that extracts sales data from an S3 bucket, transforms it (e.g., cleaning, aggregating), and loads it into a Redshift cluster.
Hour 5: CI/CD & DevOps
Key Areas: Jenkins, Docker, Git, Airflow, Shell Scripting
- CI/CD Pipelines:
- Understand the concept of continuous integration and continuous delivery, and how Jenkins and Docker play a role in automating deployment.
- Discuss containerization using Docker and integrating it into Jenkins pipelines.
- Learn how Airflow fits into managing workflows and pipelines.
Scenario Question:
- Design a CI/CD pipeline for a Python microservice. The pipeline should include linting, testing, and deploying to a Docker container hosted on ECS.
- Shell Scripting:
- Understand basic Linux commands, writing shell scripts for automation, managing servers, and troubleshooting.
Example Problem:
- Write a shell script that automates the backup of a directory and logs the time and size of the backup.
Hour 6: Behavioral & Mock Interview Simulation
Key Areas: STAR Method for Behavioral Questions
- Behavioral Interview Preparation:
- Prepare for STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) style answers to questions.
- Focus on impactful projects where you contributed to designing solutions, collaborating with teams, and driving results.
Common Behavioral Questions:
- “Tell me about a time when you had to debug a critical issue in production.”
- “Describe a time when you disagreed with a team member and how you handled it.”
- “How do you prioritize tasks when juggling multiple projects?”
Practice framing your answers around these types of situations.
Hour 7: Mock Interview & Review
Key Areas: Simulate Interview Conditions
- Mock Interview:
- Conduct a mock interview with yourself or a friend. Focus on answering the following areas:
- Technical questions on Python, AWS, and databases.
- System design and architecture questions.
- Behavioral questions.
- Answer Structuring:
- For technical questions: Focus on explaining your thought process clearly. Show how you approach problem-solving rather than just jumping to code.
- For system design questions: Start by gathering requirements, discuss trade-offs, and sketch the architecture before diving into implementation details.
- For behavioral questions: Stick to the STAR method and make your examples concise but impactful.
Additional Tips for Staying Calm Under Pressure:
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Think Aloud: Even if you don’t have the immediate answer, walk through your thought process. This shows problem-solving skills.
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Stay Focused: If you get stuck, ask clarifying questions or break down the problem into smaller parts.
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Practice Relaxation: Take short breaks, breathe deeply, and don’t rush yourself. You’ve got this!
By following this structured plan, you’ll focus on the most critical areas for your interview and leverage your existing expertise to maximize your chances of success.