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Interviewing at FAANG and big tech companies can feel intimidating—but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode, I’m joined by Mike Mroczka—Senior Software Engineer and contributing author of Beyond Cracking the Coding Interview—to demystify the process and share practical strategies to help you land your next role.

We break down what to expect in coding interviews, how to approach system design interviews, and the red and green flags you should watch out for—on both sides of the table. Whether you're preparing for your first FAANG interview or looking to sharpen your edge, this episode is packed with insights to boost your confidence and performance.

Resources & Links:

• 📘 Beyond Cracking the Coding Interview: https://bctci.co/amazon
• 📚 9 FREE Chapters of BCtCI: https://bctci.co/free-chapters
• 🤖 ChatGPT Cheating Experiment: https://interviewing.io/blog/how-hard-is-it-to-cheat-with-chatgpt-in-technical-interviews
• 🛠️ A Senior Engineer's Guide to the System Design Interview: https://interviewing.io/guides/system-design-interview

 #TechInterviews #FAANG #CodingInterview #SystemDesign #SoftwareEngineering #CareerTips #BigTech #InterviewPreparation #MikeMroczka #TechAndTestPodcast

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On the latest episode of Tech and Test, I’m joined by Elliott Clark, CEO and founder of Batteries Included, for a deep and thoughtful conversation about the cost of testing, what to test (and when), and how to align engineering efforts with your company's mission.

We cover:

🧪 What testing is really worth investing in — and where to avoid the trap of "just write more tests"
⚖️ Balancing the cost of testing with the speed of product delivery
🧠 Testing ML systems — and why they require a very different mindset
📊 Using probabilistic approaches to simulate production traffic data
📈 Why choosing the right data and metrics is essential to ensuring your engineering team is actually solving the right problems
🎯 How to make sure your tests, tools, and tracking all support your company’s mission

A deep dive into the real-world trade-offs of testing at scale — the pain points, the payoffs, and how to make it all work.

#TechAndTest #SoftwareTesting #MLTesting #Startups #QualityEngineering #ProbabilisticTesting #DataDriven

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In this episode of Tech and Test, I sit down with Jesús Gianzo Villaverde, a Software Development Engineer in Test, to explore the evolving role of AI in software testing.

We kick things off by discussing Deepseek, a recent development in the world of AI, before diving into the broader landscape of LLMs and biases—how these models work, where they fall short, and what that means for software testing.

We share insights into real-world applications of AI and LLMs in software and games testing, including practical use cases, challenges, and the potential use of AI in testing.

Join us on another great episode of Tech and Test!

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In this episode of Tech and Test, I had the privilege of interviewing Rohan Abeelack—a high school student with an incredible passion for computer science. 🌟

Rohan’s enthusiasm for technology is truly inspiring. His fresh perspective, curiosity, and ambitious ideas, like developing a personalised chatbot to help students learn maths and English, reminded me why so many of us entered this field in the first place: to innovate, learn, and make a difference.

For seasoned professionals, Rohan’s story serves as a powerful reminder to:
🔹 Rekindle the excitement for exploring new ideas
🔹 Embrace the curiosity that drives innovation
🔹 Stay connected to the human side of technology—its ability to solve real-world problems and inspire others

Together, we dived into:
🔹 The pros and cons of AI technology and its potential societal impact
🔹 Rohan’s journey into programming and his creative ideas
🔹 His thoughts on the future of AI
🔹 How his visit to Bletchley Park deepened his appreciation for computing history

Whether you’re a seasoned tech professional or just starting your journey, this conversation is a refreshing reminder of why we love what we do.

🎧 Tune in to hear his story.

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Excited to share the latest episode of Tech and Test! This time, I’m joined by James Shao, a 2nd-year Joint Maths and Computing student at Imperial College London, who brings a fresh perspective on learning, curiosity, and growth in STEM. 🌟

Here’s what we cover:
🎓 James’ experience navigating the demanding worlds of mathematics and computer science.
💻 A discussion into programming languages and how they connect to his studies.
🔭 A fun discussion about A-Level Astronomy and how it shaped his curiosity.
📝 A retrospective on choosing the right subjects to study, balancing passion and practicality.

 “If you find something you’re interested in—you should definitely go check it out.” 

Whether you’re a student, a tech enthusiast, or just curious about the STEM journey, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration.

#TechAndTest #Podcast #STEM #Education #Learning

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🎙️ New Episode of Tech and Test Podcast! 🎙️

Excited to announce our next episode featuring two incredible guests: Darendra Appanah and James Banyard! We'll be diving into the world of hardware testing, AI, and the fascinating field of photonics.

Whether you're curious about the intersection of cutting-edge tech and testing or just want to learn more about testing emergining technologies such AI and photonics, this episode is one you won't want to miss!

Stay tuned for insights, innovation, and plenty of geeky discussions! 🔥

#TechAndTest #Podcast #HardwareTesting #AI #Photonics #Innovation #QA

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🎙️ New Episode of Tech and Test Podcast! 🎙️

I'm thrilled to be joined by Luke, a PhD candidate in Computer Science at Lancaster University. His research focuses on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), education, and digital accessibility, particularly for individuals with ADHD.

In this episode, we dive into Luke’s PhD journey, his involvement with Lancaster's EDI (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion) committee, and his role as R&D Liaison for NeurodiverseIT. We explore the significance of effective communication, especially within diverse communities, and discuss how AI is transforming society.

We also delve into the BBC micro:bit, discussing how it’s empowering young learners and making coding more accessible for all, especially children. Luke Halpin shares insights into the challenges and opportunities in creating more inclusive environments in tech and academia, and we explore the broader societal impact of AI.

Don’t miss this insightful conversation on inclusion, accessibility, and the future of tech, AI, and the BBC micro:bit !

#TechAndTest #Podcast #DigitalAccessibility #EDI #HCI #Neurodiversity #Microbit #InclusiveTech

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🚀 New Podcast Episode Alert! 🎧

Excited to share our latest podcast episode featuring the incredible Laveena Ramchandani, Test Manager at easyJet! ✈️ With over 10 years of experience in the IT industry, Laveena leads the charge in testing and quality assurance for digital space and data science projects, ensuring that easyJet delivers seamless and user-friendly experiences.

Laveena’s journey spans across various domains, including retail, insurance, residential, transport, and aviation. With a strong background in business computing, data migration, and BI reporting make her an inspiring leader in the field.

In this episode, we explore:

• Laveena’s Transition to Leadership: How she successfully transitioned into a managerial role, leading teams to uphold the highest standards of quality.
• Innovating Test Strategies: Tips on how to introduce and implement effective changes to testing strategies within an organisation.
• Staying Ahead of the Curve: Laveena’s commitment to continuous learning—discover how she stays relevant by regularly upskilling and keeping pace with industry trends through certifications, blogging, speaking engagements, and mentoring others.

Laveena’s passion for data science and software testing shines through in every aspect of her work. Whether you're in the tech industry or simply curious about the intricacies of quality assurance, this episode is brimming with valuable insights.

🎙️ Tune in now to be inspired by Laveena’s dedication to excellence and her journey of continuous growth!

#Podcast #QualityAssurance #TechLeadership #DataScience #ITIndustry #Aviation #SoftwareTesting #DigitalSolutions #ContinuousLearning

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🚀 New Episode Alert! 🚀

I'm thrilled to announce the latest episode of the Tech and Test podcast featuring Tony Godar, an engineering manager with an exciting career at PlayStation! 🎮👨‍💻

In this episode, we dive deep into:

🎯 Tony's Career at PlayStation: Explore Tony's journey in Japan through one of the most iconic gaming companies in the world. Learn about the challenges and triumphs he's faced along the way.

🕶️ Working with VR: Tony shares his experiences and insights into the fascinating world of virtual reality, shedding light on his work with immersive VR headsets.

🤖 Generative AI: Tony discusses his thoughts on the future of generative AI and its potential impact on the wider tech industry.

❓ A Two-Way Conversation: Tony is one of the first guests to turn the tables and ask me some questions. This engaging exchange offers unique perspectives and deeper insights into my passions and interests.

💼 Tips for Aspiring Software Engineers: Tony shares valuable tips on the qualities and skills he looks for when hiring software engineers. Aspiring candidates won't want to miss his advice on what it takes to succeed in the tech industry.

Don't miss out on this insightful conversation with Tony Godar. Tune in now to get inspired and informed! 🎧✨

#Podcast #PlayStation #VR #DeveloperMindset #Leadership #Engineering #Innovation #TonyGodar #TechTalks #GamingIndustry #ProductDevelopment #SoftwareEngineer #TechCareers

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🎙 I'm excited to share an upcoming episode on the Tech and Test Podcast featuring Larry C. Goddard, aka “LarryG”! 🎙

 Larry is a renowned figure in the world of test automation with a fascinating journey spanning software testing, in aviation, telecommunications and even the fashion industry.

Join us as we dive deep into Larry’s insights on the evolution of test automation over his two-decade career. Discover what inspired him to create Klassi-js and how it stands out in the market of test automation frameworks.

We’ll also explore Larry’s approach to selecting the right tools for testing scenarios involving WebdriverIO and gain valuable advice for aspiring engineers in this field.

Beyond his technical expertise, Larry brings unique perspectives from his experiences as ex-military, offering insights into problem-solving, time-management and leadership in tech. His background informs his disciplined approach to software testing and automation.

Listen for a discussion that promises to inspire and inform!

Larry's Book co-authored with Paul M. Grossman
Enhanced Test Automation with WebdriverIO: Unlock the superpowers of hybrid testing frameworks

#TechAndTest #TestAutomation #AI #ML #SoftwareTesting #Leadership #CareerJourney