books for interview preparation

Top 5 Books to Help You Master Behavioral Interviews

By Vidal Graupera on 5/22/2023

Preparing for behavioral interviews can be challenging, but with the right resources, you can improve your skills and boost your confidence. Here are the top 5 books to help you master behavioral interviews, providing practical tips, strategies, and insights to answer interview questions effectively.

1. "Behavioral Interview Blueprint: A Proven Guide to Ace Your Next Job Interview" by Vidal Graupera

It demystifies the process by emphasizing the importance of soft skills, illustrating how to identify pertinent behavioral traits, analyze job descriptions, and understand common interview themes. The book also teaches you how to use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method for structuring responses, navigate unconventional questions, and adapt to different interviewing contexts. With actionable tips and real-life examples, this guide serves as a launching pad for career advancement, invaluable for both seasoned professionals and those just starting their career journey.

Buy on Amazon

2. "The STAR Interview: How to Tell a Great Story, Nail the Interview and Land Your Dream Job" by Misha Yurchenko

Focusing on the widely-used STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result), this book provides a step-by-step approach to crafting and delivering powerful stories during behavioral interviews. Misha Yurchenko shares his expertise as a career coach and recruiter, helping you understand the importance of storytelling in interviews and how to make your stories stand out. The book includes practical exercises, examples, and templates to guide you through the process.

3. "Great Answers to Tough Interview Questions" by Martin John Yate

A classic in the interview preparation genre, Martin John Yate's book covers a wide range of interview questions, including behavioral ones. The author offers practical advice on how to tackle difficult questions, emphasizing the importance of understanding the interviewer's perspective and expectations. The book features numerous examples and sample answers, making it an excellent resource for anyone looking to improve their interview skills.

4. "301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions" by Vicky Oliver

Vicky Oliver's book offers a wealth of smart and well-crafted answers to a wide range of interview questions, including behavioral ones. The author shares her insights on how to address challenging questions, highlight your strengths, and avoid common pitfalls. This book is an invaluable resource for interviewees at all levels, providing a solid foundation for crafting your own compelling responses.

5. "Powerful Phrases for Successful Interviews" by Tony Beshara

In this book, Tony Beshara focuses on the importance of using the right language and phrases during interviews to make a strong impression. The author, a renowned recruiter and career coach, shares his knowledge of what hiring managers and interviewers look for in candidates. The book includes a comprehensive list of powerful phrases to use in various situations, helping you articulate your experiences, skills, and accomplishments effectively.

By leveraging the insights and strategies from these top books on behavioral interviews, you can better prepare yourself for success in your next interview. Invest time in understanding the concepts, practicing your responses, and developing compelling stories to showcase your skills, experience, and fit for the role.

Get Interview-Ready with Mock AI Interviews

Be confident and prepared to ace any interview situation. Our AI-powered Interview Simulator mimics real interviews so you can practice and master your responses.

📘 Buy The Book

Learn the art of behavioral interviews with The Behavioral Interview Blueprint: A Proven Guide to Ace Your Next Job Interview. This comprehensive guide dives deep into the nuances of behavioral interviews, equipping you with the knowledge and confidence to showcase your skills, experiences, and unique attributes effectively.

Check out a sample chapter

❓Question Bank

Explore our Question Bank for detailed Q&A specific to various job roles. This resource can help you better prepare for your next interview.

🗣️ Join our Discord

Connect with others preparing for their interviews in our Discord community. It's a perfect place to share experiences, exchange tips, seek advice, or just to find some motivation from others who are on the same journey.

June 20, 2022

6 best interview books to help you ace your next job interview, the art of the interview by james storey, cracking the code to a successful interview, presence - bringing your boldest self to your biggest challenges by amy cuddy, smart answers to tricky interview questions: how to prepare for a job-winning interview by rob yeung, what color is your parachute 2019: a practical manual for job-hunters and career-changers by richard n. bolles, how to talk to anyone: / edition 2 by leil lowndes.

Recommended interview books before your next job interview

• The first section talks about the power of body language - how our posture and movements can affect the way we think and feel about ourselves and the way others perceive us. 
• The second section discusses the importance of "power posing" - standing in a posture that makes you feel powerful, even when you don't feel confident. 
• The third section of the book is all about how to use your body language to get ahead in your career.

Read next 📖

Questions for the second interview (with sample answer).

You've aced the first interview and have been called back for a second interview.  Congrats!  The second interview is usually with the hiring manag...

7 Signs That Your Job Interview Went Well (What To Do Next)

I thought my job interview went bad. But I got the job offer.   After one interview, I thought my interview went well.    But bad luck.   I did not...

How to be a good boss?

Are you a boss? Or are you aspiring to be one? If you are, then you’ve probably wondered how to be a good boss.    After all, being a good boss is ...

Types of Performance Appraisal Methods (Choose the Right One)

ssessing your employees' work performance is very important—no doubt about this.   You should know how your employees are doing, right? Do they nee...

How to impress your boss?

Everyone wants to stand out at work and get ahead. For this, you need to start impressing your boss.   But you need to learn the way as you don't k...

• Shopping Cart

Advanced Search

• Browse Our Shelves
• Best Sellers
• Digital Audiobooks
• Featured Titles
• New This Week
• Staff Recommended
• Reading Lists
• Upcoming Events
• Ticketed Events
• Science Book Talks
• Past Events
• Video Archive
• Online Gift Codes
• University Clothing
• Goods & Gifts from Harvard Book Store
• Hours & Directions
• Newsletter Archive
• Frequent Buyer Program
• Signed First Edition Club
• Signed New Voices in Fiction Club
• Off-Site Book Sales
• Corporate & Special Sales
• Print on Demand

• All Our Shelves
• Academic New Arrivals
• New Hardcover - Biography
• New Hardcover - Fiction
• New Hardcover - Nonfiction
• New Titles - Paperback
• African American Studies
• Anthologies
• Anthropology / Archaeology
• Architecture
• Asia & The Pacific
• Astronomy / Geology
• Boston / Cambridge / New England
• Business & Management
• Career Guides
• Child Care / Childbirth / Adoption
• Children's Board Books
• Children's Picture Books
• Children's Activity Books
• Children's Beginning Readers
• Children's Middle Grade
• Children's Gift Books
• Children's Nonfiction
• Children's/Teen Graphic Novels
• Teen Nonfiction
• Young Adult
• Classical Studies
• Cognitive Science / Linguistics
• College Guides
• Cultural & Critical Theory
• Education - Higher Ed
• Environment / Sustainablity
• European History
• Exam Preps / Outlines
• Games & Hobbies
• Gender Studies / Gay & Lesbian
• Gift / Seasonal Books
• Globalization
• Graphic Novels
• Hardcover Classics
• Health / Fitness / Med Ref
• Islamic Studies
• Large Print
• Latin America / Caribbean
• Law & Legal Issues
• Literary Crit & Biography
• Local Economy
• Mathematics
• Media Studies
• Middle East
• Myths / Tales / Legends
• Native American
• Paperback Favorites
• Performing Arts / Acting
• Personal Finance
• Personal Growth
• Photography
• Physics / Chemistry
• Poetry Criticism
• Ref / English Lang Dict & Thes
• Ref / Foreign Lang Dict / Phrase
• Reference - General
• Religion - Christianity
• Religion - Comparative
• Religion - Eastern
• Romance & Erotica
• Science Fiction
• Short Introductions
• Technology, Culture & Media
• Theology / Religious Studies
• Travel Atlases & Maps
• Travel Lit / Adventure
• Urban Studies
• Wines And Spirits
• Women's Studies
• World History
• Writing Style And Publishing

Great Answers, Great Questions For Your Job Interview, 2nd Edition

The classic guide to acing any interview—updated with critical skills for networking, video interviewing, and researching companies Great Answers, Great Questions For Your Job Interview prepares you to answer the trickiest questions and make yourself stand out from the competition. From pre-interview research to follow-up calls, the authors walk you through every step of the process and provide powerful advice on customizing your resume for any position. Includes worksheets and exercises that help you practice your responses to interview questions NEW: How to land an interview through smart networking, researching a company before the interview, and following up afterwards on LinkedIn and other social media sites NEW: Preparing for a video interview on Skype NEW: Tips on salary negotiation NEW: Techniques for creating a “culture match” with a potential employer NEW: Essential information on role playing Jay A. Block is the cofounder of the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PARW/CC). He developed a groundbreaking career management and empowerment program for the Workforce Development System nationwide, the U.S. Department of Labor, and other leading career and employment-related organizations. Michael Betrus is a sales director by trade, having conducted hundreds of interviews and hires, and a career seminar leader for students on campuses nationwide.

There are no customer reviews for this item yet.

Classic Totes

Tote bags and pouches in a variety of styles, sizes, and designs , plus mugs, bookmarks, and more!

Shipping & Pickup

We ship anywhere in the U.S. and orders of $75+ ship free via media mail!

Noteworthy Signed Books: Join the Club!

Join our Signed First Edition Club (or give a gift subscription) for a signed book of great literary merit, delivered to you monthly.

Harvard Square's Independent Bookstore

© 2024 Harvard Book Store All rights reserved

Contact Harvard Book Store 1256 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02138

Tel (617) 661-1515 Toll Free (800) 542-READ Email [email protected]

View our current hours »

Join our bookselling team »

We plan to remain closed to the public for two weeks, through Saturday, March 28 While our doors are closed, we plan to staff our phones, email, and harvard.com web order services from 10am to 6pm daily.

Store Hours Monday - Saturday: 9am - 11pm Sunday: 10am - 10pm

Holiday Hours 12/24: 9am - 7pm 12/25: closed 12/31: 9am - 9pm 1/1: 12pm - 11pm All other hours as usual.

Map Find Harvard Book Store »

Online Customer Service Shipping » Online Returns » Privacy Policy »

Harvard University harvard.edu »

• Clubs & Services

Knowledge Enthusiast

Digital marketing insights and perspectives

10 of the best books to read to prep for job interviews

“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” Zig Ziglar, an American author, salesman, and motivational speaker

Preparing for job interviews is vital because it increases your chances of your success.

Preparation boosts your confidence. When you know who you are and how you can help the company you are interviewing with, you can answer questions with assurance and make a positive impression.

Additionally, preparing helps you articulate your thoughts more clearly and concisely. You. can structure your answers in a way that the interviewers understand how you can help the company.

Interviews can be nerve-wracking. Preparation helps you reduce stress during the interview and helps you stand out compared to other candidates being interviewed. When you are prepared, you can increase your chances of getting the job.

To help you prepare for job interviews, books can be an invaluable resource. They provide in-depth knowledge about common interview questions, effective answering techniques, and practice questions and exercises. Books can provide you with a structured approach and enable you to learn at your own pace where you absorb information that works for you.

While you can’t learn everything about acing a job interview and securing a job from books, they should help you become well-versed so you can knock the job interview out of the pack.

10 of the best books to read this year to prep for your job interviews

Here’s a list of top 10 books you should read before you go to a job interview.

1. Brag!: The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn without Blowing It

Author: Peggy Klaus

Why should you read this book? This book is about how to bring out your strengths and qualities to excel in your career. This book can help you boost your confidence without being arrogant.

Written by a communication expert known as the “brag lady” or “bragologist,” this book gives you a plan for setting yourself without turning those off you are trying to impress. Author Peggy Klaus has worked with leading Fortune 500 companies on their communication and leadership training programs so she knows her stuff.

If you are looking for ways to “brag” about yourself in a subtle way during your job interviews and grow your career, this book is for you. This books outlines how you can brand yourself in the right way. Remember, it’s how we talk about ourselves is critical to success.

2. The Magic of Thinking Big

Author: David J. Schwartz

Why should you read this book? In this book, you’ll learn why setting your goals high is important and how to exceed those goals. In this book, you’ll learn how to achieve what you want by finding the ideal job and living a rewarding and happy life.

The author is one of the top experts on motivation and in this book, you’ll learn how to sell better, earn more money, and find greater happiness and peace of mind. After reading this book, you will acquire the secrets to success and satisfaction. YOu’ll learn the power of your mindset and behaving in a way to get the most out of your job, relationships, and community.

3. The Power of STAR Method: How to Succeed at Behavioral Job Interview

Author: Martha Gage

Why should you read this book? In this book, you’ll learn how to master the behavioral job interview. Behavioral interviewing is one of the biggest challenges for today’s job applicants. Many companies use this hiring technique to find the right candidate where an average job opening gets more than 20 applications.

In today’s competitive world, you can’t rely on just your credential and professional demeanor to land a job, you must take advantage of the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, and Result. One of the keys to succeeding in a job interview is how you tell your story.

The STAR method will help you become a top 10% of applicants. In this book, you’ll learn common behavior questions, how to best handle behavior interviews, how to develop your stories, common mistakes, and how to showcase the best features of your personality.

4. Crush Your Career: Ace the Interview, Land the Job, and Launch Your Future

Author: Dee Ann Turner and Tim Elmore

Why should you read this book? In this book, you’ll learn the secrets to finding a job, preparing for a job interview, conquering the first 90 days at a new job, how to manage work relationships, and how to add more value to your team.

If you are entering the job market, been in it for a while, or hoping to make a transition in their career, you will learn advice on how to create a work life you love.

The author, Dee Ann Turner, has lead teams and coaching staff members at Chick-fil-A and what it takes to build a fulfilling career with this hands-on book on how to thrive in a competitive job market.

5. NAILED IT! 10 Keys to Crushing the Interview

Authors: Matthew G Marvin

Why should you read this book? This book has tips on how to answer some of the most common job interview questions, such as tell me about yourself, why do you want this position, what are your strengths and weakness, and what questions do you have for me?

This book will give you interviewing tips to help you build your confidence to crush the job interview and land the job you want.

In this book, you’ll learn how to prepare for your next job interview and the techniques and strategies you need to succeed in the interview process. This book will help you distinguish yourself from other candidates and secure the job you desire.

6. The Job Closer: Time-Saving Techniques for Acing Resumes, Interviews, Negotiations, and More

Author: Steve Dalton

Why should you read this book? In this book, you’ll learn the techniques for mastering job interviews, master job offer negotiations, and writing an excellent resume and cover letter.

Steve Dalton is the author of The 2-Hour Job Search and he shows you how to land your dream job. This book helps you apply the author’s time-saving techniques to be a job closer.

The author is a career consultant who can help you avoid waster effort and excel using frameworks, models and tools, such as the FIT and RAC Models, the CAR Matrix, and the pre-negotiation call. This book will help you find more time for networking, and make deeper connections. Find out how to showcase your talents, increasing your odds for landing that job you want and love.  

7. 101 Job Interview Questions You’ll Never Fear Again

Author: James Reed

Why should you read this book? In this book, you’ll learn how to master more than 100 job interview questions. Discover what each question really means and the answers to these job questions so you can secure the job you want.

The author is the chairman of one of the largest recruiting agencies and provides tips for handling job interview questions from the classic ones like what is your greatest weakness to the puzzlers like sell me this pen.

In this book, you’ll overcome the fear of preparing for job interviews and help you adequenly prepare for job interviews. Find out how adopt the right mindset and approach to standing out from other candidates and being prepared for questions you’ll be asked

8. The Interview Mindset: The Ultimate Guide to Mastering Your Career

Author: Mark James

Why should you read this book? This book is from the author of Keys to the C Suite: Unlock the Doors to Executive Career Path Success . In this book, you’ll learn how to adjust your outlook and timeframe so you can master your job search with patience and positivity.

In this book, you’ll learn how to document your job search activities. You’ll realize that it is all about the numbers, and you’ll think realistically about timing. You’ll also discover how important it is to manage your expectations, and the power of being patient and staying positive.

This book will help you understand the hiring process, give you career advice, and tips for making a career transition.

9. What Color Is Your Parachute?: Your Guide to a Lifetime of Meaningful Work and Career Success

Author: Richard N. Bolles

Why should you read this book? This books is more than a job search book. The author provides a guide to finding meaningful work and succeeding in your career. This book will transform how you think about job hunting.

Whether you are looking to find your first job, recovering from a layoff, make a career change, this book will show you how to network effectively, write compelling resumes and cover letters, and interview with confidence.

This book will help you uncover your passions, discovery your transferable skills, and leverae your most valued traits. After reading this book, you’ll land the job you want and how to make make your job part of a life that is filled with purpose and passion.

10. 60 Seconds and You’re Hired!

Author: Robin Ryan

Why should you read this book? This book has helped many job seekers find their next job. This guide has more than 100 answers to challenging job interview questions and suggestions on what questions to ask during an interview. You’ll also learn how social media can help you during your job search, and negotiation techniques to secure a higher salary.

This book is written by Robin Ryan, a career counselor who has extensive experience hiring. She has learned proven strategies to help you take charge of your interview process. In this book, you’ll learn how to get hired by mastering all the steps you must take to get hired. This book has been completed revised and updated with the latest strategies, techniques, and best practices.

Bringing it all together

Books are an excellent way to help you prepare for job interviews. They give you practical experience, mock interviews, and feedback from career experts. Job interview preparation can help you boost your confidence and enhance your chances of landing a job quickly.

• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)

Discover more from Knowledge Enthusiast

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Engineer Seeking FIRE

A Software Engineer's Path to Financial Independence and Early Retirement (FIRE)

Get My FREE ebook “Product Sense Unlocked: 150 Answers For Product Sense Interview Questions”

My handpicked list of the best product manager interview books.

Disclosure: This post might contain affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I’ll earn a commission, at no additional cost to you. Read my full disclosure here .

Over the years as an experienced Product Manager, I’ve done multiple Product Management interviews, both as an interviewer and an interviewee. As a result, I had to go through countless Product Manager Interview books to hone my skills. If you are interested in the best way to prepare for Product Manager interviews, then take a look at my post “ How to Prepare for Product Manager (PM) Interviews “.

In this post, I want to share my curated list of the best  Product Manager interview books, with additional insights from my personal journey. I’ve personally dived deep into each of these best books and believe that they will give you both the knowledge and the confidence to ace every Product Manager interview. I hope that you will find real value as well.

Decode and Conquer by Lewis C. Lin

The product manager interview: 167 actual questions and answers by lewis c. lin, swipe to unlock: the primer on technology and business strategy by neel mehta, aditya agashe, parth detroja, interview math: over 60 problems and solutions for quant case interview questions by lewis c. lin, the lean product playbook by dan olsen and the lean startup by eric ries, cracking the pm interview: how to land a product manager job in technology by gayle laakmann mcdowell and jackie bavaro, product sense unlocked: 150 creative answers for product sense interview questions by engineer seeking fire.

This is by far the best introductory Product Manager interview book. I am not using the term “introductory” in a way that means “simplistic” nor do I mean that you should ignore this book if you are an experienced Product Manager. What I mean is that this is definitely and by far the first book that you should read when you start doing Product Manager interviews. Also, if you feel that your interviews are lacking or that you have reached a plateau, then this is the book that will help put you on track.

When I read it for the first time, I was blown away by the structure and amount of information in the book. I had interviews for many Product Manager positions in the past and had quite a bit of success. Based on my experience, my MBA, and some workshops that I had attended, I thought that I had a good idea about the types of answers that I needed to provide. And by reading this book I understood exactly what I was lacking.

What I like about this book

• How would you design <X>
• How would you improve <X>
• What is your favorite product from our company? How would you improve it?
• What do you think about <X>?
• What metrics would you use to define the success of your new product/feature?
• How will you know if the solution that you suggested was indeed effective?
• How would you decide between feature A or feature B?
• Estimation questions:  The book shows a simple way to tackle really complicated estimation questions. It shows how to split the big problem into multiple simpler ones and how to tackle those. Also, it includes some basic foundational numbers that can help you start your estimation. It also includes both top-down and bottom-up estimation approaches.
• Includes answers to all the questions in the book:  What is great about this book is that it includes real-world answers to real-world Product Manager interview questions. This means that the answers are good, so you get an idea of what the interviewer expects, but they are not perfect, which might make the whole experience really daunting, especially for someone at the beginning of the process. Instead, Lewis points out the highlights and mistakes in each answer, which provides a glimpse into the interviewer’s mind.

What I don’t like about this book

• No structure for other types of questions:  As I wrote above, the book provides ways to tackle Product Design/Sense questions, Metrics questions, and Estimation questions. It also includes chapters for other types of questions, such as Strategy, pricing, etc. However, even though both questions and answers are good learnings, they might not be useful in answering other types of questions in the same category.
• Many answers in the book do not follow the frameworks:  I can argue both ways about whether this is a pro or con in the book, but even the answers in the Product Design/Sense category do not always follow the CIRCLES method. Indeed, during an actual interview, you want to avoid showing to the interviewer that you are just blindly following a framework. However, when you are learning how to interview, it is really helpful to start with answers that follow. Or maybe with a mix of answers that do and those that don’t, while also pointing out why they do so. Since I consider this as an introductory Product Manager interview book, I believe that more framework-following answers should be included.

Supplemental resources

• Introduction to CIRCLES Method™ Product Design Framework ( document ,  video ) by Lewis Lin
• Teng Lu’s answers in Quora : Teng Lu, who has co-written Product Manager interview books with Lewis Lin, has answered a variety of PM questions in Quora that follow Lewis’ approach. Search for the ones that include “design”, “redesign” or “improve”.

This is the best follow-up to Lewis Lin’s book above, as well as the main Product Manager interview book that should be the foundation of your Product Manager interview preparation. It follows the same question-and-answer pattern as Decode and Conquer, but it goes into much more breadth and depth. After going through this book, you will be in great shape for your interviews.

• Product Design
• Estimations
• Go-to-market strategy,
• Customer journey maps
• Putting it together
• 14-Day, 30-Day, and 36-Day Study Plans:  Since it is not easy to know how much to study each day or when someone can start interviewing, this book has provided different-duration study plans. This way, you can structure your studying based on the amount of time that you have. Of course, if you have many months to prepare, then you can go through everything, but very often this is not the case.
• Product Manager Interview evaluation sheets:  This is an amazing and really neglected feature of the book. Lewis provides evaluating sheets for each type of question, similar to the ones that interviews at FAANG have. This way you can get a glimpse of how they are evaluating you. You can use these sheets both to evaluate yourself or to evaluate others in your mock interviews (see “Supplements resources” below).
• PM Interview practice community  by Lewis Lin (free): Slack channel, where you can directly connect with other peers, who are studying for PM interviews

After reading the above books, you will be able to formulate structured answers and answer for Product Design/Sense, as well as Strategy questions. However, depending on your familiarization with the tech products in the market you might also find that you have difficulty in finding solutions that will amaze the interviewer.

This book is not a traditional Product Manager interview book, but it helps in the areas of Product Design and Strategy questions. More specifically, goes through a variety of existing tech products and explains why some of the key decisions were made. This will give you ideas on how to provide unique solutions during the Product Manager interview.

• Explains complicated technical concepts in a clear manner:  Each use case in the book is a real-world technical problem. Companies had to face specific issues and come up with their own solutions. The authors of the book have managed to explain these decisions in such a way that is really easy to understand
• Variety of tech companies and products:  In this book, you will see examples from a variety of companies, including Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Google, Microsoft, etc.
• Variety of topics:  The book covers examples from multiple areas, e.g. cloud, Internet of Things, Security, etc
• Only useful for Product Design/Sense and Strategy questions:  Remember that this is not a traditional Product Manager Interview book. It is really good to give you ideas in these two types of questions, but it will not help you prepare for the whole set of question categories.

I only recommend that you get this book if you have already finished the above Product Manager interview books and feel that you need to focus more on the Estimation questions, i.e. any type of question, where you need to do your own calculation and estimate something, This book is going in-depth into these types of questions, but does not cover any other category.

• Market Sizing
• Revenue Estimates
• Profitability
• Customer Lifetime Value
• Good selection of questions:  Each one of the questions in this book (or a very similar one) has a good chance of being asked in your interviews. Lewis has done a great job selecting these questions. After finishing the book, you should feel confident that you’ll be able to answer any relevant question that comes up during an interview.
• Clear answers:  Even though some problems might seem complicated at first, the book has a structured way of explaining each answer and making it understandable.
• Only helps with Estimation questions:  This book is not a generic Product Manager interview book but focuses on Estimation questions. So, you should only buy it if you have finished with the above books and you want to dive deeper into this set of questions.

I bundled these 2 books together because they are very similar. I first read the Lean Startup by Eric Ries and then immediately I read the Lean Playbook by Dan Olsen. Both of them cover the same concepts, but the Lean Startup is more of a theoretical foundation, whereas the Lean Product Playbook is a more practical and comprehensive guide. Both of them are worth reading, in order to get a better understanding of real-world examples of effective product management. The learnings from these books will definitely help both your Product Sense and your Product Metrics answers. However, if you only want to read one of the two, then I totally recommend the Lean Product Playbook, because I found that it is more applicable for the PM interview questions.

What I like about these books

• Best practices and practical advice from the best product managers:  Both product leaders have worked on their own startups, so they have real-world existing experience in product development. They built a Minimum Viable Product, found a target market, got early adopters, and achieved Product-Market fit. So, all the case studies that you read in these books are based on real-world experiences.
• Great answers for Product Design questions, Product Metrics questions, and Product Strategy questions:  The other books in this list provide great frameworks that will help you answer product questions. However, neither of the two is a Product Management Interview book. Instead, they are some of the best product management books. This means that they will help you think of ideas on how to add real-world substance to these frameworks. 
• Very well-written:  Both books are very easy to read. It didn’t take me a long time to finish them. And I enjoy reading them again. I find that I remember a big part of the content, which is nice for books of this caliber.

What I don’t like about these books

• Lean Startup is a bit theoretical in my opinion:  I remember that after reading the Lean Startup for the first time, I felt that I learned so many new things, but I wasn’t sure how I would apply them. The theory was great and eye-opening, though. After reading the Lean Product Playbook, I felt that everything clicked in my mind and I understood the concepts much better. That’s why I consider the Lean Product Playbook to be a more practical guide than the Lean Startup.

To be honest, I was not initially planning on including this book in the list of Product Manager interview books. I think that this was a great book when it was written in 2013, as there were no other books regarding this subject at the time. However, at this point, it is showing its age. The examples do not follow a particular structure and they do not cover all current question categories.

However, as I was going through the book, I realized that there are a couple of areas, where the book is still a good read. More specifically, if you have never worked in one of the big tech companies, but want to join them as a Product Manager, then the book has a good job of explaining the interview process (i.e. the steps of the process), as well as the culture in the top tech companies. So, it might be useful only for this particular topic. Other than that, I think that the books above are doing a better job in preparing you for the Product Manager interviews.

• Good introductory book to help you understand the Product Manager interview process:  Good chapters explaining the role of a Product Manager, the importance of an MBA, how to structure your resume and cover letters, etc
• Explains the culture in the top tech companies:  For each of the top tech companies (Google, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, Yahoo, Twitter) and for startups, the book goes into detail about how the Product Manager role varies, as well as the unique details of their interview process.
• Not a great resource to help you answer Product Manager interview questions:  The book was written in 2013 and has not been updated since then. The questions need to be updated, in order to have much more variety and structure. Also, even though the answers are solid, it is not easy to understand how to understand a slightly similar question, as there is no framework in most cases.

Entering the competitive world of Product Management requires not just skill but also the ability to think on your feet during interviews. This is where my new book, “Product Sense Unlocked: 150 Creative Answers For Product Sense Questions,” comes into play. It’s not just a book; it’s a deep dive into the nuances of Product Sense questions, which are integral to acing PM interviews at top tech companies. Drawing from my extensive experience in the field, this guide is a treasure trove of insights and structured approaches to tackling complex interview scenarios.

“Product Sense Unlocked” stands out in the crowded space of interview preparation resources. The book offers a unique blend of theoretical knowledge and practical application, distilled through the lens of my professional journey in big tech firms like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft. It’s more than just a set of answers; it’s a strategic tool that arms aspiring Product Managers with the right mindset and techniques to excel in interviews. With its comprehensive coverage and real-life examples, this book is designed to elevate your interview preparation to the next level.

My extensive experience in tech and business, including roles at Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, lends this book an authentic and practical perspective. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced PM candidate, “Product Sense Unlocked” is an invaluable addition to your interview prep toolkit.

• FREE ebook: I offer the pdf of the book for free on my website, on the Product Sense Unlocked page. Since this is a large ebook (500+ pages) and it might not be cost-efficient to print it yourself, you also have the option to buy the printed version from Amazon .
• CAPTIVATE Framework : Introduces the innovative CAPTIVATE framework, which stands for Clarify Question, Articulate Structure, Pinpoint Business Goal, Target User Personas, Identify Use Cases, Visit Pain Points, Analyze Solutions, Track Success Metrics, and Elaborate Summary. This framework offers a structured method to craft comprehensive and compelling answers for Product Sense interview questions.
• Real-World Answers : Contains 150 creative and real-world answers, focusing on major tech companies like Google, Facebook, Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft, providing insights into the kind of responses that resonate in high-stakes environments.
• Comprehensive Content : With 500 pages, the book covers a broad spectrum of Product Sense questions and answers, making it a thorough resource for extensive interview preparation.

Books have been both, my mentors and companions. Yet, my advice to other Product Managers is to blend this knowledge with real-world challenges. That said, keep that notepad ready, because every interview is a lesson and every challenge is an opportunity. Dive into these great books, embrace the journey, and let the world of Product Management shape you, just as it did me. In the end, you’ll definitely be a better Product Manager.

I am an engineer with 15+ years in the tech industry, including roles at Google, Amazon, and Microsoft. I've been a Software Engineer, Product Manager, and Technical Program Manager. I also have an MBA from Kellogg School of Management with Majors in Finance and Marketing.

What drives me? A passion for empowering engineers to achieve Financial Independence and Retire Early (FIRE). I reached FIRE, when I turned 40 years old. Whether it's through personal finance strategies or career insights, I'm here to guide you on this path. Have questions or need advice? Feel free to reach out!

My Newsletter

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

engineerseekingfire

Follow me on Instagram!

LTCWM > Blog > Working in tech > Job hunting > The 33 Best Technical Interview Prep Courses, Books, & Resources

The 33 Best Technical Interview Prep Courses, Books, & Resources

Updated on March 6th, 2023 | Sign up for learn to code tips

Tech interviews can be intimidating. They often have several phases , from the first technical phone screen, to a remote coding interview or assignment, to the final on-site interview and whiteboard challenge.

If you’ve never been through one before, you may have no idea how to prepare for a coding interview.

It’s not enough to just have the raw tech skills . You also need to be able to perform under pressure, talk through your code to give the interviewer a window into your thoughts, and be clear and precise with your tech vocabulary and communication. 😅

As with most things in life, the way to build up your confidence and experience is through practice. If you know what you’ll be facing in technical interviews and have done a ton of code interview prep, you’ll breeze through the real thing. 👌

32 amazing resources to help you ace your technical interview Click To Tweet

Fortunately, there are lots of resources out there to help you do this! Whether you want to take a tech interview prep course, read some of the best coding interview books, or practice with live mock interviews, there are great options out there!

Below, I’ve rounded up some of the best coding interview books and tech interview prep courses to help you practice programming interview questions and wow the hiring managers at your code interview.

Disclosure: I’m a proud affiliate for some of the resources mentioned in this article. If you buy a product through my links on this page, I may get a small commission for referring you. Thanks!

TL;DR Best Coding Interview Resources

If you’re just looking for some quick links to find a good tech interview prep course, I won’t make you read the whole article! Here’s a quick list of the best coding interview prep sites/resources.

• 🖥️ Best technical interview prep course: Interview Cake
• 📝 Best text-based code interview course: Grokking the Coding Interview
• 👩‍🏫 Best program for mock interviews/ career support: Interview Kickstart
• 🗣️ Best free coding interview course: Full-Stack Interview Prep on Udacity
• 📚 Best coding interview book, via Amazon: Cracking the Coding Interview: 189 Programming Questions and Solutions
• 📕  Best technical interview book for new coders: Programming Interviews Exposed

How Long to Prepare for a Coding Interview: How Much Time Do You Have?

⏱️ How many hours of preparation for coding interviews are recommended? It depends on what code interview prep methods you’re using. Start by checking out our article on the best ways to prepare for a tech interview . 

Then, tailor the resources you use based on how much time you have before your interview.

For example, if you only have one week, you probably don’t want to start an interview bootcamp that lasts 3+ weeks. However, if you’re looking into how to prepare for a coding interview in one month or more, a structured course or detailed book could be an option for you.

⌛ There are plenty of resources to help you prepare for a coding interview in one week, including mock interviews, skimmable books with practice problems, short courses that only require a few hours of study, etc. Since your time is limited in this scenario, it’s wise to focus on breadth over depth. 

⏳ But if you’re preparing well in advance, you can consider something more involved, such as a software engineer interview prep course, bootcamp, or book with lots of practice problems you can study/work on over the course of a few weeks or months. Theoretical algorithms books can be good if you have the time to dive deeper into important interview subjects and make sure your knowledge is solid.

It can be smart to take a technical interview prep course (or start reading coding interview books) before you even have one scheduled. That way, you won’t find yourself panicking when you get that first interview request!

Best Coding Interview Courses

With a coding interview preparation course, you can practice coding interview questions in a hands-on way, and their video content is useful if you’re a visual-audio learner.

Here are some of the best coding interview courses you can find:

Please note that pricing listed below may change in the future!

1. Interview Cake

Hands down one of the best coding interview preparation courses out there!

Interview Cake comes with 50+ hours of coding interview practice questions and readings that don’t just give you the answer, but teach you the right way of thinking about the question. Build the skills to derive the right answers yourself and explain your reasoning.

• 🔗 Link: Get it from Interview Cake
• Common coding interview questions
• All the core data structures (linked lists, queues, stacks, etc.)
• All the core problem types (system design, recursion, etc.)
• How to answer technical interview questions you don’t know
• 💰 Price details: $149 for 3 weeks access or $249 for 3 months (plus 20% off for LTCWM readers and a full refund if you’re unsatisfied)

“Every interview I’ve gone through since I started studying your problem set has included a variation of the questions on Interview Cake! There was one problem that wasn’t on here, but I was able to solve it because of the themes you taught. Today I am accepting an offer at a startup in SF!” – Ulises

“I used Interview Cake to get my job at Netflix” – @kittycatbites on Twitter

Read my full review of Interview Cake here.

2. AlgoExpert

A comprehensive overview of 115 of the best programmer interview questions in nine different languages: JavaScript, Python, Swift, C++, Java , C#, Kotlin, TypeScript and Go. You type out your answers in a code-execution environment and get 70+ hours of video explanations to help you understand the core principles behind each question.

• 🔗 Link: Get it from AlgoExpert
• Binary search trees, linked lists, strings, etc.
• How much memory an algorithm uses and how fast it runs
• Tips for standing out in your interview
• 💰 Price details: $99 for 1 year of access (plus 10% off for LTCWM readers with the coupon code ltcwm )

“After failing technical interviews over and over again during my internship hunt, I decided to start using AlgoExpert alongside LeetCode. The user friendly UI and excellent explanation from Clement makes the learning experience very enjoyable, and I was able to make incredible progress. This year I crushed the Amazon interviews and received a new grad offer from them to work as a Software Development Engineer. Thank you AlgoExpert!” – James

“Studying up for technical interviews and can’t recommend AlgoExpert enough for knocking out programming questions and staying sharp. Good way to learn too” – @BB_kidcazer on Twitter

3. Skilled.dev

The tech interview prep course on Skilled.dev distills years of interview expertise into one convenient package!

Their programming interview prep questions are carefully selected to teach you exactly what you need to know to crush your coding interviews. This coding interview course comes with detailed video walkthroughs for every solution, a coding environment, and articles that break down how to think through each question.

• 🔗 Link: Get it from Skilled.dev
• Common coding interview questionsCore data structures and algorithms (linked lists, queues, stacks, etc.)
• Detailed Big O complexity analysis
• JavaScript interview questions
• 💰 Price details: $99 for 1 year full course access

“Thanks to @Skilled_dev, I also passed my Microsoft interview. First question I received was to output a matrix in spiral form” – @CodeWithDean on Twitter

4. Land Your First Tech Job on Break Into Tech

This technical interview prep course goes beyond the tech interview to include the rest of the job application process .

In 20 hours of videos and exercises, you’ll learn about optimizing your resume and LinkedIn profile , how to get referred to a company , how to answer the dreaded “tell me about yourself” questions, and templates to help you answer any tech interview question.

• 🔗 Link: Get it from Break Into Tech
• ⬇️ What you’ll learn: Keywords to include on your resume, communication tips, strategies to navigate tech interviews, how to think like an interviewer, etc.
• 💰 Price: $99 for the course or $199 for a resume review too (plus a refund if you’re not happy)

“My completion percentage of Jeremy’s course had an almost direct correlation with me getting a job. After following the advice in the course, I received a verbal offer and a final interview with an EVP before even watching all the video content. (Although I’d read all the text summaries…) Strongly recommend for structuring your tech job search process.” – Adil

5. Interview Camp

Interview Camp specializes in weekly live sessions to help you learn tried and tested, real-life techniques for conquering coding interviews. There’s an additional 60+ hours of self-paced online content, so you can get as much coding interview preparation as you want. Plus, join the private Slack community for an extra level of support and accountability.

• 🔗 Link: Get it from Interview Camp
• Algorithms – practical techniques with real practice problems and homework assignments
• System design – learn essential frameworks and study core system design components in depth
• 💰 Price details: $250/year for all of the above

6. Mastering the Software Engineering Interview on Coursera

This code interview course of the University of California San Diego was put together with the support of Google’s recruiting and engineering teams, so you know you’re getting relevant advice. It takes about 21 hours to complete the videos, reading, and exercises, so it’s doable to prepare for a coding interview in one week with this technical interview preparation course.

• 🔗 Link: Get it from Coursera
• Algorithmic thinking on the fly
• Practice and tips for getting through the technical phone interview
• How to speak about your experience
• 💰 Price details: 7-day free trial, then $49/month You can also audit the course for free

“I found this course very useful. It covers all of the important points of facing a technology job interview, even including how to deal with psychological emotions and build a strong growth mindset.” – MH

7. Master the Coding Interview: Algorithms + Data Structures on Udemy and Skillshare

Algorithms and data structures usually constitute the bulk of coding interview questions. This tech interview prep course focuses on the fundamental building blocks of these computer science topics. It includes 19 hours of video, 51 articles, and other downloadable resources.

• 🔗 Link: Get it on Udemy or on Skillshare
• Big O notation
• Data structures: arrays, hash tables, queues, etc.
• Algorithms: recursion, sorting, searching, etc.
• How to get more interviews and handle offers
• 💰 Price: $84.99 on Udemy (but there are often sales), or do a one month free trial of Skillshare Premium (reg. $32/mo)

“Andrei’s course is really great! For non-CS students, this is a great introduction with easy-to-understand graphics, animation and explanation. For CS-students it’s a good review guide to comb through knowledge you might have forgotten […] Highly recommend it to anyone who is seeking a developer job and needs to go through code/technical interview.” – Annie

8. How to Pass a Coding Interview on Udemy and Skillshare

This short and sweet one-hour video course goes over stress-free coding interview prep, from the soft skills of interacting with your interviewer to the more technical elements like writing code and dealing with algorithms.

If you want to know the best way to prepare for coding interviews quickly , ultra-efficient courses like this certainly help!

• 🔗 Links: Get it on Udemy or on Skillshare
• How to talk to the interviewer
• The requirements of an interview
• How to prepare for the coding interview
• 💰 Price: $49.99 on Udemy (but there are often sales) or do a 14-day free trial of Skillshare Premium (reg. $32/mo)

9. Master the JavaScript Interview on Udemy and Skillshare

This is another relatively short technical interview prep course that specifically focuses on JavaScript interviews, diving into advanced problem-solving techniques and algorithms. You’ll see how some questions can have multiple solutions, which will all be thoroughly explained. The code interview course contains 3.5 hours of on-demand videos and two articles.

• Strings and arrays, algorithms and data structures, JavaScript
• Algorithm strategies and critical analysis
• Common interview problems
• 💰 Price: $44.99 on Udemy (but there are often sales) or do a 14-day free trial of Skillshare Premium (reg. $32/mo)

“Concepts are properly explained by the instructor. This is really a good course for Javascript interviews.” – Sheshadri

10. Get Ready for Your Coding Interview on LinkedIn Learning

A two-hour video course covering useful concepts about what you’ll face in a coding interview. It also includes coding interview practice questions to test you.

• 🔗 Link: Get it from LinkedIn Learning
• What coding interviews are like
• Two-dimensional arrays, time complexity, Big-O notation, hash tables
• Coming up with an optimal solution and testing code
• 💰 Price: $19.99/month billed annually or $39.99/month billed monthly (or free with one-month trial)

11. The Coding Interview Bootcamp: Algorithms + Data Structures on Udemy

This 13-hour coding interview course goes over dozens of the most common interview questions you may face—and the tricks to solve them. It features real questions asked at companies like Google, Facebook, and Amazon, and lays out clear explanations for each solution.

You’ll need a basic understanding of JavaScript as a prerequisite.

• 🔗 Link: Get it from Udemy
• Interview questions asked at top companies
• Common data structures used in web development
• How to use JavaScript to solve challenging algorithms
• String reversal, anagrams, etc.
• 💰 Price: Full price $89.99 (less during Udemy sales)

“Stephen does an excellent job of thoroughly explaining each method and data structure. He uses plenty of detailed examples, making it very easy to understand. He doesn’t go straight to the solution, he explains things in a way that makes it easy to understand with charts and very descriptive diagrams. It makes for very easy learning, Bravo Stephen you sir are very good at what you do!!! I give my highest recommendation for this course. You won’t be disappointed.” – Essence

12. 11 Essential Coding Interview Questions + Coding Exercises! on Udemy

In this two-hour video course with plenty of interactive exercises, you’ll learn three handy problem-solving techniques to figure them out.

Before taking this coding interview preparation course, you should be familiar with basic data structures , Big O notation, and ideally Python and/or Java , which you’ll be using to solve problems.

• 3 problem-solving techniques
• 11 of the most essential coding interview questions
• Arrays, strings, linked lists, etc.
• 💰 Price: Full price $69.99 (less during Udemy sales)

“His way of explaining the problem is excellent! It really speaks to me and how I think. It must have been so time consuming for him to go through such detail per problem. But it’s so helpful and appreciated!! Thank you for sharing your gift of technical understanding. So few can do this so well.” – J

13. Java Interview Guide: 200+ Interview Questions and Answers on Udemy

This Java-specific programming interview prep course will give you a useful refresher on key concepts before your whiteboarding interview. It contains 6 hours of on-demand video with hands-on examples, so give yourself a couple of days to work through it all before the big day!

• Basic and advanced object-oriented concepts
• Exception handling best practices
• Basics of functional programming
• 💰 Price: $$99.99 (less during Udemy sales)

“This course is excellent. Gives easy memorable answers to java interview questions. They’re simple to remember and easy to retain and explain to the interviewer. 10 out of 5 stars!!” – Jacqueline

14. Technical Interview Practice with Python on Codecademy

Even if you don’t have a technical interview scheduled just yet, practicing these common problems will help you grow as a programmer and problem solver, and will help you write cleaner and better code. After completing this tech interview prep course, you’ll be ready to ace coding interviews anywhere and you’ll write more efficient code!

• 🔗 Link: Get it from Codecademy
• Whiteboarding skills
• Common technical interview problems – lists and linked lists
• Dynamic programming
• 💰 Price: Free for 7 days with a trial of Codecademy Pro, then $17.49/month billed annually or $34.99 billed monthly

15. Full-Stack Interview Prep on Udacity

This course is an excellent way to prepare for technical interviews. You’ll experience a tech mock interview, and review detailed analysis on how to field key industry questions. Upon completing this course, you’ll be ready to showcase your skills during your full stack web developer interview!

• 🔗 Link: Get it from Udacity
• How to field key industry questions
• Common full-stack web developer interview topics like palindrome functions and data structures
• Best practices for behavioral questions and whiteboard problems
• 💰 Price: Free

16. Java Interview Questions: Data Structures and Algorithms on Mammoth Interactive

This course will help you to refresh your Java knowledge and solve new problems with the most common beginner interview questions asked by FANG companies such as Facebook, Google, Amazon, and Spotify.

• 🔗 Link: Get it from Mammoth Interactive
• Commonly asked interview questions
• The best way to answer an interview question
• How to analyze the time complexity of various algorithms
• 💰 Price: $19/month or $199/year for access to Mammoth Interactive’s huge library of courses

17. Big Machine Coding Interview Bootcamp

Trying to get in at one of the top tech companies in the world? This technical interview prep course from Big Machine includes 5 hours of video for you spread over 18 lessons that will teach you the strategies and techniques your peers use to pass tough tech interviews.

• 🔗 Link: Get it from Big Machine
• The art of coding every day
• The core programming concepts you need to pass a coding interview
• Algorithms and strategies
• Understanding the mechanics of the interview question
• Practice questions from real companies
• 💰 Price: $69

18. Interview Kickstart

Interview Kickstart has 18 tech interview prep courses for key engineering roles, including back-end engineering, data science, embedded systems, full stack engineering, and more. Each coding interview course is designed and taught by FAANG+ experts in the domain.

Interview Kickstart also includes rigorous mock tech interviews with actual hiring managers, 1:1 technical coaching, personalized feedback, and more. 

• 🔗 Link : Get it from Interview Kickstart
• How to recognize patterns in interview problems
• Overcome interview anxiety
• Data structures/algorithms
• Distributed systems design
• Domain topics
• Soft skills training

💰 Price: From $4,800 to $9,600 depending on the track you choose

19. AlgoMonster

This code interview course is text-based, not video-based. Instead of an endless library of problems, AlgoMonster gives you a structured look at a much smaller, focused selection of coding interview patterns. AlgoMonster was designed by a group of Google engineers. It supports Python, Java, JavaScript, C++, Racket, Go, and Haskell. 

They guarantee that you will receive an offer from at least one tech company—and 83% of people that complete the program do get a job offer!

• 🔗 Link : Get it from AlgoMonster
• The key patterns necessary to solve almost any interview question
• Binary search fundamentals
• Graph basics
• Heaps and priority queues
• 💰 Price: $24.99 for a monthly subscription / $169.99 for lifetime access

20. Grokking the Coding Interview: Patterns for Coding Questions

The techniques taught in this programming interview prep course have helped developers land jobs in top companies including Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft. It essentially condenses 3 years of CS into short bite-sized courses and lectures.

• 🔗 Link : Get it from DesignGurus
• ➡️ What you’ll learn: A list of 16 patterns for coding questions
• 💰 Price: $79

“I’ve tried every possible resource (Blind 75, Neetcode, YouTube, Cracking the Coding Interview, Udemy) and idk if it was just the right time or everything finally clicked but everything’s been so easy to grasp recently with Grokking the Coding Interview!” – @pokecoder on Twitter

A 4-week or 8-week accelerator course for tech interview prep. Do unlimited mock tech interviews and work one-on-one with Outco career coaches until you get an offer. With their small classroom sizes, you’ll get personalized feedback to help you achieve your highest potential.

• 🔗 Link : Get it from Outco
• Data structures & algorithms
• System design
• Behavioral & leadership sessions

💰 Price: $5,500

Download the LinkedIn profile checklist

Created with aspiring techies in mind.

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Best Coding Interview Books (General)

If you like a more traditional form of study, reading coding interview books might be your style! Find some of the best coding interview books below. In the next section, we’ll look at the best programming interview books for specific coding languages.

Disclosure : As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases and may earn a commission if you decide to buy through my links.

22. Cracking the Coding Interview: 189 Programming Questions and Solutions  

Learn strategies for reading between the lines in a tech interview question, how to answer technical interview questions you don’t know and get un-stuck, and core computer science concepts to refresh your memory. Practice with 189 Java-based questions and solutions.

The author worked as a software engineer at Google, Microsoft, and Apple, and conducted interviews with hundreds of other software engineers.

• 🔗 Link: Get it from Amazon
• Strategies to deal with algorithm questions
• An inside look at how big tech companies hire developers
• How to handle behavioral questions

“Special shoutout to Cracking the Coding Interview for helping me get a new job.” – @DallasRLillie on Twitter

23 . Elements of Programming Interviews in Python: The Insiders’ Guide

If you’re seeking a Python role, this book will prepare you with over 250 Python coding interview practice problems and their detailed solutions.

Versions are also available in C++ and Java .

• Data structures , algorithms, and problem-solving patterns
• Common coding interview mistakes
• Tips on negotiating the best job offer

“Book tip 4: ‘Elements of Programming interviews (in Python)’. This is by far the BEST book on preparing for coding/algorithm interviews. It was a key ingredient for me passing 20+ of these interviews, and still relevant now when I’m on the other side, interviewing👍 #Books #Mustread” – @Grananqvist on Twitter

24 . Daily Coding Problem: Get exceptionally good at coding interviews by solving one problem every day

What better way to prepare for a coding interview than to practice code interview prep questions every single day? This book contains a wide variety of real-world-inspired coding questions and solutions. It’ll get you in the habit, so the day of your real whiteboard interview feels just like any other.

• ➡️ What you’ll learn: linked lists, arrays, heaps, trees, graphs, randomized algorithms, backtracking, dynamic programming, stacks and queues, bit manipulation, system design

25 . The Complete Software Developer’s Career Guide

This book has a much broader scope beyond technical interviews. The author explains the things he’s learned about soft skills like communication, dedication to learning, negotiation tactics , and teamwork. He also covers questions like how to decide between different forms of coding education , the technical skills every developer needs, and what to wear to your interview .

• What skills will benefit you in your tech job hunt
• What kind of work to look for
• How to make yourself more marketable while learning to code

“The complete software developer’s career guide by @jsonmez is amazing 💯” – @fredcode_ on Twitter

26. Programming Interviews Exposed: Coding Your Way Through the Interview  

Written by three authors with tech experience, this book gives an inside look at unique programmer interviews, how online coding contests factor in, why contributing to GitHub can help you, and ultimately how to make yourself into a candidate that companies will want to hire.

• How to talk to interviewers
• Common interview problems and explanations
• How to come up with solutions to new problems

“I passionately recommend Programming Interviews Exposed: Secrets to Landing Your Next Job, 3rd Ed John Mongan, Noah Kindler, Eric Giguere :D” – @iam3ddie on Twitter

27. Surviving the Whiteboard Interview: A Developer’s Guide to Using Soft Skills to Get Hired

• Skills required to succeed at a whiteboard interview, covering coding tests as well as psychological preparation
• Master solving common whiteboard problems

You can do well at your code interview but still not get the job for one simple reason: the interviewers simply got along with someone better. Soft skills matter! This book goes over how to showcase positive elements of your personality like work ethic, positive attitude, and willingness to learn.

William Gant also gives tips for making it through the psychological roadblocks you might encounter during the process and taming your fears.

32 of the best coding interview courses and books to help you land your dream job in tech Click To Tweet

Best Coding Interview Books By Programming Language

28. java – the complete coding interview guide in java: an effective guide for aspiring java developers to ace their programming interviews.

Covers over 200 Java coding interview problems and their solutions. This book will help you to develop skills in data structures and algorithms by solving various problems based on topics like arrays, strings, maps, linked lists, sorting, and searching.

• 200 coding interview problems
• How to solve tricky questions about concurrency, functional programming, and system scalability
• How to approach a coding interview problem in a structured way

29. Python – The Big Book of Coding Interviews in Python, 3rd Edition: answers to the best programming interview questions on data structures and algorithms

The questions in the book have been carefully selected so that they represent the most frequently asked questions in Python coding interviews. Solutions are clearly explained with plenty of diagrams and comments in the code so that you can easily understand. 

• 300 coding interview questions
• Data structures
• Sorting searching

30. C++ – Advanced C++ Interview Questions You’ll Most Likely Be Asked (Job Interview Questions Series)

With real-life-scenario-based questions, strategies to respond to interview questions, and over 300 interview questions (coding and HR-based), this book preps you for a coding interview in C++.

Rather than going through comprehensive, textbook-sized reference guides, this book includes only the most important info you need to know to pass an interview. 

• 274 coding interview questions
• 75 HR interview questions
• Free online aptitude tests

31. JavaScript – Slay the JavaScript Interview: 100 answers that every developer needs to know

This book covers answers to the 100 most common and tricky interview questions in the JavaScript language. The solutions give you the absolute clearest explanation of the concepts possible. The purpose of this book is to share lessons and learnings the author has learned from 30+ interviews with top tech companies.

• The fundamental concepts in JavaScript
• Topics: events, variables, objects, arrays, functions, loops, conditional statements, garbage collection, RegExp, Functional programming and much more

32. C – Cracking C Programming Interview: 500+ interview questions and explanations to sharpen your C concepts for a lucrative programming career

This coding interview prep book includes 500+ interview questions on C data structures/arrays with detailed solutions. Helps you strengthen your programming principles and understand how to answer the most popular interview questions asked at companies like Amazon, Facebook, Google, VMware, and Microsoft.

• Extensive coverage of C principles 
• Scenarios and examples to explore programming strategies
• Procedural programming and the memory layout of a running C program

What are the best coding interview prep sites/resources?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this one! It depends on your learning style, which languages you’re training for, etc.

That said, my personal favorite resources to practice programming interview questions are Interview Cake and AlgoExpert.

You’ll get 20% off Interview Cake by using this link , and they have a refund guarantee if you don’t find it helpful—so it’s a no-risk way to get valuable programming interview prep. You can also get a 15% discount on AlgoExpert using the coupon code ltcwm .

Trying to prepare for a virtual interview, rather than an in-person one? Check out our guide on the remote interview process and get some tips for success.

Whatever resources you choose, I’m rooting for you! Best of luck crushing the technical interview and getting a job you love.

Note: This article contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, the 5 tools you need to prepare for your college interview.

College Admissions

So you’ve just landed a college interview for the school of your dreams. That’s amazing! Once you finish celebrating, it’s time to start preparing for the big event.

But the process of preparing can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’ve put together our top five tools for preparing for your college interview. Keep reading to learn more about our expert recommendations for the tools you must have to knock your college interview out of the park!

Tool 1: An Interview Prep Book

Ask any adult: interviews can be a really stressful experience. Not only are you trying to answer your interviewers’ questions, you’re also trying to make a good first impression and prove that you’re a good fit for...well, whatever you’re interviewing for!

The college admissions interview can be even more challenging, since many high schoolers haven’t been on many interviews yet! The good news is that interviewing well is a skill that anyone can learn. It just takes practice...and the right tools, of course.

One of the best ways to start prepping for any interview is to read a book or two that walks you through the interview process , breaks down tough questions, and helps streamline the preparation process. We’ve scoured the internet and consulted with the admissions experts at PrepScholar to pick the two interview prep books that give you the most bang for your buck!

Book 1: Presence by Amy Cuddy

Dr. Amy Cuddy , a social psychologist and Harvard professor, made a splash in the business world with her 2012 TED Talk about body language . Not only do your non-verbal cues help people make decisions about you—including whether or not to admit you!—they also affect the way you think about yourself.

Dr. Cuddy took all of her observations and combined them into her book, Presence, which teaches people how to use their body language to unlock their full potential. While most interview prep books teach you how to answer interview questions and learn more about the company you’re interviewing for, Cuddy takes a different approach: she focuses on how the way you sit, move, and act impacts the way people perceive you.

What we love is that her book teaches you how to be confident in the moment (even a super stressful one like your admission interview)! She also gives you practical tips for how to communicate in powerful, non-verbal ways. So while Presence isn’t an interview prep book in the traditional sense, it’s a critical read to make sure you’re making the best impression possible!

Book 2: The Art of the Interview by James Storey

One of the challenges in preparing for your college interview is fitting the prep time into your busy schedule. That’s why our second book recommendation is all about practicality. James Storey’s book, The Art of the Interview, is designed for people who want to tackle the most challenging part of the interview process: answering the interview questions!

In his book, Storey walks you through commonly asked interview questions and teaches you strategies for responding to even the trickiest questions. The goal of the book isn’t to give you all the “right” answers, but to help you learn to create answers that resonate with interviewers...and help earn you admission into your dream school.

Each chapter deals with different questions, answers, and practical strategies, so you’re not going to have to read through fluff to get into the meat-and-potatoes of what you need to know. Even better? Storey includes lists of potential interview questions! As you know from taking the SAT and/or ACT, practice questions are invaluable when it comes to boosting your performance, and working through Storey’s examples will help you have an amazing interview!

Tool 2: A Notebook

When it comes to preparing for an interview, pen and paper is king. Not only does r esearch show that writing things down helps you retain information better , you won’t be able to use your phone, laptop, or tablet in the interview room. That means you’ll have to prepare for your interview the old-fashioned way!

The first step is to work through the interview preparation books we mentioned above. As you read them, we recommend taking notes in a notebook. Not only will that give you a place to collect what you learn, it will also let you jot down answers to potential interview questions that come to mind. Reviewing your answers to help commit your responses to memory will help you be more confident on interview day! You should also capture any other information that might be valuable for your interview, like details about the university and its programs and the research areas that interest you.

So what kind of notebook should you use? Our favorite notebook for interview preparation is the Rhodia 4 Color Book . First, it’s great quality, durable, and professional, so you can take it with you into your interview worry-free. But it also splits the notebook into four sections based on the colored page edges. This gives you a way to split your preparation into categories, like reading notes and answer prep, without having to use page flags to keep the information in order!

Your notebook will be your guidebook during the college interview, too. That means you’ll also want to bring your notebook with you on the day of your interview. Not only does it have the questions you drafted for your interviewers, you can also flip through your notes to prepare before you’re called into your interview. As an added bonus, you’ll be able to jot down notes as your interviewers ask you questions and explain the next steps in the admissions process. Being ready and prepared to take notes shows that you have initiative, and it will help you remember important points from the interview later. (It’s a pretty stressful process, so it’s always nice to have something to look back on!)

Tool 3: A Folder With Extra Documents

When it comes to your college interview, it’s always best to be prepared. We recommend that you print off multiple copies of your application packet and have them ready in case your interview committee needs a refresher on your materials. They may even ask you if you have any extras on you as a way to see how thorough and prepared you are!

Here’s the thing: you don’t want to pull out your Lisa Frank folder from fifth grade . (Though we love rainbow-colored unicorns, to be honest.) You’ll want to whip out a professional-looking folder that has all of your documents neatly organized. If you have quite a few documents, like additional writing samples, you might consider getting an expanding file organizer instead . It will keep your papers neat and make them easier to find if your interviewers request them.

Additionally, if you have a design portfolio you’re planning to share , take the time to arrange it in a professional portfolio presentation book . Not only does it keep your portfolio safe, it makes it much easier for your interviewers to flip through your work!  

Tool 4: A Professional Wardrobe

Look, we get it: suits are something your parents wear. You’ve got your own personal style, after all. When it comes to interviews, your first impression really does matter. Putting effort into looking professional shows that you’re taking the interview process seriously, which is a good sign that you’ll also take your education seriously, too. Remember: schools that have an interview process tend to be competitive, so you need every advantage you can get.

Here’s what it boils down to: showing up to your college interview in a ratty t-shirt and your ten-year-old Vans isn’t going to impress anyone.

But that doesn’t mean you have to look like you pulled your clothes out of your grandparents’ closet! You can look professional and cool at the same time!

Traditionally Chic

If you want a worry-free wardrobe option for your college interview, we recommend going with a suit. And guess what? You don’t even have to feel like a penguin! The key is to make sure you’re buying the right style of suit for your frame. If you’re slender, go with a slim-fit . If you have a bigger build, don’t be afraid to choose a jacket with a slightly more relaxed fit around the middl e. And regardless of your size, embrace the slim-cut pant ! It’s pretty universally flattering, and really ties the look together without feeling stuffy.

If you just can’t bring yourself to jump on the suit bandwagon--or if suits are just a little out of your price range-- a blazer is a great option . You can throw a navy blazer over a white button-down shirt , a pair of khakis , and dress shoes , and you’re good to go.

If you prefer women’s wear, you can still find a blazer / shirt / khakis combo that looks great. (The rules we mentioned above for picking a suit that...well... suits your figure still apply!) And don’t forget a pair of awesome shoes ! It’s also perfectly acceptable to swap out the pants for a skirt , or throw that blazer over a professional dress .

Just Add Sunglasses

Seriously. Everyone feels more confident when they’re wearing sunglasses ! (Of course, don’t wear them in your interview. Think of them as a fashionable morale booster.)

That’s why we think you should top off your outfit with a pair of sunglasses that reflects your personality. We love a good pair of aviators , but you also can’t go wrong with a classic, Ray-Ban adjacent silhouette . And then, of course, there’s the Audrey-Hepburn-in-Breakfast-at-Tiffany’s cat eye ! Whatever you choose, wear them like the amazing college applicant you are. (Or, you know, just channel your inner Joe Biden .)

Tool 5: A Watch

Seriously. Being early to an interview is critical . Not only does it demonstrate that you’re organized and prepared, it shows that you’re excited about attending the school you’re interviewing for! It also gives you a chance to review your notes one last time and take a few deep, centering breaths.

Because being on time is so important, so we recommend you wear a watch to your interview.  

We can already hear you asking: “But why can’t I just use my phone?” On the day of your interview, you need to have your phone on you but turned to silent--or better yet, airplane mode--and put away. First, science has shown that smartphones can distract us even when we’re not using them , so it’s best to put them away when you need to focus. Second, it’s too tempting to check Twitter or Instagram instead of reviewing your notes and preparing for the super important task at hand!

Second, you’ll want to be able to keep track of your time in the interview... and you won’t be able to look at your phone without coming across as rude and disinterested. It’s perfectly acceptable to occasionally glance a watch to see how much time you have left in your interview, or to subtly time yourself to make sure you’re not rambling.

Luckily, there are lots of affordable watch options available, especially if you’re not into wearing watches all the time . We love this Timex Easy Reader watch. (Don’t worry, it also comes in men’s styles, too. ) Not only is it classic and classy, the numbers are big enough that you’ll be able to discreetly check the time with a quick glance. It comes in three colors, has a leather band, and is water resistant to 30 meters! Not that you’ll be swimming on the day of your interview...but hey! You never know.

What’s Next?

Before you run out and buy everything on our list, make sure you’re college actually has an interview process! Here’s a complete list of colleges that require entrance interviews. (Keep in mind that some schools require on-campus interviews for things like fellowships and endowed scholarships, so it’s always best to double-check with your university.)

As we mentioned earlier, the key to having a good interview is to practice, practice, practice. Our top six tips for preparing for college interviews are a surefire way to help you knock your interview out of the park!

One of the best ways to land a college interview at your dream school is to knock your SAT or ACT out of the park . Learn more about what SAT and ACT scores mean for college admissions , then decide which test is right for you .

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Improve With Our Famous Guides

• For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

5 Top Books for Acing a Quantitative Analyst Interview

Applying for a job in quantitative finance is a tricky business. It requires weeks of preparation work in the fields of Stochastic Calculus, Probability Theory and a lot of experience with programming in C++. Many of the quant job interviews utilise extensive mathematics and logic brainteasers, coupled with derivations of Ito's Lemma or the Black-Scholes equation . For that reason, QuantStart has prepared a list of the top five books for quantitative finance interviews. Reading through these books, cover to cover, will provide almost all of the insight required for a successful quantitative interview.

1) Heard on The Street: Quantitative Questions from Wall Street Job Interviews - Timothy Falcon Crack

Heard on the Street is a classic Wall Street interview Q&A book. Many of the questions you will hear in real interviews will have been "borrowed" or modified from this book. In fact, many interviewers want to see that you've done the necessary "grunt work" just by reading through it! The book contains five main sections - Quantitative/Logical Questions, Derivatives Questions, Financial Economics Questions, Statistics Questions and Non-Quantitative Questions. Each of these five areas is incredibly important for the aspiring quant. The questions are by no means straightforward - there are some particularly challenging statistics and quantitative questions. Make sure to study this book thoroughly before taking an interview on the 'Street.

2) Frequently Asked Questions in Quantitative Finance - Paul Wilmott

Paul Wilmott is known for his stimulating, engaging and humourous works on quantitative finance. He has also applied his talents to writing an interview Q&A book, in Frequently Asked Questions in Quantitative Finance . So, what does the book cover and is it worth an investment, especially if you already own Paul Wilmott on Quantitative Finance ? Its main advantage is that it provides both a short and long version of an answer to a particular 'FAQ'. This means that the book can be scanned rapidly, if you wish to gain a quick insight into certain topics. Talking of topics, the book covers predominantly Stochastic Calculus, Geometric Brownian Motion, Black-Scholes as well as Volatility Modelling and the CAPM. This book is definitely one for the shelf at home, prior to heading into the interview room.

3) Quant Job Interview Questions And Answers - Mark S. Joshi, Nick Denson, Andrew Downes

Some time ago, Mark Joshi wrote a fantastic PDF article about getting a job in quantitative finance and what to expect prior to, and during, an interview. This book is a significant expansion and elaboration on that article, with the inclusion of more technical questions and further discussions on the "soft" questions. The book covers the interview process, options pricing, probability, rates, numerical methods, general mathematics, C++ and brainteasers. It contains many questions not seen before in other books and is significantly more up to date than some. It was Joshi's first attempt at self-publishing and the experiment worked very well. Pick this up if you're looking for help with different technical questions or more insight into what the interview, and subsequent job, will be like.

4) A Practical Guide To Quantitative Finance Interviews - Xinfeng Zhou

Zhou's book is another self-published work (in the vein of Joshi). Be aware that it has been criticised on the basis of less-than-professional editing and formatting. However, leaving those quirks aside, it does contain more than 200 fantastic questions on topics that a quant will likely be asked about in interview. The book covers a broad range of categories such as calculus/linear algebra, brainteasers (many varieties here!), probability and combinatorics, stochastic processes, finance/options and numerical methods. If you still think you need more practice after the aforementioned works by Crack, Wilmott and Joshi, Zhou will provide that practice!

5) Starting Your Career as a Wall Street Quant: A Practical, No-BS Guide to Getting a Job in Quantitative Finance - Brett Jiu

Dr Jiu's book is a little different from the four mentioned above. It contains a more philosophical approach to obtaining a quantitative role. He is keen to stress that the market has changed significantly since the 2007/2008 crisis, with more roles now being available in funds and less from banks. The other major shift described is that of the necessity to have extremely strong programming skills, particularly C++. The first four chapters discuss a quant career as well as how to begin hunting for one, finally concluding with tips for interview. The next set of chapters encourage one to self-learn and provide detail on how to go about achieving that, while at different stages of your career. Finally, Dr Jiu discusses "real world" skills, such as internship opportunities or networking. This is a great book to complement the other four and QuantStart highly recommends purchasing a copy.

Join the QSAlpha research platform that helps fill your strategy research pipeline, diversifies your portfolio and improves your risk-adjusted returns for increased profitability.

The Quantcademy

Join the Quantcademy membership portal that caters to the rapidly-growing retail quant trader community and learn how to increase your strategy profitability.

Successful Algorithmic Trading

How to find new trading strategy ideas and objectively assess them for your portfolio using a Python-based backtesting engine.

Advanced Algorithmic Trading

How to implement advanced trading strategies using time series analysis, machine learning and Bayesian statistics with R and Python.

• Business & Money
• Job Hunting & Careers

Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime Try Prime and start saving today with fast, free delivery

Amazon Prime includes:

Fast, FREE Delivery is available to Prime members. To join, select "Try Amazon Prime and start saving today with Fast, FREE Delivery" below the Add to Cart button.

• Cardmembers earn 5% Back at Amazon.com with a Prime Credit Card.
• Unlimited Free Two-Day Delivery
• Streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows with limited ads on Prime Video.
• A Kindle book to borrow for free each month - with no due dates
• Listen to over 2 million songs and hundreds of playlists
• Unlimited photo storage with anywhere access

Important:  Your credit card will NOT be charged when you start your free trial or if you cancel during the trial period. If you're happy with Amazon Prime, do nothing. At the end of the free trial, your membership will automatically upgrade to a monthly membership.

Buy new: .savingPriceOverride { color:#CC0C39!important; font-weight: 300!important; } .reinventMobileHeaderPrice { font-weight: 400; } #apex_offerDisplay_mobile_feature_div .reinventPriceSavingsPercentageMargin, #apex_offerDisplay_mobile_feature_div .reinventPricePriceToPayMargin { margin-right: 4px; } -5% $18.95 $ 18 . 95 FREE delivery Monday, June 3 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35 Ships from: Amazon Sold by: MbBooks

Return this item for free.

Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges

• Go to your orders and start the return
• Select the return method

Save with Used - Very Good .savingPriceOverride { color:#CC0C39!important; font-weight: 300!important; } .reinventMobileHeaderPrice { font-weight: 400; } #apex_offerDisplay_mobile_feature_div .reinventPriceSavingsPercentageMargin, #apex_offerDisplay_mobile_feature_div .reinventPricePriceToPayMargin { margin-right: 4px; } $13.03 $ 13 . 03 FREE delivery Wednesday, June 5 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35 Ships from: Amazon Sold by: The Green Choice Store

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Follow the author

Image Unavailable

• To view this video download Flash Player

Top Notch Executive Interviews: How to Strategically Deal With Recruiters, Search Firms, Boards of Directors, Panels, Presentations, Pre-interviews, and Other High-Stress Situations Paperback – Illustrated, October 1, 2009

Purchase options and add-ons.

• Part of series Top Notch
• Print length 224 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Weiser
• Publication date October 1, 2009
• Dimensions 6.06 x 0.47 x 8.92 inches
• ISBN-10 1601630840
• ISBN-13 978-1601630841
• See all details

Frequently bought together

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Editorial Reviews

About the author, product details.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Weiser; First Edition (October 1, 2009)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1601630840
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1601630841
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.06 x 0.47 x 8.92 inches
• #533 in Job Interviewing (Books)
• #1,365 in Job Hunting (Books)
• #3,170 in Job Hunting & Career Guides

About the author

Katharine hansen.

Katharine (Kathy) Hansen, Ph.D., is a online educator, author, and writer, as well as a 5-star SuperHost on Airbnb. Kathy, who earned her PhD from Union Institute & University authored You Are More Accomplished Than You Think, Tell Me About Yourself, Dynamic Cover Letters for New Graduates, A Foot in the Door, Top Notch Executive Interviews, Top Notch Executive Resumes; and with Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D., Dynamic Cover Letters, Write Your Way to a Higher GPA, and The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Study Skills.

Kathy teaches online classes for several universities in organizational leadership, organizational behavior, management, social media, business/managerial/organizational communication and more. She also serves as a dissertation-committee member for several PhD students in organizational leadership.

In 2010, after living her entire life on the East Coast, Kathy moved to Kettle Falls, WA, where she runs a 40-acre woodland farm with dogs, goats, chickens, and a pony. In 2016, Kathy turned the main house on this property into an Airbnb venue and has been far more successful than she ever imagined she would be. She contributed a chapter to Short-Term-Rental Success Stories from the Edge, Volume 1.

Kathy is extremely active in the Toastmasters organization, a worldwide nonprofit educational program that enables people to sharpen their communication and leadership skills. Kathy has held many offices and roles in the organization and recently led a district comprising 800 members as District Director. She holds the highest distinction offered by Toastmasters, the Distinguished Toastmaster award.

Kathy’s favorite activities include creative pursuits, such as repurposing furniture and creating unique wall hangings. She also loves to bicycle through beautiful Eastern Washington, identifying wildflowers and snapping nature photographs. She also thrives on constantly improving her Airbnb rental business and finding new ways to delight guests.

Customer reviews

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

• Amazon Newsletter
• About Amazon
• Accessibility
• Sustainability
• Press Center
• Investor Relations
• Amazon Devices
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Sell apps on Amazon
• Supply to Amazon
• Protect & Build Your Brand
• Become an Affiliate
• Become a Delivery Driver
• Start a Package Delivery Business
• Advertise Your Products
• Self-Publish with Us
• Become an Amazon Hub Partner
• › See More Ways to Make Money
• Amazon Visa
• Amazon Store Card
• Amazon Secured Card
• Amazon Business Card
• Shop with Points
• Credit Card Marketplace
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Your Account
• Your Orders
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
• Your Ads Privacy Choices

It’s Luke Newton’s Turn to Lead Now

The star of Bridgerton season three on researching rom-coms, his palpable chemistry with Nicola Coughlan, and yes, that highly anticipated mirror scene

Luke Newton knows a lot is riding on the love story between Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington.

The new eight-episode installment picks up a few months after the events of the second-season finale . After overhearing Colin declare he “would not dream of courting” her, Penelope has given up on her long-held crush on the third-eldest Bridgerton sibling. She has, however, decided that it is time to take a husband—preferably one who will give her the means and independence to continue living her double life as Lady Whistledown, the ton’s infamous gossip columnist.

In an attempt to win back her favor, Colin, having recently returned from his summer travels with a newfound swagger, offers to assist Penelope in her quest to conquer the anxiety-inducing marriage mart. But when she catches the eye of Lord Debling (Sam Phillips)—a dashing suitor whose earthly interests and unassuming demeanor charm self-described wallflower Penelope—Colin is forced to grapple with the true nature of his feelings for his best friend.

“I think it’s so beautifully written that we’ve watched Penelope pining after Colin, staring at him from corners of the ballroom, season after season. And now, finally , the tables have turned. She’s getting all this attention, and he’s the one watching her from afar,” Newton tells Harper’s Bazaar on a recent Monday morning in New York City.

While Penelope may have fallen for Colin first, Newton “absolutely” thinks Colin has fallen harder. “As much as I adore Colin, I feel like he needed to go through that. Bro, you’ve got to get your head straight and struggle for a little bit ,” he adds with a laugh. “It feels like we’ve been playing the long game for this love story, and now it’s finally time for it to come to the surface.”

Below, Newton breaks down his approach to playing Bridgerton ’s latest leading man and shooting the pivotal moments from Colin and Penelope’s long-awaited romance. (Dearest gentle reader, you have been forewarned—spoilers ahead!)

After returning home in the season-three premiere, Colin speaks about his travels only in passing, but he has clearly undergone an important transformation since we last saw him. What kind of backstory did you create for yourself to better understand what happened to Colin abroad?

I love that question. Colin had already been traveling [in past seasons], so I’d done a bulk of the work on what a young man would experience on his grand tour. But what really helped with Bridgerton is the fantasy element, so I felt like I could slightly break the rules and steer away [from] what is historically known as the “young man’s grand tour” of that time. Normally, a young man would have a tutor. Yes, there were times for gambling, drinking, and partying slightly, but there was always someone to keep you in check. [But] I created the story in the lead-up to season three that, however he did it, he got away from his tutor, or maybe he just didn’t have one, because he was slightly older and had the experience completely on his own.

I played with the idea that no one knew who he was in all of these cities, so he lived a normal life, and that’s implemented in his wardrobe as well. The materials and fabrics are slightly worn down. They’re darker colors—having influences from all the cities that he’s explored—and they’re not as prim and proper. [The hair and makeup artists] wanted me to have this windswept hair, like he’d been on a boat and he just got a bit of salt water and ran it through [his hair] with his fingers. I did a lot of prep work on my own, but every department just fueled me with knowledge of his journey.

Nicola has spoken about how each season of Bridgerton has a different kind of energy: The first season was “passion,” the second is “longing,” and the third is “romance.” What romantic tropes were you most excited to lean into and play up this season? Did you take inspiration from the leading men of any rom-coms?

Diving into the rom-com element was my favorite part of this season. Obviously, Penelope is hiding how she feels about Colin the whole time, but they’re very open and honest, and that’s what people love about them. There’s a particular scene in episode one [where Colin and Penelope] are under a tree, and it’s the first time that neither of them are really being honest with each other.

On days of shooting, I would come home and watch a lot of rom-coms. It was a nice, therapeutic thing to sit down and watch. I drew from and watched a lot of Paul Rudd movies. I loved the subtleties of his comedy and how it still felt truthful and authentic, but it’s really entertaining and genuine. That’s just the epitome of Colin and Penelope’s friendship—they’re so open and honest. [I also considered] Friends because of the Ross-and-Rachel love story and how they never quite get there at the right time. It’s always like: Someone’s in the way here, and someone’s in the way here, and when one’s available, the other isn’t. It feels like that throughout all of the seasons combined, really, with [Colin and Penelope].

In your eyes, how does Colin go from seeing Penelope as nothing more than his closest childhood friend to the woman of his dreams?

I think a big part of it is about just seeing Penelope in a different light. She’d never put herself out there, and he’d never considered her as a love match. She has all the qualities of someone that he wants, but he’s never really seen her as an option because she basically feels like family. There’s also another suitor who would be a really good match for her. It could have been so easy to have a character come in that’s not really appropriate for her and is maybe a bit of a villain. But I think it’s great that someone very desirable comes in, and there may be fans out there that go, “I want her to be with Debling.” It’s really important that [Colin] has that moment of, “I might lose something that has really been there the whole time.”

Colin and Penelope have shared little stolen glances over the years, but the first time viewers see a clear shift in their relationship comes at the end of episode two of this new season. Penelope confesses that she has never been kissed and fears that she never will—so naturally , she asks Colin to kiss her while stressing that it doesn’t have to mean anything. What do you think is going through Colin’s mind in those moments?

That was one of the first moments that there felt like there was a different energy on set. We worked with our intimacy coordinator [Lizzy Talbot], and we did a practice kiss [off-camera]. You never really know how you’re going to look on camera kissing someone, because when we kiss people in our day-to-day lives, we don’t do it for the camera; it’s just for love and passion. So it was a daunting moment, because we wanted it to look beautiful, but also still truthful and authentic to the story in that moment.

It’s really beautiful that that’s the moment when he has that “Oh shit!” moment of “Oh, we connected there, and that was more than just me doing you a favor.” Actually, the kiss changes how Colin feels way more than [it does] Penelope. She goes away and is like, Oh, that was terrible that I had to ask that of him, but now I have experienced it. He goes away thinking, Hang on, has there been something there the whole time? I guess he’s kind of humiliated, and I think he is just frustrated. “She’s been literally next to me the entire time. Why did I not see this all along?!”

In episode four, just as Debling prepares to propose to Penelope, Colin gets his act together and confesses his love to her in a carriage. For me, that is another example of the clear shift in the power dynamic between Colin and Penelope: He’s the one declaring his love, and she is the one who has the power to accept or reject his advances. What did you want to convey in Colin’s big speech?

I wanted to convey a moment of complete and utter vulnerability from him, because he’s never been this honest, but also never been so passionate about anything before. We’ve seen the romance with him and Marina [Ruby Barker] in previous seasons, but it is nothing compared to this. I really wanted to portray this version of him feeling like he’s found something that’s his, and no one else can understand this—and he’s trying to convey that. But he’s also feeling quite insecure, in that he doesn’t really know if she feels the same way; he doesn’t know what her response is going to be.

There’s so many twists and turns in those five minutes, which, as an actor, is the biggest gift. It was one of those crazy days of: I know I’m going to be doing intimacy, but this is also one of the most important scenes in the show, so I have to hit every beat. We worked with [director] Andrew [Ahn], who was so brilliant in bringing that out of us. We tried that scene in so many different ways. He would come over [to us individually] and say, “I want you to try it like this,” and then the other actor would respond to that naturally. It felt almost like a theater rehearsal; it felt like we were just playing. I’m so proud of what the team has come up with as the final edit.

Bridgerton is subversive in how the intimate scenes are often shot from the female gaze. How did you and Nicola approach the conversation of consent between your characters in that scene? How did you approach the depiction of Penelope’s sexual awakening in general?

I think the subject of consent with Colin and Pen is just so appropriate to their relationship because of how they’ve grown up. We know that he is experienced in intimacy, and he’s very aware that she isn’t, that this is her first intimate encounter. But ultimately, I think the biggest thing about [the use of consent] is that it’s still really sexy. If anything, it’s more sexy. The consent makes it really hot. It’s also a representation of a modern man. I like to think that Colin’s got this sensitivity, but it doesn’t make him less attractive. It doesn’t make the act [of being intimate] less passionate or romantic or sexy. If anything, it heightens it.

Nic and I talked through that scene with Lizzy and Jess [Brownell] in the lead-up to it, and we didn’t have to make any changes to the script. It was just so beautifully written. As we get later on in the show, there’s one intimacy scene in particular [in episode five] that I didn’t even realize how genuine, honest, authentic, and also modern it felt until I watched it back. I don’t know why [that didn’t occur to me during production], but I had a moment of watching it back and thinking, Wow, this really does represent the ultimate, caring act of love.

You’re referring to a very famous mirror scene, which was adapted from the novel Romancing Mister Bridgerton . What were the most important considerations for you when shooting that sex scene in particular?

I wanted to really portray a distinct difference between the intimate scenes that he had with sex workers and that he had with Penelope. There is a moment earlier on when he’s in a brothel and kisses two girls, but he’s quite primal about it—it’s just [about] the act of sex. It’s not gentle; it’s not passionate. But I really wanted to play with the fact that he’s cared about [Penelope] for such a long time, and he doesn’t know how this is going to change their relationship. He wants to treat her with the most respect; he also sees a future with this person.

It’s one of those scenes that I feel like is essential [to the plot]. I feel like you can’t always say that in television about a sex scene, but it feels like this is a moment of being completely exposed in front of each other. There’s such a beautiful moment when they’re having a shared experience and they just laugh. In that moment, it feels so real and modern. It feels authentic to them. They’re the gigglers in the corner of the ball, and it’s not performative or overly sexual.

You and Nicola have already confirmed you will be returning for the next season of Bridgerton . What are you hoping to explore in the next chapter of Colin and Penelope’s love story?

I’m excited to play a moment of contentment when [the relationship] settles. When I look back, I’m like, “[Colin] was tortured for so much of this show.” [ Laughs. ] There was a real sweet spot within the show when he’s quite happy, but problems start to arise really quickly. So I’m excited to play the newlywed bliss, which is what we see in Anthony and Kate this season, which is so beautiful to watch. I think it’s a really important part of the show to have those two comparisons.

Nic and I have already talked with Jess about what we’d love to explore next season, and we said how much we love the rom-com element of this season. Obviously, we won’t have these quirky scenes of not being able to disclose how we feel to each other, but there’ll be another version of how we can explore [the rom-com element]. Also, not to mention, [I’m excited to be] supporting the next Bridgerton sibling [and their love story]. What’s really special was seeing Jonny and Simone come back this season and support us as actors, but also within the story, Anthony and Kate are really behind Colin this season. So it’ll be nice to come back and feel that sense of family.

This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.

The first four episodes of Bridgerton season three are now streaming on Netflix. The remaining four episodes will be available to stream starting June 13.

Max Gao is a freelance entertainment and sports journalist based in Toronto. He has written for The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, NBC News, Sports Illustrated, The Daily Beast, Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE, Men's Health, Teen Vogue and W Magazine. Follow him on Twitter: @MaxJGao.

Bridgerton TV Show

The Ending to “Bridgerton” S3 Part One, Explained

What to Know About Part 2 of “Bridgerton” Season 3

What to Know About Bridgerton Season Three

Arsema Thomas Is Queen Charlotte's Big Breakout

What 'Queen Charlotte' Gets Right About the Royal

The Trailer for 'Queen Charlotte' Has Us Swooning

Jonathan Bailey Offers Up Some Bridgerton Spoilers

Every Song Featured in 'Bridgerton' Season 2

The Infectious Charm of Nicola Coughlan

All About the Costumes in Season 2

Charithra Chandran on Her Big Red Carpet Debut