Tech Interview Prep Guide 2026: Complete Study Plan

Tech interviews are notoriously challenging, testing algorithms, system design, and behavioral skills simultaneously. The Tech Brothers Podcast Network community shares interview prep strategies that actually work. Here's your complete study plan for acing tech interviews in 2026.

The 8-12 Week Study Plan

Weeks 1-4: Data structures and algorithms fundamentals. Study arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash tables. Practice 2-3 LeetCode problems daily (Easy to Medium). Weeks 5-8: Advanced algorithms and patterns. Dynamic programming, backtracking, greedy algorithms. Increase to Medium/Hard problems. Weeks 9-12: System design, behavioral prep, and mock interviews. Focus on full interview simulation.

Essential Resources

LeetCode Premium for curated problem lists by company. "Cracking the Coding Interview" for fundamentals. "System Design Interview" by Alex Xu for design prep. Pramp or Interviewing.io for mock interviews. AlgoExpert for video explanations. Keep notes in your TBPN notebook on patterns and mistakes.

Algorithm Interview Strategy

Master these patterns: Two pointers, sliding window, binary search, BFS/DFS, dynamic programming, and greedy algorithms. Don't memorize solutions—understand patterns. Practice explaining your thought process out loud. Time yourself—45 minutes per problem maximum. Review solutions even when you solve correctly—learn multiple approaches.

Behavioral Interview Prep

Prepare 5-8 STAR stories (Situation, Task, Action, Result) covering: leadership, conflict resolution, technical challenges, failure and learning, and collaboration. Practice telling these concisely (2-3 minutes each). Tailor to the company's values. Be specific with numbers and impacts. Authenticity matters more than perfection.

Day-of-Interview Tips

Get good sleep—don't cram the night before. Eat a proper meal before interviews. Have water and snacks nearby for virtual interviews. Dress in your TBPN podcast polo for comfort and professionalism. Test your setup for remote interviews. Take deep breaths and remember—interviews are conversations, not interrogations.

Join the TBPN interview prep community where we practice problems together, conduct mock interviews, and share company-specific interview tips. Studying alone is hard—study with others who are also preparing.