Technical interviews at major tech companies can feel like a life-or-death challenge. Algorithms, system design, and source code analysis—all daunting tasks that can quickly result in rejection if answered incorrectly. Remote interviews add another layer of complexity with unfamiliar interviewers and unexpected high-pressure questions. How can one stay composed and provide precise responses?

Today, we break down a real-life major tech interview case study to see how a candidate, with the help of csoahelp’s real-time interview assistance, navigated uncertainty and successfully passed the technical interview at Unicorns Company.

This is a real interview question from Unicorns Company:

Boarding Passes
You are embarking on a world tour... a one-way multi-stop trip.
Unfortunately, you dropped your bag, and the boarding passes got mixed up.
Each city will only be visited once. Given the following list of boarding passes, write some code that returns the itinerary of the trip.

Boarding passes:
SYD --> LAX
LHR --> DEL
SFO --> JFK
DEL --> PEK
JFK --> LHR
PEK --> SYD

Expected Result:
SFO
JFK
LHR
DEL
PEK
SYD
LAX

At first glance, this problem might seem like a simple sorting task. However, under the high-pressure interview environment, identifying the right approach quickly and explaining it clearly can be a major challenge.

Our candidate initially panicked upon seeing the question, their heart racing and hands sweating. The interviewer remained silent, waiting for an answer without any hints. The only option was to push forward and say, “Let me think about it…”

During the remote interview, csoahelp provided real-time textual assistance, boosting the candidate’s confidence. Our expert interview support team analyzed the problem quickly in the background and delivered a structured solution approach in real time, allowing the candidate to articulate their thoughts seamlessly.

The candidate began explaining, “I recognize that this problem is essentially a directed graph topological sorting problem. We can use a hash table to store the mapping of starting and destination cities…”

At the same time, csoahelp’s backend team had already structured the solution and relayed it to the candidate.

Build a city mapping. Use a dictionary (HashMap) to record the starting and destination points of each boarding pass. Additionally, use a set to record all destination cities to determine the unique starting point.

Identify the journey’s starting city. The start must be a city that never appears as a destination. This can be found efficiently using set operations.

Construct the itinerary sequentially. Start from the determined beginning city and traverse the dictionary-mapped route until the final city is reached.

The candidate, receiving real-time assistance, confidently continued: “We can implement this approach in Python.”

def find_itinerary(tickets):
    graph = {start: end for start, end in tickets}
    start = (set(graph.keys()) - set(graph.values())).pop()
    itinerary = []
    
    while start:
        itinerary.append(start)
        start = graph.get(start, None)
    
    return itinerary

# Sample input
boarding_passes = [
    ("SYD", "LAX"),
    ("LHR", "DEL"),
    ("SFO", "JFK"),
    ("DEL", "PEK"),
    ("JFK", "LHR"),
    ("PEK", "SYD"),
]

print(find_itinerary(boarding_passes))

The candidate successfully explained the logic behind the code and implemented it correctly. When running the sample data, the output matched the expected result:

['SFO', 'JFK', 'LHR', 'DEL', 'PEK', 'SYD', 'LAX']

The interviewer nodded in satisfaction and wrote down a positive evaluation: “Very good explanation.”

This candidate was not an algorithm expert, yet they successfully passed Unicorns Company’s technical interview. The key to their success was csoahelp’s real-time assistance.

Real-time delivery of structured solutions allowed the candidate to present their thoughts clearly without hesitation. Precise analysis of the interviewer’s questions ensured that each response hit the mark. Code optimization assistance enabled the candidate to write high-quality code even under pressure. Psychological support prevented nervousness from clouding their thought process, enhancing fluency and confidence.

For job seekers, technical skills are crucial, but interview performance ultimately determines success. Many highly capable candidates fail not because they lack skills but because they struggle with nervousness, poor articulation, or inefficient problem-solving approaches under time constraints. csoahelp’s remote interview assistance service ensures you stay in control, allowing your true potential to shine in any interview setting.

If you’re preparing for a major tech interview, give csoahelp a try. Say goodbye to unexpected hurdles and land your dream offer! 🚀

Book now for a one-on-one interview simulation!

经过csoahelp的面试辅助，候选人获取了良好的面试表现。如果您需要面试辅助或面试代面服务，帮助您进入梦想中的大厂，请随时联系我。

If you need more interview support or interview proxy practice, feel free to contact us. We offer comprehensive interview support services to help you successfully land a job at your dream company.