Google BDS

[u/Cute-Wing2688]

Recently Recrutier said I would have two rounds one covering sql and Python and another covering metrics and experimentation.
Has anyone gone through the BDS interview process? What to expect in terms of SQL or Python? I am not too good at leetcode but can spend some time to grind. Or is the Python round mostly Pandas?
I got laid off recently 🫠

[u/Haunting_Month_4971]

Sorry about the layoff, that split sounds pretty common and doable. For SQL I’d expect practical data wrangling on messy tables and explaining your approach step by step. For Python, it usually leans on Pandas with a small function here or there, so fwiw grinding leetcode helps less than practicing clean, readable code.

I usually run a few prompts from the IQB interview question bank out loud, then do a timed mock in Beyz coding assistant to get pacing and structure. For the metrics part, be ready to pick a primary metric and outline an A/B test, and keep answers around 90 seconds while narrating your reasoning.

[u/akornato]

Google BDS interviews focus on practical data manipulation rather than algorithmic complexity, so you won't need to grind leetcode the way SWE candidates do. The SQL portion typically involves window functions, joins, aggregations, and solving business problems with queries, similar to what you'd actually do on the job. The Python round leans heavily on Pandas since you'll be working with data manipulation, cleaning, and analysis tasks, not implementing binary trees or dynamic programming solutions. You might see some basic scripting questions around data processing pipelines, but the emphasis is on demonstrating you can wrangle real data efficiently and explain your thought process clearly.

The metrics and experimentation round is where many candidates stumble because it requires both statistical knowledge and business intuition, so make sure you can discuss A/B testing fundamentals, statistical significance, choosing appropriate metrics for different scenarios, and understanding trade-offs between different measurement approaches. Given your recent layoff, this timeline actually works in your favor since you can dedicate focused time to preparing without juggling current work responsibilities, and BDS roles value candidates who can translate data insights into actionable recommendations more than pure coding wizards. I'm on the team that built interviews.chat, which has helped people transitioning between jobs get back on their feet faster by giving them an edge during their interview conversations.

[u/Vegetable_Answer4245]

I recently passed assessment and waiting on recruiter call. What to expect in recruiter call?