[ericzundel]

Google's interview process can be grueling, especially if you don't know what to expect. There are questions like this asked, but I wouldn't try to memorize answers to them. Of course, some of the questions require a direct answer and background knowledge. Usually questions like the synchronization question will be lead-ins to some sort of design or programming problem.

What I look for in a candidate is someone that can not just answer questions correctly, but talk through the process of solving a problem - discussing places where there are design decisions to be made. Someone that considers many solutions and evaluates them out loud during the interview makes a better impression than someone that knows the "best" solution right away.

If you are interested in applying for an internship with Google or another company that has a similar interview process, it would be helpful to practice a bit to get comfortable with the format. Take some of these questions and try answering them cold with someone else in the field who has had time to work through the problem ahead of time. Give yourself a time limit of 30-45 minutes for each session.