This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Soma
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Hello Devs, it’s every developer’s dream to get an SDE job at a FAANG company. I dreamed it too, and having gone through interviews on Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, I know a thing or two about these interviews.
Many developers fail these interviews either because of data structures and algorithms or because of System Design.
Even for an experienced developer, cracking a system design interview is not easy. It requires patience, perseverance, and dedication to learn the intricacies of system design and acquire knowledge to crack an interview.
Though instead of inventing the wheel by yourself, you can learn from others’ experience, and there is no better way to do so than by joining online courses and reading books.
In the past, I have shared many great system design resources and websites like DesignGuru, ByteByteGo, Educative, Udemy, and ZTM, and today, I am going to talk about another such great resource called Exponent.
*tryExponent.com *is a dedicated website for tech interview preparations, which I accidentally found while looking for system design interview resources.
Renowned for its specialized courses catering to various facets of the tech industry, Exponent stands out as a valuable resource for those seeking to enhance their skills in areas such as system design, engineering management, and technical program management.
Led by experienced professionals and industry experts, Exponent’s coursesoffer a unique blend of theoretical knowledge and practical insights, providing learners with the tools they need to succeed in real-world scenarios.
But do you know how I found the exponent? Well, because of this System Design Cheat sheet, this is simply awesome, isn’t it?
With a commitment to clarity, focus, and a hands-on approach, Exponent aims to bridge the gap between theoretical understanding and practical application, ultimately enabling individuals to navigate the challenges of tech interviews with confidence and competence.
The platform’s community-driven features, including a robust question database and a members-only Slack community, foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing among peers, further enriching the learning experience for tech enthusiasts and aspiring professionals alike.
I also found that Exponent offers courses in various areas, including system design, engineering management, and technical program management.
Here are a couple of their best courses, including the first one, which we will review in this article.
System Design Interview Course: If you’re looking to strengthen your system design skills for technical interviews, the System Design Interview Course might be a great choice.
It covers fundamental concepts and provides in-depth walkthroughs of common system design questions.
They also run a free service called Pramp that offers peer-to-peer interviews for software engineers in data structures, SQL, behavioral, and system design.
They also offer one-on-one coaching and classes for in-person learning from FAANG experts, but you need to pay for them, and it’s not chea,p given it’s live and in person.
Now that you know what Exponent is and what it offers for your tech interview preparation, let’s deep dive into its System Design Interview Courseand find out whether it’s worth it or not.
Review — Is Exponent’s System Design Interview Course worth it?
Exponent’s System Design Interview Course stands out as a comprehensive and practical resource designed to equip individuals with the skills needed to navigate the intricate landscape of system design interviews.
In the competitive landscape of tech interviews, mastering system design is often a critical component for success.
Exponent’s System Design Interview will help you to gain the necessary skills and insights to excel in these challenging interviews.
With just $12 per month with a free preview option, the course offers two modules, totaling 10 hours of content.
The first module, “Fundamentals of System Design,” comprises 21 lessons and 4 videos. It covers essential concepts such as load balancing, database sharding, caching strategies, and encryption.
The course emphasizes practical knowledge required for real-world system design scenarios and serves as a valuable reference guide for interview preparation.
The second module, “System Design Questions,”features 18 lessons and 16 videos. It provides in-depth walkthroughs of common system design questions encountered in technical interviews.
You can test your knowledge through self-guided exercises or observe how experienced engineers and managers tackle these questions.
The course also boasts positive feedback from industry professionals, including Machine Learning Engineers, Software Engineers, and Engineering Managers from companies like Meta, eBay, and Amazon.
Users appreciate the clarity and focus on key concepts, making it a valuable resource for interview preparation.
Exponent also offers additional benefits beyond the course, such as a question database with 2,000+ verified interview questions, access to company interview guides, and a members-only Slack community with over 10,000 participants.
The community allows users to connect, ask questions, practice interviews, and gain insights from peers who have navigated similar challenges.
They also have a Frequently Asked Questions section, which addresses concerns about the course content, the value of an Exponent membership, and the option for coaching. The platform also offers full refunds within 5 days of purchase for dissatisfied customers.
In conclusion,Exponent’s System Design Interview Course is a comprehensive and practical resource for individuals looking to excel in system design interviews.
The positive testimonials, diverse course content, and additional benefits, including the question database and Slack community, contribute to the overall value proposition of the course and make it worth your time and money.
By considering all factors like price, value, diagrams, explanation, expert educators, and content quality, I am 100% convinced that Exponent’s System Design interview course is worth it. This is the best money spent on learning System design.
I have personally gone through many great System Design Interview resources like Alex Xu’s ByteByteGo platform as well as :
and found that Exponent is the most comprehensive, up-to-date, as well as most holistic of all of them, as you also get community support.
To be honest, this is one of the resources that you won’t find easily. Most of the knowledge you learn by working on big scalable systems like Amazon, Spotify, Google etc, but you learn all of them by just joining this course.
All these make it one of the best investments you will make in learning because system design concepts are essential for designing a scalable system that can withstand the test of time in production.
While individual preferences may vary, the course seems well-designed to meet the needs of those preparing for system design interviews in Java and beyond.
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Soma