Google vs Expedia: Interview Question Comparison

When preparing for technical interviews, understanding the distinct profiles of different companies is crucial for efficient study. Google and Expedia represent two ends of the spectrum in terms of scale and technical focus. Google's process is legendary for its depth and breadth, while Expedia's is more targeted but still requires strong foundational skills. A direct comparison of their question banks reveals significant differences in volume, difficulty distribution, and topical emphasis, which should directly inform your preparation strategy.

Question Volume and Difficulty

The sheer volume of available questions is the most striking difference. Google's tagged question count (2,217) dwarfs Expedia's (54). This reflects both the longevity of Google's process in the interview prep ecosystem and the vast number of reported experiences.

The difficulty distribution also tells a clear story:

• Google (E588/M1153/H476): The difficulty spread is relatively balanced, with a strong emphasis on Medium questions. This aligns with the typical Google interview, which is designed to assess problem-solving and algorithmic thinking on challenging but not exclusively "hard" problems. The substantial number of Hard questions indicates that senior or specialized roles will encounter significant complexity.
• Expedia (E13/M35/H6): The distribution is heavily skewed toward Medium difficulty. The low number of Hard questions suggests their interviews focus more on practical application and solid implementation of core concepts rather than on solving obscure, highly complex algorithmic puzzles.

Key Takeaway: Google preparation is a marathon requiring exposure to a wide range of problems across all difficulties. Expedia preparation is a sprint focused on mastering medium-difficulty problems that test core competencies.

Topic Overlap

Both companies heavily test the fundamental data structures. The shared primary topics are Array, String, and Hash Table. This is unsurprising, as these form the backbone of most coding challenges.

The key differences lie in the advanced topics:

• Google's standout topic is Dynamic Programming (DP). Its presence highlights Google's emphasis on optimization, state management, and advanced problem decomposition. You must be prepared to tackle DP problems, which often appear as Medium or Hard questions.
• Expedia's standout topic is Greedy. This indicates a focus on problems where a locally optimal choice leads to a globally optimal solution. These are often more intuitive and practical for certain business logic or optimization scenarios, aligning with Expedia's domain.

# Example: A Greedy problem (e.g., Activity Selection)
def max_activities(activities):
    # activities: list of [start, end]
    activities.sort(key=lambda x: x[1])  # Sort by end time
    count, last_end = 0, 0
    for start, end in activities:
        if start >= last_end:
            count += 1
            last_end = end
    return count

Which to Prepare for First

Your preparation priority should be dictated by your goals and timeline.

Prepare for Expedia first if: You are new to technical interviews or have a shorter timeline. The focused question set allows you to deeply master the core topics (Array, String, Hash Table) and the Greedy paradigm. Achieving proficiency here builds a strong foundation that is directly transferable. Success with Expedia's profile can boost confidence before tackling a broader challenge.

Prepare for Google first if: You are aiming for top-tier tech companies or have a longer runway. Preparing for Google is essentially preparing for the most comprehensive assessment. The vast question bank forces you to develop stamina and deep algorithmic thinking. Mastering Google's topics, especially Dynamic Programming, will make you over-prepared for Expedia's interview. The skills are a superset.

In practice, a strong foundational study plan serves both. Start with core data structures and algorithms (the shared Array/String/Hash Table focus), then branch based on your target. If Google is the goal, integrate DP early. If Expedia is the immediate target, ensure you can recognize and implement Greedy solutions.

For targeted practice, visit the company pages: Google Questions | Expedia Questions