Crack FAANG SQL Interviews - Real Problems with Step-by-Step Thinking

The Most Complete SQL Interview Playbook You’ll Ever Need

If you’ve ever thought:

• “I know SQL… but interviews feel different.”
• “I can write queries, but I fail under pressure.”
• “Why do FAANG interviews feel unfair?”

This workbook is for you.

🔥 Why This Workbook Is Different

Most SQL resources teach syntax.
FAANG interviews test thinking.

This workbook trains you to think exactly how Meta, Google, Amazon, Netflix, Uber, and Stripe interviewers think.

You won’t just learn what query to write —
you’ll learn why candidates fail, what interviewers look for, and how to reason under pressure.

🧠 What You’ll Master

✔ How to think in data grain
✔ How to avoid silent logic bugs
✔ How to reason about joins, nulls, and duplicates
✔ How to handle real-world ambiguity
✔ How to explain your solution like a senior engineer

This is not theory — it’s battle-tested SQL logic.

Each chapter breaks down 5–6 core interview patterns used repeatedly at FAANG.

📘 What’s Inside (Deep Breakdown)

✅ Chapter 1 — SQL Foundations (FAANG Filters)

Learn why most candidates fail at “easy” questions.

• DAU / WAU / MAU
• COUNT vs COUNT(DISTINCT)
• GROUP BY traps
• Interview mental models

✅ Chapter 2 — Joins & Anti-Joins (Top Rejection Area)

• LEFT JOIN vs INNER JOIN traps
• NOT EXISTS vs NOT IN
• Row explosion detection
• Real-world anti-join patterns

💥 Most SQL rejections happen here.

✅ Chapter 3 — Ranking & Top-K Problems

• DENSE_RANK vs ROW_NUMBER (when it actually matters)
• Tie handling (the #1 interview trap)
• Top-N per group problems
• Ranking with filters (correct order matters)

✅ Chapter 4 — Window Functions Deep Dive

• LAG / LEAD with real logic
• Rolling averages
• Sessionization
• First/last events
• Frame clauses explained simply

✅ Chapter 5 — Time-Series & Streak Analysis

• Consecutive logins
• Activity streaks
• Reset logic
• Date arithmetic traps

✅ Chapter 6 — Funnels & Broken Flows

• Funnel completion logic
• Drop-off analysis
• Multi-session funnels
• Event ordering mistakes most candidates make

✅ Chapter 7 — Advanced Aggregations

• GROUPING SETS / ROLLUP
• Nested aggregations
• Conditional aggregation
• Real business metrics logic

✅ Chapter 8 — Recursive SQL & Graph Problems

• Hierarchies
• Organizational trees
• Shortest paths
• Recursive aggregation
• Cycle detection

✅ FAANG Mock Interview Loop

Simulates a real interview:

• Screening round
• Deep technical round
• Senior-level reasoning
• Pushback questions
• Scoring rubric

🎯 Who This Is For

✔ Data Analysts
✔ Data Engineers
✔ Analytics Engineers
✔ SQL-heavy Product roles
✔ Anyone preparing for FAANG / Big Tech interviews

💡 What Makes This Different

✔ Real FAANG-style questions
✔ Clear mental models (not memorization)
✔ Interviewer thought process revealed
✔ Edge cases explained
✔ Production-level SQL logic