Anthony D. Mays is a keynote speaker, former Google engineer, and founder helping technologists and organizations unlock their potential.https://anthonydmays.com/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2025/05/27/5-ways-to-use-ai-for-coding-interview-prep-without-cheating/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2025/05/27/5-ways-to-use-ai-for-coding-interview-prep-without-cheating/The Age of AI is here The reports that software engineering is dead are greatly exaggerated. Far from being all replaced by robots, it turns out that we engineers are still quite necessary. StillTue, 27 May 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2025/04/29/7-questions-to-ask-in-coding-interviews/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2025/04/29/7-questions-to-ask-in-coding-interviews/There are two things that baffle me most about candidates in coding interviews. First, I’m surprised how many don’t think to ask questions.  I’m sure some interviews—and some interviewers—expect Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2024/03/14/tired-of-educating-your-peers-on-race-think-again/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2024/03/14/tired-of-educating-your-peers-on-race-think-again/The next time someone asks you to explain race to them, profit. Imagine this. You’re out at lunch, minding your business, when a colleague approaches you. Perhaps said colleague is your teammate. TheyThu, 14 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2023/10/02/job-descriptions-how-to-read-them-like-a-pro/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2023/10/02/job-descriptions-how-to-read-them-like-a-pro/Table of contents Why do job descriptions matter? If job descriptions are so important, why don't people read them? Breaking down the job description Job ID Job title and department Job location CompaMon, 02 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2023/09/23/coding-interview-preparation-building-a-plan-for-success/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2023/09/23/coding-interview-preparation-building-a-plan-for-success/Coding interview preparation can seem like an incredibly daunting task. This is especially true if you've never done one before, if you are a self-taught developer or bootcamp grad, or if you don't haSat, 23 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2023/09/17/your-tech-resume-is-garbage-heres-how-to-fix-it/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2023/09/17/your-tech-resume-is-garbage-heres-how-to-fix-it/For those of us in tech, a resume often feels like a necessary evil. It feels like an old and antiquated way of getting a company's attention. Don't these companies already know everything about us? ESun, 17 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2023/02/21/grpc-vs-rest-comparing-api-styles-in-practice/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2023/02/21/grpc-vs-rest-comparing-api-styles-in-practice/In this article, we’ll explore APIs created using both the REST architecture and a fairly new player called gRPC. Our goal is to understand how to use these architectural styles to build APIs. What isTue, 21 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2022/11/08/how-to-transition-into-tech/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2022/11/08/how-to-transition-into-tech/As a tech influencer, the single most frequently asked question I get is about how to transition into tech. People love the big salaries, cool products, and world-class perks bragged about on YouTube Tue, 08 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2022/06/13/9-things-you-didnt-know-about-your-coding-interviewer/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2022/06/13/9-things-you-didnt-know-about-your-coding-interviewer/Preparing for technical interviews as an interviewee takes a lot of mental and emotional energy. But what is it like to be an interviewer? As a 20 year software engineer, interview coach, and former iMon, 13 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2022/05/09/how-to-practice-leetcode-problems-the-right-way/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2022/05/09/how-to-practice-leetcode-problems-the-right-way/tl;dr: You're doing it wrong. Use "The Six Steps" any time you practice LeetCode questions, preferably with another person. Keep an interview prep journal to track your progress. The struggle is real Mon, 09 May 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2022/04/19/king-richard-reflections-of-a-black-software-engineer/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2022/04/19/king-richard-reflections-of-a-black-software-engineer/Something magical happens when black people put in work. This fact should surprise no one. Hard work has always been the required wage demanded to justify the existence of the African American, lest tTue, 19 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2021/10/03/learning-from-my-tech-career-mistakes/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2021/10/03/learning-from-my-tech-career-mistakes/I've led a successful tech career, but not without a lot of failures. Here's what you can learn from my mistakes to improve your chances.Sun, 03 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2020/06/01/how-we-change-our-understanding-of-justice/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2020/06/01/how-we-change-our-understanding-of-justice/“Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it completely.” —Proverbs 28:5 Justice begins with demands—the declaration of rights and responsibilities codified by laws bMon, 01 Jun 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2020/04/08/prayer-for-the-peoples/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2020/04/08/prayer-for-the-peoples/Join me for a time of prayer. I can think of no better way that I can do something good and useful for those who are struggling during this time than to pray. Many of you have relied on me for interviWed, 08 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2020/02/05/10-things-i-hate-about-diversity-and-inclusion/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2020/02/05/10-things-i-hate-about-diversity-and-inclusion/Taking a hard look at the ugly side of D&I When it comes to diversity and inclusion, there's a difference between the ideals that it represents and the actual practice of achieving it. And as muchWed, 05 Feb 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2019/09/03/solving-a-coding-interview-question-in-real-time/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2019/09/03/solving-a-coding-interview-question-in-real-time/In my latest video , I tackle a realistic technical coding interview question in real time using JavaScript. I'll show you how I work through it step-by-step in JavaScript from beginning to end. Got aTue, 03 Sep 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2019/08/27/why-i-wear-my-compton-hat/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2019/08/27/why-i-wear-my-compton-hat/[The following is a transcript of the above video ] If you've followed me for any length of time, you know that I wear my hat everywhere. Whether I'm going to work or visiting a school and talking to Tue, 27 Aug 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2019/08/11/what-to-do-when-your-internship-is-over/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2019/08/11/what-to-do-when-your-internship-is-over/Summer is coming to an end and your internship is nearly over. How the time flies! However, hark work doesn't stop on your last day. There are still things you should be doing even after your internshSun, 11 Aug 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2019/01/16/why-you-should-definitely-have-a-plan-b/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2019/01/16/why-you-should-definitely-have-a-plan-b/When it comes to planning and setting goals, is it wrong to have a "Plan B?" I recently came across a post on LinkedIn featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger speaking about how much he hates the idea of a "PWed, 16 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2019/01/07/why-problem-solving-is-the-most-important-skill/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2019/01/07/why-problem-solving-is-the-most-important-skill/For me, a software engineer who has a rigorous, clearly articulated problem solving approach will always impress me, especially if they can use some ingenuity when developing a solution. As a softwareMon, 07 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2018/03/14/three-unexpected-takeaways-from-black-panther/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2018/03/14/three-unexpected-takeaways-from-black-panther/I’m just a software engineer, not a movie reviewer. If you’re looking for an expert critique of Ryan Coogler’s hugely successful big-budget blockbuster, Black Panther, you have come to the wrong placeWed, 14 Mar 2018 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2018/02/11/7-ways-keep-kids-safe-online/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2018/02/11/7-ways-keep-kids-safe-online/You love your children and want to keep them safe. The digital age has made it possible for them to engage with the world in new ways we didn't have growing up. Kids have more devices at their fingertSun, 11 Feb 2018 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2018/01/13/what-to-do-if-you-get-stuck-in-a-technical-interview/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2018/01/13/what-to-do-if-you-get-stuck-in-a-technical-interview/Getting stuck in a technical interview happens to the best of us. In the Google interview, that happens by design. A good technical interview will test how well you can apply what you know to situatioSat, 13 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2018/01/05/interview-tips-from-a-google-engineer/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2018/01/05/interview-tips-from-a-google-engineer/During this short video, I will walk you though two of my favorite interview strategies. I'll show you how to use the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, and Result) to answer behavioral intervieFri, 05 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2017/11/12/hacking-the-hood-how-tech-can-solve-its-pipeline-problem/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2017/11/12/hacking-the-hood-how-tech-can-solve-its-pipeline-problem/The Internship The summer of 2001, I found myself in a hotel conference suite hearing from a successful black businessman named Brian Morton share his career experience. Sitting in a room with 40 or sSun, 12 Nov 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2017/07/30/confessions-of-a-bible-nerd-fa034f867d62/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2017/07/30/confessions-of-a-bible-nerd-fa034f867d62/Author's note: This is the very first blog article I ever published. It came during a very important time of transition in my life. I'm grateful for the growth that God has granted me over the years dSun, 30 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2017/07/23/new-black-tax-cost-minority-tech/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2017/07/23/new-black-tax-cost-minority-tech/If you are a black person in America, then you are probably familiar with the concept of the “Black Tax.” It’s the axiom that states black people must work harder than their counterparts to achieve siSun, 23 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2017/07/09/craft-solid-resume-grabs-attention-top-tech-companies/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2017/07/09/craft-solid-resume-grabs-attention-top-tech-companies/Silicon Valley is changing the way that top companies recruit and hire. What hasn’t changed is that you still need a solid resume to get the attention of your dream employer. Tech companies spend billSun, 09 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2017/06/10/what-does-inclusion-mean/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2017/06/10/what-does-inclusion-mean/I am both the beloved friend and worst enemy of the inclusion work of Silicon Valley. The dichotomy of these two realities feels strange to me, but not unfamiliar. As a black man from Compton and accoSat, 10 Jun 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2017/06/05/playing-chess-with-my-dad/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2017/06/05/playing-chess-with-my-dad/It is Friday, July 23, 2010. My head is in the clouds. And on this beautiful day in Oklahoma City, the clouds are magnificent. It rained earlier this morning. How cliche, I say to myself. On a day likMon, 05 Jun 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2017/05/13/7-mothers-who-made-me/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2017/05/13/7-mothers-who-made-me/There are few things the world needs more than good mothers. It is a universal truth, but one especially true in the black community. Our community has suffered from a terrible, decades long drought oSat, 13 May 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2017/05/06/google-question-answer/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2017/05/06/google-question-answer/Last week, I invited Twitter followers to ask questions about my experience with Google. The following is an edited transcript of the exchange that occurred April 27, 2017. https://twitter.com/anSat, 06 May 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2017/04/30/google-helped-me-find-the-father-i-never-thought-id-meet/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2017/04/30/google-helped-me-find-the-father-i-never-thought-id-meet/I had never met my dad. When I was 13 I went to the Compton library and pored through a stack of phone books searching for him. I staked out a desk near the reference collection and pulled out four orSun, 30 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2017/04/27/6856/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2017/04/27/6856/Today, I had the opportunity to represent Google at the Riordan Programs Alumni Association diversity mixer held at the historic Los Angeles Athletic Club in downtown. This swaggy club has been aroundThu, 27 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2017/01/30/pursuing-glory-god-search-social-justice/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2017/01/30/pursuing-glory-god-search-social-justice/In response to the fatal police shootings of unarmed black men such as Trayvon Martin and Alton Sterling, there have been many conversations about how to respond to the lingering issues of race and diMon, 30 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2017/01/10/prepare-google-interview-1-month-left/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2017/01/10/prepare-google-interview-1-month-left/The following is my answer to the question "How should I prepare for my Google interview if I have 1 month left?" Originally posted on Quora . With over ten years of programming experience and a CS deTue, 10 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2017/01/04/interviewing-at-google-heres-6-things-you-absolutely-need-to-do/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2017/01/04/interviewing-at-google-heres-6-things-you-absolutely-need-to-do/Having interviewed, coached, and sat on hiring committees with many candidates during my three year tenure at Google, I’ve learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t . I conquered the intervWed, 04 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2016/12/29/praying-for-strength-in-the-lord/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2016/12/29/praying-for-strength-in-the-lord/“Please pray for my strength in the Lord”—that’s one of the many sayings I heard a lot growing up in the black church. Don’t know what to pray for in the prayer circle? Ask for strength in the Lord. NThu, 29 Dec 2016 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2016/05/04/what-is-it-like-to-be-a-black-employee-at-google/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2016/05/04/what-is-it-like-to-be-a-black-employee-at-google/What is it like to be a black employee at Google? originally appeared on Quora on April 21, 2016. It has been republished here with edits. Thanks for this great question! I’m presently a software engiWed, 04 May 2016 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2015/06/08/google-would-never-hire-a-person-like-me/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2015/06/08/google-would-never-hire-a-person-like-me/“Google would never hire a person like me.” That’s what I told myself as I walked away from the college campus recruitment booth in 2005. I was a huge fan of Google products like Search and Gmail, so Mon, 08 Jun 2015 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2015/06/01/greater-real-meaning-1-john-44/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2015/06/01/greater-real-meaning-1-john-44/“Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” — 1 John 4:4 , ESV The Catchphrase This passage of scripture is one of the mostMon, 01 Jun 2015 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2015/05/25/three-reasons-why-my-heart-hurts-for-the-black-church-5c5b71f1bc68/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2015/05/25/three-reasons-why-my-heart-hurts-for-the-black-church-5c5b71f1bc68/Scripture is clear in teaching there is only one church, embodied by “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” ( Ephesians 4:5–6 , ESV).Mon, 25 May 2015 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2015/05/13/yoda-agreed-bible/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2015/05/13/yoda-agreed-bible/Having celebrated Star Wars Day this past May 4th , I am reminded of a line recited by Master Yoda in Episode I, The Phantom Menace . In one of the final scenes of the film, Yoda warns young Anakin SkWed, 13 May 2015 00:00:00 GMThttps://anthonydmays.com/blog/2015/03/29/confessions-bible-nerd-part-1/https://anthonydmays.com/blog/2015/03/29/confessions-bible-nerd-part-1/OK, so I've got a confession to make: I am smart and I’m not ashamed to admit it. It is not the kind of thing I like to admit. Anyone who’s ever been accused of being smart has probably run into bullySun, 29 Mar 2015 00:00:00 GMT