technical problem solving interview

Top 20 Problem Solving Interview Questions (Example Answers Included)

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By Mike Simpson

When candidates prepare for interviews, they usually focus on highlighting their leadership, communication, teamwork, and similar crucial soft skills . However, not everyone gets ready for problem-solving interview questions. And that can be a big mistake.

Problem-solving is relevant to nearly any job on the planet. Yes, it’s more prevalent in certain industries, but it’s helpful almost everywhere.

Regardless of the role you want to land, you may be asked to provide problem-solving examples or describe how you would deal with specific situations. That’s why being ready to showcase your problem-solving skills is so vital.

If you aren’t sure who to tackle problem-solving questions, don’t worry, we have your back. Come with us as we explore this exciting part of the interview process, as well as some problem-solving interview questions and example answers.

What Is Problem-Solving?

When you’re trying to land a position, there’s a good chance you’ll face some problem-solving interview questions. But what exactly is problem-solving? And why is it so important to hiring managers?

Well, the good folks at Merriam-Webster define problem-solving as “the process or act of finding a solution to a problem.” While that may seem like common sense, there’s a critical part to that definition that should catch your eye.

What part is that? The word “process.”

In the end, problem-solving is an activity. It’s your ability to take appropriate steps to find answers, determine how to proceed, or otherwise overcome the challenge.

Being great at it usually means having a range of helpful problem-solving skills and traits. Research, diligence, patience, attention-to-detail , collaboration… they can all play a role. So can analytical thinking , creativity, and open-mindedness.

But why do hiring managers worry about your problem-solving skills? Well, mainly, because every job comes with its fair share of problems.

While problem-solving is relevant to scientific, technical, legal, medical, and a whole slew of other careers. It helps you overcome challenges and deal with the unexpected. It plays a role in troubleshooting and innovation. That’s why it matters to hiring managers.

How to Answer Problem-Solving Interview Questions

Okay, before we get to our examples, let’s take a quick second to talk about strategy. Knowing how to answer problem-solving interview questions is crucial. Why? Because the hiring manager might ask you something that you don’t anticipate.

Problem-solving interview questions are all about seeing how you think. As a result, they can be a bit… unconventional.

These aren’t your run-of-the-mill job interview questions . Instead, they are tricky behavioral interview questions . After all, the goal is to find out how you approach problem-solving, so most are going to feature scenarios, brainteasers, or something similar.

So, having a great strategy means knowing how to deal with behavioral questions. Luckily, there are a couple of tools that can help.

First, when it comes to the classic approach to behavioral interview questions, look no further than the STAR Method . With the STAR method, you learn how to turn your answers into captivating stories. This makes your responses tons more engaging, ensuring you keep the hiring manager’s attention from beginning to end.

Now, should you stop with the STAR Method? Of course not. If you want to take your answers to the next level, spend some time with the Tailoring Method , too.

With the Tailoring Method, it’s all about relevance. So, if you get a chance to choose an example that demonstrates your problem-solving skills, this is really the way to go.

We also wanted to let you know that we created an amazing free cheat sheet that will give you word-for-word answers for some of the toughest interview questions you are going to face in your upcoming interview. After all, hiring managers will often ask you more generalized interview questions!

Click below to get your free PDF now:

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Top 3 Problem-Solving-Based Interview Questions

Alright, here is what you’ve been waiting for: the problem-solving questions and sample answers.

While many questions in this category are job-specific, these tend to apply to nearly any job. That means there’s a good chance you’ll come across them at some point in your career, making them a great starting point when you’re practicing for an interview.

So, let’s dive in, shall we? Here’s a look at the top three problem-solving interview questions and example responses.

1. Can you tell me about a time when you had to solve a challenging problem?

In the land of problem-solving questions, this one might be your best-case scenario. It lets you choose your own problem-solving examples to highlight, putting you in complete control.

When you choose an example, go with one that is relevant to what you’ll face in the role. The closer the match, the better the answer is in the eyes of the hiring manager.

EXAMPLE ANSWER:

“While working as a mobile telecom support specialist for a large organization, we had to transition our MDM service from one vendor to another within 45 days. This personally physically handling 500 devices within the agency. Devices had to be gathered from the headquarters and satellite offices, which were located all across the state, something that was challenging even without the tight deadline. I approached the situation by identifying the location assignment of all personnel within the organization, enabling me to estimate transit times for receiving the devices. Next, I timed out how many devices I could personally update in a day. Together, this allowed me to create a general timeline. After that, I coordinated with each location, both expressing the urgency of adhering to deadlines and scheduling bulk shipping options. While there were occasional bouts of resistance, I worked with location leaders to calm concerns and facilitate action. While performing all of the updates was daunting, my approach to organizing the event made it a success. Ultimately, the entire transition was finished five days before the deadline, exceeding the expectations of many.”

2. Describe a time where you made a mistake. What did you do to fix it?

While this might not look like it’s based on problem-solving on the surface, it actually is. When you make a mistake, it creates a challenge, one you have to work your way through. At a minimum, it’s an opportunity to highlight problem-solving skills, even if you don’t address the topic directly.

When you choose an example, you want to go with a situation where the end was positive. However, the issue still has to be significant, causing something negative to happen in the moment that you, ideally, overcame.

“When I first began in a supervisory role, I had trouble setting down my individual contributor hat. I tried to keep up with my past duties while also taking on the responsibilities of my new role. As a result, I began rushing and introduced an error into the code of the software my team was updating. The error led to a memory leak. We became aware of the issue when the performance was hindered, though we didn’t immediately know the cause. I dove back into the code, reviewing recent changes, and, ultimately, determined the issue was a mistake on my end. When I made that discovery, I took several steps. First, I let my team know that the error was mine and let them know its nature. Second, I worked with my team to correct the issue, resolving the memory leak. Finally, I took this as a lesson about delegation. I began assigning work to my team more effectively, a move that allowed me to excel as a manager and help them thrive as contributors. It was a crucial learning moment, one that I have valued every day since.”

3. If you identify a potential risk in a project, what steps do you take to prevent it?

Yes, this is also a problem-solving question. The difference is, with this one, it’s not about fixing an issue; it’s about stopping it from happening. Still, you use problem-solving skills along the way, so it falls in this question category.

If you can, use an example of a moment when you mitigated risk in the past. If you haven’t had that opportunity, approach it theoretically, discussing the steps you would take to prevent an issue from developing.

“If I identify a potential risk in a project, my first step is to assess the various factors that could lead to a poor outcome. Prevention requires analysis. Ensuring I fully understand what can trigger the undesired event creates the right foundation, allowing me to figure out how to reduce the likelihood of those events occurring. Once I have the right level of understanding, I come up with a mitigation plan. Exactly what this includes varies depending on the nature of the issue, though it usually involves various steps and checks designed to monitor the project as it progresses to spot paths that may make the problem more likely to happen. I find this approach effective as it combines knowledge and ongoing vigilance. That way, if the project begins to head into risky territory, I can correct its trajectory.”

17 More Problem-Solving-Based Interview Questions

In the world of problem-solving questions, some apply to a wide range of jobs, while others are more niche. For example, customer service reps and IT helpdesk professionals both encounter challenges, but not usually the same kind.

As a result, some of the questions in this list may be more relevant to certain careers than others. However, they all give you insights into what this kind of question looks like, making them worth reviewing.

Here are 17 more problem-solving interview questions you might face off against during your job search:

• How would you describe your problem-solving skills?
• Can you tell me about a time when you had to use creativity to deal with an obstacle?
• Describe a time when you discovered an unmet customer need while assisting a customer and found a way to meet it.
• If you were faced with an upset customer, how would you diffuse the situation?
• Tell me about a time when you had to troubleshoot a complex issue.
• Imagine you were overseeing a project and needed a particular item. You have two choices of vendors: one that can deliver on time but would be over budget, and one that’s under budget but would deliver one week later than you need it. How do you figure out which approach to use?
• Your manager wants to upgrade a tool you regularly use for your job and wants your recommendation. How do you formulate one?
• A supplier has said that an item you need for a project isn’t going to be delivered as scheduled, something that would cause your project to fall behind schedule. What do you do to try and keep the timeline on target?
• Can you share an example of a moment where you encountered a unique problem you and your colleagues had never seen before? How did you figure out what to do?
• Imagine you were scheduled to give a presentation with a colleague, and your colleague called in sick right before it was set to begin. What would you do?
• If you are given two urgent tasks from different members of the leadership team, both with the same tight deadline, how do you choose which to tackle first?
• Tell me about a time you and a colleague didn’t see eye-to-eye. How did you decide what to do?
• Describe your troubleshooting process.
• Tell me about a time where there was a problem that you weren’t able to solve. What happened?
• In your opening, what skills or traits make a person an exceptional problem-solver?
• When you face a problem that requires action, do you usually jump in or take a moment to carefully assess the situation?
• When you encounter a new problem you’ve never seen before, what is the first step that you take?

Putting It All Together

At this point, you should have a solid idea of how to approach problem-solving interview questions. Use the tips above to your advantage. That way, you can thrive during your next interview.

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Mike simpson.

Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Mike is a job interview and career expert and the head writer at TheInterviewGuys.com. His advice and insights have been shared and featured by publications such as Forbes , Entrepreneur , CNBC and more as well as educational institutions such as the University of Michigan , Penn State , Northeastern and others. Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page .

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Top 20 Technical Interview Questions with Example Answers

A technical interview is a type of job interview that focuses on evaluating a candidate’s technical expertise and knowledge in relation to the position for which they are applying. It’s most commonly used in careers like software engineering , information technology and data science , among others.

What Is a Technical Interview?

A technical interview is a type of job interview that aims to evaluate a candidate’s technical expertise, problem solving and communication skills through coding exercises, system design discussions, whiteboard sessions and behavioral interview questions and more. It’s often used to assess candidates in careers like software engineering, IT and data science.    

The objective is to ascertain your capacity for problem-solving under pressure, as well as evaluating your communication and interpersonal abilities. Technical interviews may include various formats, such as coding exercises , algorithmic problem-solving, system design discussions, whiteboarding sessions or hands-on tasks using relevant tools or technologies. Candidates may be asked to write code, analyze code snippets, optimize algorithms, explain concepts or design system architectures.

Technical interviews are often conducted in the following formats:

• Coding interviews
• System design interviews
• Behavioral and technical combination interviews
• Take-home assignments
• Technical presentations

7 Types of Technical Interview Questions 

Depending on the particular function and industry, technical interview questions might be asked on a wide range of subjects. These inquiries are intended to evaluate applicants' technical expertise, capacity for problem-solving and breadth of subject knowledge. Following are a few examples of typical technical interview categories:

1. Coding and Programming

These inquiries evaluate an applicant's proficiency for using programming languages like Python , Java , C++ or JavaScript to write code and resolve issues. They could entail coding puzzles, data structures , algorithmic challenges or writing code to address a particular issue.

2. System Design

These inquiries test a candidate’s competence for large-scale system design and architecture. They frequently concentrate on the trade-offs, scalability, dependability, and performance of complex systems.

3. Data Structures and Algorithms

These types of questions test a candidate’s comprehension of various data structures and algorithms, including arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, and graphs, as well as sorting, searching, traversals and dynamic programming. Candidates may be required to analyze problems involving time and spatial complexity or to use these ideas in their solutions.

4. Database and SQL

These types of questions test a candidate's understanding of SQL queries , database design principles and database management systems . Candidates may be required to build database structures, write sophisticated queries or optimize queries for performance.

5. System Architecture 

These kinds of questions concentrate on a system’s overall structure and its parts. They might go through issues like networking, distributed systems, cloud computing , security and scalability .

6. Testing and Debugging

These kinds of questions evaluate a candidate’s understanding of software testing principles, debugging methods and their aptitude for finding and resolving coding problems.

7. Web Development

The web technologies covered by these questions include HTML , CSS , JavaScript, frameworks like React or Angular , RESTful APIs and browser compatibility. The development or optimization of web applications, resolving front-end issues or debugging of web-related problems may be required of candidates.

More on Software Engineering Top 50 JavaScript Interview Questions With Example Answers

20 Technical Interview Questions to Know

Technical interviews often include questions that test the candidate’s understanding of software and how software works. It’s important to both be knowledgeable about the coding language you’ll primarily be working in and various development methodologies. 

Common Technical Interview Questions

• Describe the concept of a binary search algorithm and its time complexity.
• What are the main differences between HTTP and HTTPS?
• Explain the concept of a linked list and its advantage over an array.
• What is the purpose of a code review in testing?
• What are the different programming languages used in web development?
• How does caching work in web development?
• How would you optimize low-performing SQL code?
• What is the role of a load-balancing system of architecture?
• What is horizontal scaling and how does it differ from vertical scaling?
• What is a service-oriented architecture (SOA)?

Here are some practice questions with answers to help you prepare. 

1. Describe the concept of a binary search algorithm and its time complexity.

Binary search is a divide-and-conquer algorithm used to efficiently search a sorted array. It repeatedly divides the search space in half until the target element is found or determined to be absent. The time complexity of binary search is O(log n) , as the search space is halved with each comparison.

It significantly lowers the number of comparisons required to find an element by splitting the search space in half during each iteration. Large data sets benefit greatly from its outstanding efficiency due to its time complexity. The elegance of this algorithm rests in its capacity to quickly arrive at the intended outcome, highlighting the significance of algorithmic effectiveness in problem-solving.

The time complexity of binary search is O(log n), where n is the number of elements in the array. This is because the number of comparisons made by binary search is always log2(n). For example, if there are 10 elements in the array, binary search will make seven comparisons. If there are 100 elements in the array, binary search will make seven comparisons. Binary search is a very efficient search algorithm. It’s much faster than linear search, which compares each element in the array to the target value until a match is found. Binary search is also more efficient than other search algorithms, such as the jump search algorithm.

Given an array of integers, find the index of the target element.

2. Explain the concept of a linked list and its advantages over an array.

A linked list is a data structure consisting of nodes, where each node contains a value and a reference to the next node. Unlike arrays, linked lists have dynamic size and can efficiently insert or delete elements at any position. However, linked lists have slower access times and require extra memory for storing references.

Linked lists are often used to represent data that isn’t sorted or that needs to be inserted or deleted frequently. This is because linked lists can be easily manipulated, without the need to shift other elements in the list.

Linked lists are helpful in situations requiring effective manipulation because elements can be added or removed without requiring significant data transfers. However, it's crucial to remember that linked lists have slower access speeds than arrays because they don't have contiguous memory storage and have more memory requirements for holding node references.

Here are some of the advantages of linked lists over arrays:

• Dynamic size : Linked lists can grow or shrink dynamically, without the need to pre-allocate memory. 
• Efficient insertion and deletion : Insertion and deletion of elements in a linked list is very efficient, as it only requires updating the pointers of the affected nodes.
• Memory efficiency : Linked lists can be more memory efficient than arrays for storing data that is not sorted or that needs to be inserted or deleted frequently.

You are given the heads of two sorted linked lists list1  and list2 . Merge the two lists into one sorted list. The list should be made by splicing together the nodes of the first two lists. Return the head of the merged linked list.

3. Describe the difference between a stack and a queue data structure.

A stack and a queue are both linear data structures, which means that they store data in a sequence. However, they differ in the way that they allow elements to be inserted and deleted. A stack is a last in first out (LIFO) data structure. This means that the last element that is inserted into a stack is the first element that is removed. Stacks are often used to implement recursion, which is a programming technique that allows a function to call itself.

A queue is a first in first out (FIFO) data structure. This means that the first element that is inserted into a queue is the first element that is removed. Queues are often used to implement tasks such as printing jobs or processing requests.

Given a string s containing just the characters ' (', ')', '{', '}', '[' and ']' , determine if the input string is valid.

Considering a given string of characters, 's' , that only contains the letters '(', ')', '', '', '[', and ']' , poses the task. It’s your task to validate the input string. In other words, you need to check to see if the string's bracket placement complies with the bracket pairing conventions. To make sure the sequence creates a well-balanced arrangement, it is necessary to verify that each opening bracket is accurately matched and closed by its corresponding equivalent.

4. What are the main differences between HTTP and HTTPS?

HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol) is an unsecured protocol used for transmitting data over the internet. HTTPS (HTTP secure) is a secure version of HTTP that encrypts data using SSL/TLS protocols, providing confidentiality and integrity. HTTPS is indicated by a padlock symbol in web browsers and is commonly used for secure transactions, such as online banking or e-commerce. However, there are some key differences between the two.

• Security : HTTP is not a secure protocol. This means that data transmitted over HTTP can be intercepted and read by anyone in between the sender and receiver. HTTPS, on the other hand, is a secure protocol. This means that data transmitted over HTTPS is encrypted and cannot be read by anyone in between the sender and receiver.
• Speed : HTTP is generally faster than HTTPS. This is because HTTPS requires additional encryption and authentication steps, which can add some overhead. However, the difference in speed is usually not significant.
• Use : HTTP is used for a wide variety of purposes, including browsing websites, downloading files, and streaming media. HTTPS is typically used for tasks that require a higher level of security, such as online banking, shopping, and email.

Here are some examples of websites that use HTTPS:

• Banking websites : Banks use HTTPS to protect customer data, such as account numbers and passwords.
• Shopping websites : Shopping websites use HTTPS to protect customer credit card information.
• Email services : Email services use HTTPS to protect user messages.

5. Describe the purpose and use cases of design patterns in software development.

Design patterns are reusable solutions to commonly occurring problems in software design. They provide a structured approach to designing and organizing code, improving code maintainability, reusability and readability. Design patterns, such as Singleton, Factory and Observer, have specific use cases and can simplify complex software architectures. They are used to solve common problems that arise in software design, and they can help to improve the quality, maintainability and reusability of code.

There are many different types of design patterns, but they can generally be divided into three categories:

• Creational patterns : These patterns deal with the creation of objects.
• Structural patterns : These patterns deal with the structure of objects and how they interact with each other.
• Behavioral patterns : These patterns deal with the behavior of objects and how they respond to events.

Some of the most common design patterns include:

• Factory pattern : This pattern provides a way to create objects without specifying their concrete type.
• Singleton pattern : This pattern ensures that there is only one instance of a class in an application.
• Adapter pattern : This pattern allows two incompatible classes to work together.
• Strategy pattern : This pattern allows objects to change their behavior at runtime.
• Observer pattern : This pattern allows objects to subscribe to events and be notified when those events occur.

6. How would you design a scalable system for handling high traffic and large amounts of data?

Scalable systems can be achieved through techniques like load balancing (distributing traffic across multiple servers), horizontal scaling (adding more servers), caching frequently accessed data, using distributed databases and employing techniques like sharding or partitioning to handle large data volumes. There are many ways to design a scalable system for handling high traffic and large amounts of data. Here are some of the most common approaches:

• Use a distributed architecture . A distributed architecture breaks down the system into smaller components that can be scaled independently. This makes it easier to add more capacity as needed.
• Use a caching layer . A caching layer stores frequently accessed data in memory, which can improve performance by reducing the number of times the database needs to be accessed.
• Use a load balancer . A load balancer distributes traffic across multiple servers, which can improve performance by preventing any single server from becoming overloaded.
• Use a content delivery network (CDN) . A CDN stores static content, such as images and JavaScript files, in multiple locations around the world. This can improve performance by delivering content to users from a server that is close to them.
• Use a database that is designed for scalability . There are many different types of databases, and some are better suited for scalability than others. For example, NoSQL databases are designed to store large amounts of data without requiring a lot of processing power.

7. What is the difference between unit testing and integration testing?

Unit testing focuses on testing individual components or units of code in isolation, while integration testing verifies the interaction between multiple components to ensure they work together correctly. Both testing are performed at different stages of the development process.

Individual pieces of code are tested in unit testing, a sort of software testing, to make sure they function as expected. Individual functions, classes, or modules can all be considered units of code. The developer who created the code being tested usually creates unit tests, and they frequently make use of a unit testing framework. Unit testing is typically performed first, followed by integration testing. This allows developers to identify and fix bugs early in the development process, when they are easier to find and fix.

Integration testing is a type of software testing where individual units of code are combined and tested as a group to ensure that they work together correctly. Integration tests are typically written by a software tester, and they often require the use of a test harness. The main difference between unit testing and integration testing is the level of granularity at which they are performed. Unit testing focuses on individual units of code, while integration testing focuses on how individual units of code interact with each other.

Here are some additional benefits of unit testing and integration testing:

• Increased quality: Unit testing and integration testing can help to identify and fix bugs early in the development process, when they are easier to find and fix. This can help to improve the overall quality of the software.
• Reduced development time: By identifying and fixing bugs early, unit testing and integration testing can help to reduce the amount of time spent debugging later in the development process. This can lead to shorter development cycles and faster time to market.
• Reduced costs: Unit testing and integration testing can help to reduce the costs associated with software development. This is because they can help to prevent bugs from reaching production, which can save money on bug fixing and customer support.

A unit test for a function that adds two numbers together might check to make sure that the function returns the correct value for different input values. An integration test for a system that allows users to add items to a shopping cart might check to make sure that the items are added to the cart correctly when the user clicks the "add to cart" button.

Unit testing verifies particular pieces of code to make sure they work as intended. Testing an addition function, for instance, verifies that it is accurate regardless of the input. The effectiveness of integrated pieces is evaluated through integration testing.

8. What are some common software testing methodologies?

Software testing methodologies are the strategies, processes, or environments used to test software. They encompass everything from unit testing individual modules, integration testing an entire system or specialized forms of testing such as security and performance. There are many different software testing methodologies, some of the most common methodologies include:

Waterfall Model  

The waterfall model is a linear, sequential approach to software development. Testing is typically conducted at the end of the development process, after all of the requirements have been defined and the code has been written.

For example, a company that is developing a new enterprise software application might use the waterfall model. The company would first define the requirements for the application, then design the application, write the code, and test the application at the end of the development process.

Agile Model 

The agile model is an iterative, incremental approach to software development. Testing is conducted throughout the development process, in short cycles known as sprints. This allows for early detection of defects and changes to be made quickly.

For example, a startup that is developing a new mobile app might use the agile model. The team would start by creating a minimum viable product (MVP) and then release it to users for feedback. The team would then iterate on the app based on the feedback, adding new features and fixing bugs.

Iterative Model 

The iterative model is a hybrid approach that combines elements of the waterfall and agile models. Testing is conducted throughout the development process, but it is not as frequent as in the agile model.

For example, a government agency that is developing a new website might use the iterative model. The agency would first develop a prototype of the website, then test it with users to get feedback.

The DevOps approach is a culture and methodology that emphasizes the collaboration between development, operations, and security teams. Testing is an integral part of the DevOps process and is conducted throughout the development lifecycle.

For example, A large retailer that is developing a new e-commerce platform might use the DevOps approach. The retailer would have a dedicated team of developers, operations engineers, and security engineers who would work together to develop and test the platform.

9. What is the purpose of a code review in testing?

Code reviews are conducted to ensure that the code meets quality standards, follows best practices, and is free from bugs and potential issues. They help identify defects early in the development process. A developer's code is examined by another developer or a team of developers during a code review process. A code review is performed to identify problems in the code, enhance its readability and maintainability and make sure it complies with the project's specifications.

In testing, code reviews can be used to:

• Find bugs that unit tests may have missed. Unit tests are good at finding errors in individual units of code, but they can't always find errors that occur when multiple units of code interact with each other. Code reviews can help to find these types of errors.
• Improve the code’s readability and maintainability. Code that is easy to read and maintain is less likely to have errors. Code reviews can help to improve the readability and maintainability of code by identifying and fixing issues such as poor naming conventions, inconsistent coding styles, and complex logic.
• Ensure that the code meets the project’s requirements. Code reviews can help to ensure that the code meets the project's requirements by identifying and fixing any gaps or inconsistencies between the code and the requirements.

Software quality can be raised with the help of code reviews. Code reviews can assist in preventing problems from entering production and enhancing the overall quality of the software by identifying errors, enhancing readability and maintainability, and making sure the code complies with project objectives.

10. What are the different programming languages used for web development?

The most popular programming languages for web development are:

More on Software Engineering Guide to the JavaScript Array Filter() Method

11. What is the difference between front-end and back end development?

Front-end development focuses on building the user interface and user experience of a website or application using technologies like HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Back end development involves building the server-side logic and database interactions using languages like Python, Ruby or Java.

Front end includes tasks such as designing the layout, creating the graphics, and coding the functionality. Back end includes tasks such as writing code, managing databases and configuring servers. 

For example, a front end developer might be responsible for designing the layout of a website, creating the graphics and images for the website, and adding animations and interactivity to the website. A back end developer might be responsible for developing the code that allows users to log in to a website, add items to a shopping cart, or make a purchase.

12. Explain the concept of AJAX and its significance in web development.

Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX) is a technique used to send and retrieve data from a server asynchronously without reloading the entire web page. It allows for dynamic content updates, improved user experience, and reduced server load.

AJAX is a powerful tool that can be used to create more interactive and responsive web applications. It can be used to do things like:

• Update the contents of a web page without reloading it. This can be used to create live updates, such as news feeds or stock tickers.
• Get user input without reloading the page. This can be used to create forms that are more responsive and user-friendly.
• Send data to the server without reloading the page. This can be used to do things like submit forms or start a new session.

Here are some of the benefits of using AJAX in web development:

• Improved user experience
• Reduced bandwidth usage
• Increased flexibility

Overall, AJAX is a powerful technology that may be utilized to build online applications that are more responsive, dynamic, and effective. It's critical for web developers to comprehend how AJAX functions and how to apply it to enhance web apps.

13. How does caching work in web development?

Caching involves storing certain web resources (such as images, stylesheets or JavaScript files) in the browser or on intermediate servers to improve page loading speed. It reduces the need to re-download resources, resulting in faster subsequent visits or requests. It’s a technique that stores frequently accessed data in a temporary location so that it can be accessed faster. 

In web development, caching is used to store static content, such as images, CSS files, and JavaScript files, so that they do not have to be retrieved from the server each time a user requests a page. This can significantly improve the performance of a website, especially for pages that are frequently visited.

There are two main types of caching in web development:

• Browser caching is when the browser stores a copy of a web page in its local cache. This allows the browser to load the page more quickly the next time the user visits it.
• Server caching is when a web server stores a copy of static content in its memory. This allows the web server to serve the content more quickly to users.

14. Explain the difference between SQL and NoSQL databases.

SQL databases are relational databases, which means that data is stored in tables that have rows and columns. Each row represents a single record and each column represents a single piece of data about that record. SQL databases use structured queries to access data. Structured queries are written in a language called SQL, which stands for structured query language. SQL queries are used to select, insert, update and delete data from tables.

NoSQL databases are non-relational databases, which means that data is not stored in tables. NoSQL databases use a variety of data models, including document, key-value and graph. Document databases store data in documents, which are similar to JSON objects. Key-value databases store data in key-value pairs, where the key is a unique identifier and the value is any type of data. Graph databases store data in a graph, which is a network of nodes and edges.

Here are some examples of SQL and NoSQL databases:

• SQL : MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server.
• NoSQL : MongoDB, Cassandra, DynamoDB and Redis.

15. How would you optimize a slow-performing SQL query?

To optimize a slow SQL query, you can consider various approaches such as indexing appropriate columns, rewriting the query using efficient joins or subqueries, minimizing the number of returned rows and ensuring the proper use of database statistics. Here are some steps you can take to optimize a slow SQL query:

• Analyze the query execution plan : Use the database’s query execution plan analyzer or EXPLAIN statement to understand how the database is executing the query. Look for any full table scans, inefficient joins, or other costly operations.
• Index optimization : Ensure that the relevant columns used in WHERE, JOIN and ORDER BY clauses are indexed appropriately. Indexes can significantly improve query performance by allowing the database to quickly locate the required data.
• Rewrite or refactor the query : Consider rewriting the query to use more efficient join types, subqueries, or conditional logic. Simplify the query by eliminating unnecessary calculations or redundant operations. Breaking complex queries into smaller, manageable parts can also improve performance.
• Limit the result set : If you only need a subset of data, use the LIMIT clause to retrieve a specific number of rows. This can reduce the amount of data that needs to be processed and transmitted, improving query performance.

16. Explain the ACID properties in the context of database transactions.

ACID stands for atomicity, consistency, isolation and durability. These properties ensure the reliability and integrity of database transactions. Let's delve into each property:

• Atomicity : Atomicity guarantees that a transaction is treated as a single, indivisible unit of work. It follows the "all or nothing" principle, meaning that either all the operations within a transaction are successfully completed, or none of them are.
• Consistency : Consistency ensures that a transaction brings the database from one valid state to another valid state. It defines a set of rules or constraints that the database must adhere to.
• Isolation : Isolation ensures that concurrent transactions do not interfere with each other. Each transaction is isolated from other transactions, allowing them to execute as if they were the only transaction running on the database.
• Durability : Durability guarantees that once a transaction is committed, its changes are permanent and will survive any subsequent failures, such as power outages or system crashes. The committed data is stored in non-volatile storage (such as a hard disk) to ensure its durability.

Together, the ACID properties ensure data integrity, reliability, and consistency in database transactions. They play a crucial role in maintaining the accuracy and reliability of data in various applications, such as financial systems, e-commerce platforms and enterprise-level applications.

17. What is the role of load balancing in system architecture?

Load balancing distributes incoming network traffic across multiple servers or resources to improve performance, scalability, and availability. It ensures that no single server or resource is overloaded, optimizing resource utilization and preventing bottlenecks. In system architecture, load balancing is used to distribute traffic across multiple servers. This can improve performance by reducing the load on each server. It can also improve reliability by ensuring that if one server fails, the others can continue to handle traffic. And it can improve scalability by making it easy to add more servers as demand increases.

There are two main types of load balancing:

• Hardware load balancers: These are physical devices that sit in front of the servers and distribute traffic across them.
• Software load balancers: These are software applications that run on the servers and distribute traffic across them.

18. How would you design a system to handle high availability and fault tolerance?

To achieve high availability and fault tolerance, you can use techniques like redundancy, replication and failover mechanisms. For example, you can replicate critical components and deploy them across multiple servers or data centers. Use load balancers to distribute traffic, and implement automated failover mechanisms to seamlessly switch to backup resources in case of failures.

Designing a system to handle high availability and fault tolerance involves implementing strategies and technologies that minimize downtime and ensure continuous operation even in the face of failures. Here are some key considerations and approaches:

• Load balancing
• Distributed architecture
• Replication and data synchronization
• Monitoring and automated recovery
• Regular testing and maintenance
• Scalability

By incorporating these strategies and techniques, a system can be designed to handle high availability and fault tolerance, ensuring uninterrupted operation even in the face of failures or adverse conditions.

19. What is horizontal scaling, and how does it differ from vertical scaling?

Horizontal scaling is a technique for increasing the capacity of a system by adding more nodes. This is done by adding more servers to the system, each of which runs the same application. Horizontal scaling is a good option for systems that need to handle a large number of concurrent users or a large amount of data.

The main difference between horizontal and vertical scaling is that horizontal scaling adds more nodes to the system, while vertical scaling adds more resources to existing nodes. Horizontal scaling is a more scalable solution than vertical scaling, but it can be more complex to implement. Vertical scaling is a less scalable solution than horizontal scaling, but it is easier to implement.

The best approach to scaling a system depends on the specific needs of the system. If the system needs to handle a large number of concurrent users or a large amount of data, then horizontal scaling is the best option. If the system needs to handle a sudden increase in demand, then vertical scaling can be a good option.

Examples of horizontal scaling include:

• Adding more servers to a cluster
• Using a load balancer to distribute traffic across multiple servers
• Using a content delivery network (CDN) to cache static content

Examples of vertical scaling include:

• Upgrading the memory of a server
• Adding more CPU cores to a server
• Adding more storage to a server

20. What is a service-oriented architecture (SOA)?

Service-oriented architecture (SOA) is an architectural style that structures an application as a collection of loosely coupled services. Services are self-contained modules that perform specific functions and communicate with each other using standardized protocols. SOA promotes reusability, interoperability, and flexibility in system design. 

Through established procedures, SOA services communicate and carry out certain duties. By enhancing system adaptability and reuse, SOA enables independent component evolution. It encourages the modular architecture of software, allowing for easy scaling and integration while maintaining resilience and flexibility.

Service-oriented architecture (SOA) is a software design approach that structures an application as a collection of loosely coupled services. These services communicate with each other via well-defined interfaces. SOA is a way of thinking about software architecture that emphasizes the composition of services.

SOA has several benefits, including:

• Reusability: Services can be reused in multiple applications, which can save time and money.
• Scalability: SOA applications can be scaled up or down easily, as needed.
• Interoperability: SOA applications can be easily integrated with other systems.
• Flexibility: SOA applications can be easily changed or updated.

More on Software Engineering Multithreading and Multiprocessing Explained

How to Prepare for a Technical Interview

A technical interview involves technical expertise, problem-solving abilities and efficient preparation techniques. Here are some thorough procedures to assist you in getting prepared:

Understand the Job Requirements

Get acquainted with the job's qualifications and description. Review the main programming languages, frameworks, technical abilities and tools that were mentioned. This will help you prepare for the precise areas that are crucial for the position.

Review Core Technical Concepts 

Refresh your memory of the core ideas connected to the work position. Data structures, algorithms, object-oriented programming concepts, database ideas, network protocols, operating systems and any other pertinent subjects that may fall under this category. To further your understanding, consult books, coding platforms or online tutorials.

Practice Coding Problems 

Practicing coding challenges frequently asked in technical interviews will help you improve your problem-solving abilities. You can find coding challenges on websites like LeetCode , HackerRank and CodeSignal . Start with simpler questions and work your way up to more difficult ones. Understand the time and space complexity of your algorithms and take time to analyze and improve your solutions.

Practice Explaining Your Coding Process and Solutions

Explain your coding strategy in detail, laying out your plans before getting into the code. Walk logically through the answers, focusing on problem-solving strategies, trade-offs and optimization. Demonstrate adaptability in tackling various coding challenges and sensitivity to edge cases. This will help you showcase your technical expertise and ability to work with team members.

Review System Design Concepts 

Study numerous system design concepts like scalability, dependability, availability, load balancing, caching and database design if the role requires conversations about system architecture. Learn the common architectures and design patterns for systems.  

Research the Company and Industry 

Learn more about the company’s offerings, services and technologies. Set up a Google Alert for the company or search the web for the most recent market developments or trends that are pertinent to the position. With this information, you'll be able to demonstrate your enthusiasm for the business and tailor your responses to meet its technical needs.

Build Projects or Contribute to Open Source 

To obtain experience, work on your own projects or contribute to open-source initiatives. This will show that you can use your technological expertise to solve problems in the real world. Keep track of your initiatives and be ready to talk about them in the interview.

Review Your Resume and Past Projects 

Be prepared to talk about your resume and provide further details on any listed projects or experiences. Examine your prior efforts, successes and difficulties. Be prepared to describe the choices you made and the lessons you gained while emphasizing the technical components of your projects.

Prepare Questions to Ask

Research and prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer about the company, team dynamics, technical challenges or any other relevant topics. This shows your genuine interest and engagement in the conversation.

Built In’s expert contributor network publishes thoughtful, solutions-oriented stories written by innovative tech professionals. It is the tech industry’s definitive destination for sharing compelling, first-person accounts of problem-solving on the road to innovation.

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How to Prepare for Technical Interviews – Problem-Solving Tips + Mindset Tricks to Get You Ready

Hi everyone! In this article we're going to talk a bit about technical interviews. I'll share a few tips that, based on my experience, might help you go through these interviews successfully.

I originally wrote this article more than a year ago, before getting my first job offer as a developer.

I'm sharing this with you now because I recently went through another interview process. And I found that the same concepts and thoughts that helped me get my first job offer allowed me to pass all the interviews successfully again. 🙂

My Background

I took up coding more or less a year ago. I started learning out of pure curiosity, and as I learned more about it and was able to build personal projects, I just fell in love with it.

I got so obsessed and passionate about it that I dedicated all the free time I had to coding, reading about code, watching videos about code, and just learning as much as I possible could, because for me it was fun and interesting!

Time passed and at a point I started imagining myself working as a developer. First it was like a blurry thought, and then I started thinking about it seriously and learning about what I needed to do to get to that point.

My learning journey and the approach I took towards becoming a dev will probably be the subject of another article, but my point is that I made it! I recently got an offer for my first job as a full time developer and I couldn’t be happier about it.

And there were many things and learning experiences I had to go through to get to this point, but I’d say the toughest one – and the one I was less prepared for – was technical interviews.

What are Technical Interviews Like?

I come from a social sciences background, and most of the time, within that field, there’s nothing too “technical” to talk about during interviews. Employers normally hire you based on your experience and behavior during interviews.

But in the coding field it’s really different. Experience is valuable, of course, but employers also value projects you can show to them, theoretical knowledge about different programming topics, and, most of all, the problem solving skills you can show off during technical interviews.

In almost all selection processes I went through, there was a technical interview in which an interviewer tossed me a problem and I had to solve it live with them looking at me the whole time.

This is a standard practice for coding jobs, but I wasn’t prepared at all. I failed miserably more than once, and these experiences were some of the most embarrassing and frustrating moments in my professional life so far.

At times I felt stupid for even thinking I’d be capable of switching careers at almost 30. I thought I just wasn’t smart enough. But luckily I kept going, researched about technical interviews, learned, practiced, and kept failing until I didn’t fail anymore.

Technical interviews are tough and can be really stressful if you’re not prepared correctly. Also, even though I successfully passed a selection process, I know I still have a lot to learn about this and that I’ll need to perfect this skill to further grow my career in the future. So here are my main tips for nailing your technical interviews.

1. Prepare for the Interview

This is important for all kind of interviews, but for technical interviews I think it’s crucial. Your chances of passing these evaluations are way lower if you don’t prepare correctly for them.

Here are some ideas that allowed me to better prepare for these interviews.

Do Your Research

Find out about technical interviews in general, how are they normally organized, what interviewers ask and what do they intend to measure, what kind of problems do companies toss at you, and what are the best approaches towards interviews.

The internet is an infinite resource of knowledge, so don’t waste it! Google about everything you can and take advantage of the experience of the thousands of people who have gone through similar situations and share their experiences.

Practice Solving Problems

Problem solving is a skill just like any other. There is specific knowledge you’ll need to get good at it, but most of it is practice and getting your brain to be comfortable in that situation.

There are tons of websites that contain the types of problems you’ll see during interviews. freeCodeCamp has an amazing course designed for this. Some other cool resources are hackerrank.com , leetcode.com , codewars.com , exercism.io , app.codesignal.com , and algoexpert.io .

Solve as many problems as you can from any of these sites and you’ll start getting good at them.

And when you practice, at first it’s okay to just worry about solving the problem. But once you get comfortable enough, a great idea is to try to make your practice as similar as possible to an actual interview. And by this I mean setting a timer, explaining your solution out loud, analyzing your final algorithm and refactoring…just basically following all the steps you’d normally follow in an actual interview.

If your practice is similar to the actual situation, once you get to that situation you’ll feel more confident because in some way you’ve already been there.

Build a Theoretical Foundation

Besides actually practicing, learning theoretical concepts about algorithms and data structures is a great idea to get better at solving these problems.

Think about it as adding tools to your toolbox. The more tools and concepts you have in your mind, the more problems will sound familiar or ring a bell in your brain, and from that you'll be more able to arrive at a solution.

There are many resources on the internet, some free and some paid. A course about data structures and algorithms is pretty much a must for any programmer, so I encourage you to find a good one. Here are a couple you can start with:

• Data Structures Explained
• Learn Data Structures from a Google Engineer
• Learn Algorithms and Data Structures in Python
• Learn about Algorithms and Data Structures

Of course also theoretical knowledge about your programming language of choice and any other tools in your stack (frameworks, libraries, databases, and so on) is also very important.

Imitate Others

It’s ok to run into problems you don’t know how to solve or to come up with solutions that are not the best suited ones.

In these type of situations, or always actually, it’s a good idea to take a look at how other people solved that same problem and learn from them. What approach did they take? What ideas did they have? Did they get stuck? How did they move towards the solution?

Analyze their solution and their behavior, identify what works for them, think if that could work for you and if the answer is yes, copy them! It’s crucial that you deeply understand why their solution works and how their logic works. You want to internalize the logical approach, not the code, as that’s just an after effect.

Looking at problem solutions and videos of mock interviews is a good idea to get this kind of data.

Understand What Kind of Interview You'll Have

I mentioned the most classic type of technical interview is the one based on algorithms and data structures, in which the interviewer will give you a problem to solve through an algorithm.

But I found that there're also interviews that are mostly theoretical, in the sense that the interviewer will ask questions to measure your knowledge about a given programming language, framework, library, design and architecture patterns, and so on.

Another kind of interview is where the interviewer shows you an actual project or asks you to build one. During the interview you discuss the decisions you made to build it or implement new features/modifications on it.

Each kind of interview is different and might require different preparation, so it's always a good idea to ask the company what will the interview be based on, and prepare accordingly.

2. Breathe and Think Things Through

Once you've seen and gone through a ton of examples and start feeling somewhat confident around coding problems, it’s time to get to the deeper stuff.

Here are some tips that helped me go through the interviews successfully.

This sounds crazy right? The best approach to solving most coding problems is actually not coding, or at least not right away .

No matter how anxious or secure you are about the idea you have in mind, I find it better to always take a step back and make sure you understand things deeply before going to the details and breaking out the code.

So how do you do that?

Understand the Problem

The first step to solving a problem is actually understanding it. And to understand it, the best idea is to “make it yours”, and internalize it.

A good idea is to read the exercise twice, repeat it again in your own words, and go through multiple examples (simple ones, complex ones, examples with null or invalid inputs…).

No matter how silly, complex or simple the problem may seem, this helps you make sure you understand it properly and gives your brain data and time to come up with solution ideas.

Make Sure You Understood It

Repetitive? Yeah, but effective. Check and make sure you understood what you need to do and how your function will work.

Ask yourself, what are the inputs going to be? What will be the output? Check for edge cases. Will you always receive the same input or could you expect different formats? Do you have to be prepared for strange cases or does the exercise restrict the kind of situation you’ll encounter?

It’s better to clear out all this things before even starting to think about a solution.

Explore Your Toolbox

I said that learning theoretical concepts and practicing is like adding tools to your problem solving toolbox. When you see a new problem, it’s a good idea to explore that toolbox and see if any of the concepts or solutions you’ve used in the past could work here.

Could it help to use some sort of counter? What about implementing some sort of data structure to help you out? Could you use pointers or a sliding window? Would it be a good idea to take a divide and conquer approach? What about recursion? Could sorting the input help for anything?

You don’t necessarily have to know the exact path to take, but comparing the problem to previous patterns you’ve seen can help spark ideas in your mind.

Of course the more you practice solving problems and learning about possible solutions, the more patterns you’ll have to remember and compare.

Break Down the Problem

Once you’ve analyzed the problem deeply, hopefully you’ll have at least an idea of how to tackle it, or where to start.

A great idea here is to try to think about the different steps you need to take to get to your solution and write down those steps to analyze them, check if your logic is correct, and later use them as little memory helpers and “instructions” for you to translate into code.

Simplifying your solution through steps and specially writing them down will often help you identify flaws in your logic or cases you didn’t think about before.

This is great because you’re at a stage when it’s really easy to modify your approach or lean towards a different idea. You didn’t waste time coding or getting yourself into a maze of logic that doesn’t actually work.

Simplify the Problem

Specially when facing complex and difficult problems, a good idea is to first ignore the main difficulty of the problem and try to solve a similar, simpler version of it.

When you nail that solution, bring the main difficulty back and see if you can translate your solution to it.

Visualize the Problem

Complex problems are sometimes difficult to get your head around. Having a whiteboard, either a physical or a digital one, is always a great idea.

Visually stimulating your brain by drawing up the problem or an idea can be a good approach to buy yourself some time and see if that perspective shows you some data you didn’t notice.

Start to Write Your Code

So once you have a clear idea of the steps you’ll need to cover to get to the solution, it’s time for translating that into code. This should be the simple part if you’re comfortable enough with the language.

A thought to keep in mind here is that if you can’t remember something very specific, don’t let that hold you down – pseudo code it and carry on with the rest of the solution.

Talk to your interviewer and see if they can help you with that part, or ask if they'll let you Google it. In most cases this will be ok and the important thing will be to show that you nailed the correct logic to solve the problem.

Test Your Code

Test your solution at every step and at the end. There’s nothing more annoying than writing a ton of code and later seeing it fail without knowing the exact cause.

Test your code and your logic at every step of the solution, as this will allow you to catch bugs earlier and will save you from wasting time and effort.

Of course testing at the end is important to check if your solution actually works! So throw your function different inputs and edge cases to see if it behaves as expected.

Analyze the Solution

Once you've gotten to the solution, you’re not done yet. It’s a great idea to show your interviewer you can analyze what you did too.

Ask yourself and tell them, what’s the big O complexity of your solution? Can you think of a way to improve the performance or the memory usage of your algorithm? Is there a way to make your function easier to read and understand?

Even if you can’t think about how to code it exactly, it’s great to show them that you’re the kind of developer who is always going to look for improvements and not settle for something that just works.

Improve Your Solution

Of course, if you can find ways to optimize your solution and know how to code it, do it!

And about this, in a coding interview situation you’ll rarely come up with the perfect solution for a problem. You’re under pressure and on the clock, so it’s perfectly ok to come up with a so-so solution and then refactor it until it reaches an acceptable level.

It’s often better to show you can solve the problem even if not in the perfect way than spend all your time just thinking about the perfect solution.

Talk to Your Interviewer

Talk with your interviewer during the whole process. What your interviewer is trying to measure is your problem solving ability and your level of comfort with your programming language of choice.

That is a hard thing to measure if you don’t open your mouth and just code away.

It’s crucial that you talk to your interviewer and let them know what you’re thinking, what is your thought process, what ideas are you having, how are you understanding the problem, what logic are you going to follow with your solution and why are you making decisions.

Talk to them, ask questions, explain yourself, and if you get stuck or don’t know how to go on, explain to them exactly the thing that is giving you trouble. In most cases you’ll get some help and more importantly you’ll show them you’re actually trying to work towards a solution.

Listen to Your Interviewer

When you’re being given the problem to solve – and specially if you get tips or feedback from your interviewers – pay attention! No matter if you think you already have the best idea or if there’s something that’s driving you crazy and need to solve right now, just drop it and listen to what you’re being told.

If you don’t listen to feedback, you’re giving a very negative signal to your possible future employers. Think about it: would you like to work with someone that doesn’t listen to feedback? Besides, feedback will certainly help you solve your problem, so listen!

3. Control Your Emotions

This for me was the toughest part of the interviewing process, and it's something I didn’t really find a lot of information about when researching technical interviews.

Dealing with the anxiety and frustration these situations can provoke is hard, but also a crucial step to improve your performance.

So here are some things that have helped me in this regard.

Prepare Your Body and Mind

Interviews are stressful situations in which you have to deal with expectations and perform to reach those expectations while being judged by other people.

I’ve always felt uncomfortable in these type of situations so I’m quite familiar with the type of anxiety you might feel.

Something that helps me is try to think about it like the moment of a game for a sports player or when actors get out on stage. You normally see these people trying to warm up and focus before they start to perform, right? There’s a reason for that – and it’s that this preparation actually enhances performance and gets you ready to give your best.

It may sound stupid at first, but stretching, warming up your voice, meditating, imagining the moment in your mind and picturing yourself being successful in the moment are all things that will push you towards doing nicely in this important moment.

Be Confident

Easier said than done, right? Absolutely. Confidence for most people isn’t something you can just turn off and on, but something you build along the way and comes with lots of practice, studying, and preparation behind it.

You'll build confidence with the work you do prior to the interview, but once you’re in the moment it’s important to remember that you want to show the interviewers you have confidence in yourself as a coder and that you trust yourself to solve any problem you face.

This doesn’t mean you have to know absolutely everything and be able to solve any complex problem absolutely by yourself. Rather, it means that you won’t panic when you face something you don’t know how to solve at first, and that you have the ability to slowly analyze the problem, break it down, and work towards a solution.

Stress, anxiety, and the wish to show that you can solve the problem can make you rush more than you need to. And rushing can lead to missing key information, flaws in your logic, bugs in your code, and errors in general.

So take your time, actually, take more time than you actually need. Analyze the heck out of the problem, talk slowly, code slowly, think slowly, and remember to breath. Things are easier to deal with when you take your time and slow-mo the process.

Don’t Take it Personally – or Do...

You’ll mess up at some point, that’s a certainty. Especially in your first interviews, you’ll probably fail and feel miserable about it. It’s just the way it is, and it's a step that is needed for you to understand where you need to improve.

A key issue here is how you deal with that frustration. I could tell you to think about it as a process, to not get mad when you fail, to be patient… But if you’re an anxious and self demanding person as I am, you’ll be very frustrated when you fail, and there’s nothing you can do to avoid it.

But how do you deal with that? Do you get depressed and quit coding forever? Do you get scared of interviews and never apply for a job ever again?

Personally, I get very mad at myself when I fail at something or find out I don’t know something I "was supposed" to know. I get mad at myself for not preparing correctly or for missing things, and even though that anger feels bad at first, later on is something that pushes me forward.

I feel so bad about it that I make absolutely sure I won't fail at that again, and I practice as hard as I can to avoid being in that situation again.

Different approaches work for different people, but the thing is to handle your emotions in a way that pushes you forward and not backwards.

Learn from Your Mistakes

As it’s a certainty you’ll mess up, the smart thing to do is to learn from the errors you made and try to not make them again.

Always try to take note of the problems you were presented and your solutions, analyze your mistakes, analyze other possible approaches you could have taken, what optimizations you didn’t see, and what key concepts you didn’t remember at that moment.

Also always ask your interviewers for feedback about what you could have done better. This information is gold if you get the best of it.

If you love coding, you probably have lots of fun doing it. Never forget that, no matter the context.

In interviews, try to approach each problem with curiosity rather than fear of failing. Try to show your interviewers you’re enthusiastic about problems, because you’re probably going to work with similar stuff on a daily basis.

Plus if you’re having fun and thinking in a positive way, you’ll be more relaxed and your mind will be clearer, which of course helps your problem solving skills.

If you pass or if you fail, at the end it doesn’t matter, in the sense that your approach and behavior should stay the same.

Just as code can always be improved, so can you as a programmer. You should always keep learning, keep getting better, keep practicing, keep facing stuff you didn’t know anything about and eventually overcoming it.

So don’t get too high if you pass or too low if you miss – just keep coding and keep learning.

As always, I hope you enjoyed the article and learned something new. If you want, you can also follow me on LinkedIn or Twitter .

See you later!

I'm a fullstack dev (javascript | typescript | react | node | AWS) and computer engineering student. Here I write about the things I learn along my path to becoming the best developer I can be.

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LTCWM > Blog > Working in tech > Job hunting > Technical Interviewing 101: Ultimate Guide to Acing Your Tech Interview

Technical Interviewing 101: Ultimate Guide to Acing Your Tech Interview

Updated on February 19th, 2024 | Sign up for learn to code tips

Table of Contents

• What Is a Tech Interview?
• Common Questions

Phone Screen

Remote coding challenge, onsite interview and whiteboard challenge.

• After the Tech Interview
• Preparing for Your Interview
• Common Mistakes

What is a technical interview? The technical interview, which may also be called a tech interview or software engineer interview, is unlike any other job interview.

It’s a specialized, rigorous process that tests your coding skills, problem-solving abilities, and personality.

But even though technical interviews are intimidating (with whiteboard challenges, remote coding challenges, and even full days of onsite tech interviews sometimes), it’s a lot easier when you know what to expect and have invested time into tech interview prep.

That’s why I wanted to create an epic, comprehensive guide to technical interviews and coding interview preparation for tech newbies!

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In this guide, you’ll learn how to ace a technical interview even if it’s your first one!

We’ll start by covering what a technical interview entails. Then, we’ll get into what you can expect during a technical interview in each stage of the process and what you can do to stand out.

You’ll learn about some common technical interview questions and topics you should know. And we’ll wrap up with tips on preparing for a technical interview (plus what not to do).

Inside, you’ll also find coding interview tips and advice from technical interview experts who have gone through the process themselves AND conducted tech interviews from the other end of the table.

Their first-hand knowledge will teach you how to prepare for a technical interview with real-world considerations in mind.

Disclosure: I’m a proud affiliate for some of the resources mentioned in this article. If you buy a product through my links on this page, I may get a small commission for referring you. Thanks!

⭐ Psst! My favorite interview prep tool is Interview Cake ⭐

Note: Right now, many tech companies have temporarily or permanently moved staff to remote work instead. If you’ve been invited for a virtual tech interview, learn about the remote interview process , plus some virtual technical interview tips for success.

What Is a Technical Interview?

Unlike other types of interviews, tech interviews involve challenges and assignments. They’re more like an exam than a typical question-and-answer interview.

Like the phrase “Show, don’t tell,” you have to prove that you have the skills required to do the job, rather than just tell the interviewer that you have them.

Contrary to popular belief, the purpose of the technical interview is not to trick you with riddles, brain teasers, or impossible questions. Instead, it’s to see how you tackle real-world problems–like the ones you might be facing once you have the job!

So, what happens in a technical interview? Every company is different, but let’s take a look at the average situations you might face.

The stages of a technical interview

Often, tech interviews will come in three basic stages:

📞 1st stage: the technical screening interview (via phone or video).

Good news! The company liked your resume and wants to talk to you more.

This short social & technical screen interview stage is designed to see if you are qualified and enthusiastic enough to proceed to the next technical round.

An initial technical screening interview typically lasts 15-30 minutes.

📝 2nd stage: remote coding interview/assignment.

Some companies will want to test your coding skills with a preliminary test before having you actually come in.

It may be conducted over the phone, via Skype or Zoom, or as a homework-type assignment through a web application or email.

If the company is respectful of your time, a remote coding challenge should only take a few hours.

💻 3rd and final stage: onsite interview/whiteboarding challenge.

This is the stage that most people call the actual “technical interview.” It involves an in-person interview with coding challenges you have to complete on a whiteboard in front of the interviewer(s).

Tech interviews at this stage can also be done remotely over video conference if the company is remote.

Whiteboard interviews typically last 1-2 hours, but the whole onsite technical interview can be several hours to a full day.

As I said before, though, every company’s tech interview process is different. Here are a few examples of how some popular tech companies organize their technical interview stages:

• Google : initial phone or Google Hangout interview (30-60 min); onsite tech interview (~4 hours made up of 4 separate interviews)
• Facebook : Initial technical screening interview (30-50 min); onsite interview (1 full day)
• Uber : initial phone screen (30-60 min); in-person interview (1 full day made up of 6 back-to-back personal and technical interviews)

How to prepare for a software developer interview also depends on the seniority of the role you’re applying for—e.g. is it more of a junior or senior position?

Junior computer science interview questions and technical rounds may not be as intense as higher-level computer engineering interview questions.

To find more about what the company you’re interviewing with might ask you, or more about their technical interview process, do a little research.

Check to see if the company has a tech blog. Sometimes companies devote entire blog articles to their tech interview process and what to expect (here’s an example from a company called Asana ).

Failing that, Glassdoor has an “Interviews” tab for lots of companies, big and small, where current and former employees—as well as people who interviewed but didn’t end up working for the company—share what the process was like.

For example, here is Google’s interview tab on Glassdoor. This feedback could be about traditional or technical interviews, and some users might even share what kinds of coding interview questions they were asked.

If you’re still coming up short, shoot the recruiter or hiring manager a quick email asking what the interview process will look like. Knowing the exact steps in the interview process can help you figure out how to prepare for coding interviews there.

💬 Who you’ll be talking to at your technical interview

Of course, this is another factor that will differ from company to company, but you’ll usually be looking at one of two situations based on company size:

• At a startup or smaller company : member(s) of the engineering team, a senior developer, or even the CTO. All interviewers typically have technical experience and may be your future bosses or coworkers.
• At a larger company : recruiter, HR staff, or a member of the engineering team. Some interviewers might have little tech knowledge, and it might not be people you’ll directly work with if hired.

You may even have multiple interviews with different people–perhaps a whiteboarding technical interview with the tech team, a culture interview with HR, an executive interview with the CTO, and so on.

Whatever the case, one good tech interview prep tip is to try researching your interviewers first by looking them up on LinkedIn . It can ease your interview anxiety to put a face to a name, plus you might find something you can connect over (you went to the same university, you have similar interests, or something like that to break the ice).

For more on using LinkedIn to get a foot in the door, check out this guide to getting job referrals even as a tech newbie .

👔 What to wear to your tech interview

One of the most common questions people have during any job interview preparation process is what to wear.

Although most tech companies have a relaxed, casual workplace, it’s still important to dress smartly. The general rule of thumb is to dress one level above the company’s dress code (e.g. if the company allows jeans and T-shirts, you should dress in business casual).

To find the dress code, search for the company on social media platforms like Facebook/Instagram, look at their careers page, or consider asking the recruiter/HR staff.

🗒️ What to bring to your coding interview

You don’t really have to bring anything special to a technical interview beyond what you’d bring to a normal one. You’ll probably want to have basics like these:

• Printed copies of your resume

Don’t worry about bringing a laptop or coding samples (unless the interviewers specifically request those items).

⏰ How long are technical interviews?

The technical portion of the interview process (whiteboarding) typically lasts 1-2 hours. However, the full interview process, from the phone screen to the final interview, could take much longer.

Here’s a breakdown of some common time ranges:

• Technical phone/video screen: 15-30 minutes
• Remote coding interview/assignment: 1-2 hours
• Onsite interview: Often 1 full day of multiple interviews
• Whiteboarding challenge: 1-2 hours

When all is said and done, it’s not uncommon for the whole process to last several weeks as you progress through the different rounds.

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Common Technical Interview Questions

There are a wide variety of common technical interview questions you may come up against during your tech interview — it’s not all whiteboards and code.

However, because every company is so different, it’s impossible to anticipate every possible coding interview question.

Especially for backend developer interviews, some companies may ask computer science-based questions that often include CS trivia, technical puzzles or brainteasers. Other companies may focus more on real-world problems that resemble day-to-day work at the company. 

Let’s look at some of the types and topics of programmer interview questions you might encounter during a technical interview.

Types of tech interview questions you may face

A well-rounded software engineer interview will include questions that pertain to a candidate’s hard and soft skills. Here are a few question types you might be asked.

👩‍💼 Behavioral: These questions pertain to how you’ve acted in a specific situation in the past. These are based on real life situations you’ve encountered. Examples include: 

• Tell me about a time when you handled a challenging situation.
• Give me an example of a time when you worked effectively under pressure.
• What happened when you made a mistake at work?

🏢 Situational: These interview questions deal with hypothetical situations in the future and what you might do in that specific scenario. Examples include:

• What would you do if you were unsure about the goals or direction of a coding task?
• What would you do if your coworkers didn’t complete their part of a coding project on time?
• What would you do if your teammate asked you to review their code and it was full of bugs?

👨🏽‍🏫 Education: You may be asked interview questions that are specific to your education, including if and where you went to college, if you’re self-taught and how you taught yourself, etc.

🖥️ Technical knowledge: Technical interview questions that assess your real skills and knowledge is the heart of the tech interview. These can be tech-oriented trivia-type questions like:

• How can you make sure that your code is both safe and fast?
• When do you use polymorphism?
• Explain the difference between an array and a linked list. When would you choose one over the other?

These could also be impromptu questions about the code you write on the whiteboard. That’s because what most companies want to know, more so than what facts you’ve memorized, is how well you can solve problems .

Common computer science interview question topics

As we’ve noted, there are not really any “common” technical interview questions when it comes to specifics.

However, there are a few common themes and subjects of coding interview questions that frequently appear in technical interviews across different industries.

Let’s look at some of these potential technology interview questions and challenges, broken down by topic.

• Data structures

Coding interview questions in this category might include: 

• Explain the differences between an array and a linked list.
• Implement a stack or a queue.
• Describe the characteristics of a binary tree.
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different types of trees (e.g., AVL tree, B-tree).

Computer engineering interview questions often include algorithm challenges such as:

• Implement sorting algorithms (e.g., quicksort, mergesort).
• Explain the time complexity of common algorithms (e.g., binary search, sorting algorithms).
• Solve problems using depth-first search (DFS) and breadth-first search (BFS).

If you’re interviewing for a data-relevant role, your tech interview questions might come with whiteboard assignments like:

• Explain the differences between SQL and NoSQL databases.
• Write a SQL query to retrieve data from a database.
• Design a database schema for a specific scenario.

System design

Computer science interview questions related to system design might include options like:

• Design a URL shortening service (or a similar scalable system).
• Explain the concept of load balancing.
• Discuss the trade-offs between monolithic and microservices architectures.

IT technical interview questions will probably touch on network questions, e.g.:

• Explain the OSI model and the TCP/IP stack.
• Describe the differences between TCP and UDP.
• Solve problems related to network protocols and troubleshooting.

Problem-solving

Just about any type of tech interview will be looking at how you approach problems. Challenges in this category may include things like:

• Solve algorithmic problems under time constraints.
• Discuss your problem-solving approach for complex scenarios.
• Analyze and optimize code for efficiency.

Want a more specific direction as you prepare to face your coding interview questions? One pro tip is that you can go to Glassdoor, look up the company you’re interviewing at, and take a look at what real people say they were asked during interviews at that company.

For example, if you were interviewing at Zoom and wanted to know Zoom software engineer interview questions, you could look at the company’s Glassdoor page and see that the questions asked and topics covered include:

• General React questions 
• Modifying small web apps that were partially implemented
• Implementing an LRU Cache in Java
• Trivia questions related to Spring boot and concurrent thashing

Of course, these questions may not be the exact questions you’re asked in your interview, but they can give you an idea of what to expect.

Meaningful questions to ask in technical interviews

Interviews are a two-way street. You should be learning about the interviewer and the company, just as much as they’re learning about you!

Asking thoughtful questions is also a good way to stand out in the interview. “The age-old adage ‘people don’t remember what you say, but they remember how you made them feel’ is so true when it comes to interviews,” says Refael ( Pramp ). “When a candidate keeps the flow going in a friendly conversation, instead of making me feel like I am conducting an interrogation, I will remember our brief time together fondly.”

Of course, you should tailor your questions to the specific situation, but what are some examples of questions to ask in a technical interview (or even a traditional interview)?

Here are a few meaningful questions you can ask :

• What do you like most about working here?
• What frameworks, tools, tech stack , etc. does your company use?
• Can you describe the development process here?
• How do you test your code?
• Does the company offer opportunities for professional development, training for engineers, etc.?
• What’s the most challenging project you’ve worked on here?
• Is there anything about my resume/application that gives you pause? (this can be a great way to get out ahead of something on your application that the interviewers think is a weakness/red flag)

The other upside: while you’re listening to their answer, you get a little break from talking!

☝️ Back to top

What to Expect When You’re Interviewing

Let’s break down each stage of the typical technical interview process, with quick tech interview tips for how to pass a technical interview and stand out in each part.

Congrats, you’ve already made it past one of the hardest stages: your tech resume caught the eye of the recruiter/company! The phone technical screen interview is your chance to make a good first impression.

You can showcase your tech experience to a degree here, but some technical screening interviews over the phone will be less tech-focused than others. More importantly, focus on conveying your soft skills (enthusiasm, communication, teamwork, etc.).

During the technical phone interview

Here are a few more tips on how to prepare for a technical screening interview via phone/Zoom:

• Be excited about the company or project, and that positivity will come across in the interview.
• Know your audience. If you’re interviewing with a recruiter (with no programming knowledge), play up your soft skills and don’t get too technical. If you’re interviewing with a software developer, show off that tech knowledge!
• Be honest: tell the interviewer what most interests you in a job and what kinds of projects you’d like to work on.
• Answer behavioral questions by showing, not telling. Use specific, memorable details and tell a story.

What interviewers are looking for in the phone screen

Beyond just pure tech skills, which they’ve already read about on your resume, interviewers in a phone technical screen interview want to see:

👩‍💻 Passion for tech/coding

😄 Enthusiasm

🗣️ Communication skills

🤗 Culture fit

🤝 Alignment with company mission/values

How to stand out over the phone

Even if you’ve applied to hundreds of jobs, tailor your answers to the exact one you’re interviewing for.

“When a candidate answers the interview questions in a way that is specific to the company and the position, it shows that they have done their research,” says Refael Zikavashvili, co-founder and CEO of Pramp . “It makes me believe them when they say they want the job. Not just any job, but THIS position that they are interviewing for.”

Also, look for opportunities to show your value alignment. “When they make it clear that they support the big picture and the mission of the organization, it’s a great sign that they will be a good fit,” says Refael.

“The coding challenge is typically a lot less rigorous than the whiteboard,” says Chris Lee of Launch School . However, that doesn’t mean you can brush it off or apply less effort, as you’ll often be asked to justify your choices.

This technical round has some flexibility in how companies handle it. So first, let’s go over some of the common types of remote programming interview questions or challenges.

• Some companies will give you a real-time monitored challenge to see how you code. Often this is done via a video interview + a web-based code editor like CoderPad , Collabedit , or even a Google Doc.
• Other companies (usually startups) may simply require you to complete an at-home assignment instead within a set time limit–usually 48 hours.
• Really small startups may not include a remote coding challenge at all–instead bringing you in for an onsite interview immediately after the phone interview–but bigger companies often do. (General rule: the bigger the company, the more structured the hiring process is.)

Coding interview preparation tips for the remote coding challenge

During a real-time coding challenge, communicate with your interviewer and think out loud. Make it a collaborative process (use “we” instead of “I”), since interviewers want to know that you’re a team player.

And remember to slow down. These real-time challenges are not usually timed, so take your time, think it through, and give the interviewer a chance to give you hints.

During a take-home coding assignment, take time to plan out your code before writing it out. Make sure you fully understand the instructions and requirements. Re-read them several times before starting and once more after you’re finished with the challenge to make sure you’ve ticked every box.

💡 Check out this comprehensive article focused on acing the take-home challenge for other awesome tips.

What interviewers are looking for in the coding challenge

• Coding skills
• Testing code as you write it
• Problem-solving skills
• Collaboration skills

How to stand out in a remote coding challenge

One way to stand out in your remote coding challenge technical round is to go above and beyond. Sometimes remote coding challenges will come with optional “bonus” requirements. Complete those requirements to impress your interviewers.

Don’t cheat or get help from others to make yourself look better. “During follow-up live interviews, it’s common for employers to probe the candidate to explain why certain choices were made,” says Chris ( Launch School ). “This is why it’s imperative that you don’t get help on the code challenge; if you do, you will be exposed during the follow-up conversation.”

Now we’ve arrived at the most intimidating part of the entire tech interview process.

At tiny startups, onsite technical interviews might be a lot less formal than at bigger companies. Heck, there may not even be a whiteboard to do a coding exercise on!

Still, whatever the company size, it never hurts to know how to prepare for a software engineering interview, so you’re ready for any situation that may arise in your tech interview. (More on how to prepare for technical interviews further down!)

What to do during the onsite technical interview + whiteboard challenge

These steps will help you nail your technical interview—even if you don’t know all the answers!

1. Ask clarifying questions before you even start writing code.

You don’t have to stay in answer mode the whole time—it’s also smart to be thinking of the right questions to ask in a technical interview! And being presented with a technical challenge is a great time to practice this.

Instead of starting to write out your code immediately, slow down. Even if you think you already know how to solve the problem or answer the question, ask clarifying questions.

By doing this, you might get hints from the interviewer, plus you want to make sure you fully understand the challenge/question before diving in.

“I appreciate it when someone takes the time to evaluate the question he faces in the tech interview,” says Refael ( Pramp ). “It shows me that this person is calculated and rather than just writing code, he sees the whole picture.”

“Ask questions around [your initial] assumptions of the question, and try to reason about the question from a bottom-up perspective,” adds Chris.

2. Talk through your code (think out loud) to give the interviewer a window into your thoughts.

What happens in a technical interview is as much about the journey as the destination.

“It’s designed to test a candidate’s communication and problem-solving skills,” says Refael. “More important than the solution is how they work at getting the solution. Can they articulate their thoughts while writing out the code on the whiteboard? Are they putting together a clear response to the question?”

Certain types of programming interview questions aren’t even supposed to have easy answers, making them even more about the thought process.

“Is it an algorithm design problem? If so, sometimes you’re not supposed to know the answer right away,” says Parker Phinney, founder of Interview Cake .

“You’re supposed to have to try a couple ideas and think creatively and maybe even take some ideas your interviewer feeds you and run with them. Just relax and keep thinking out loud and trying new ideas.”

A helpful tip for explaining your thought process is to act like you’re part of the team. If this were a real-life situation, how would you discuss, explain, and solve the problem?

This can also give your interviewers an idea of how you’d collaborate on the team if they were to hire you.

3. Speak clearly and precisely.

Being in a high-pressure situation like a programming interview might have you a little flustered, but work through it. Being as clear and specific as possible can help you keep yourself collected.

“Since programmers work with abstract concepts, speaking clearly and precisely is paramount,” says Chris ( Launch School ). “Though it may not seem like it at first, the vast majority of programming roles are, at the core, social roles.”

A few of Chris’s specific tips to help your tech interview skills:

• “Pay attention to vocabulary, even on seemingly simple concepts.
• Refer to a concept by its formal name. For example, instead of saying ‘it calls that function and the result is 5,’ say ‘the add_numbers function call returns 5, which is assigned to the variable sum.’
• Avoid pronouns and ambiguous words like ‘result’ (usually, there is not a ‘result’ but some output, side effect, or return value). The second example demonstrates clarity of thought and precision of language, leaving the reader with an unambiguous account of what the code is doing.”

4. If you’re stuck, stay calm, think out loud, and try new ideas

Not sure of the answer to some coding interview questions? Start with what you do know.

“Coding interviews are a lot like math exams in high school and university: often, you’ll get ‘partial credit’ for showing your work and putting in some effort to find a solution,” says Refael ( Pramp ).

“If you can demonstrate your thought process, the interviewer will understand that you’re doing your best to find a solution.”

Honesty is key here, because good interviewers can spot when you’re bluffing.

“Don’t panic or try to fib your way through it,” Refael continues. “Be honest that you don’t know, but explain where you would look to solve the issue if you faced it in your daily work.”

If you’re really struggling to solve the problem, what can you do?

Try breaking it down even further and solve a much simpler version. For example, you could write a very basic solution and optimize it later.

The point is to get some code on the whiteboard and talk out loud as you’re figuring things out. In most cases, you’ll get points for trying and showing how your brain works. Plus, writing things out visually can often inspire a solution. 

How to pass a technical interview isn’t always about getting everything 100% right, but staying cool and rational under pressure will always help!

5. Check for errors & walk through your solution at the end

Companies want to hire software engineers who can write bug-free code, or at least know how to check for errors.

Towards the end of writing out your solution, begin to check for any errors. This can show interviewers that you’re not just interested in writing code, but that you want to write good code.

When you’re done with your code, walk through your solution so interviewers understand fully what you did and why you did it.

What interview skills employers look for in the onsite technical interview

• Problem-solving ability
• Ability to think creatively
• Communication skills
• Analytical thinking skills
• Culture fit
• How you handle feedback
• Ability to solve problems in a structured and systematic way. “Along the way, interviewers will also expect candidates to demonstrate knowledge of performance and optimization tradeoffs between space and time complexity,” says Chris ( Launch School ). “This will require applying algorithms and data structures to the current problem.”
• Understanding of the bigger picture. “Candidates may be asked to zoom out of application code and think about how data may flow between systems and the larger infrastructure impact,” explains Chris. “The goal is not to see if the candidate knows a specific piece of knowledge, but if they understand how systems interact and consequences of infrastructure decisions.”

How to stand out in the whiteboard interview

Keep it simple and clear!

“ Designing efficient algorithms is sort of table stakes. Here’s something that really stands out: writing particularly easy-to-read code,” says Parker ( Interview Cake ).

“And like 80% of that is just picking really great variable names. Don’t use shorthand names like ‘x’ and ‘y’ to try to move faster–you’ll just confuse yourself and your interviewer and you’ll look reckless. Take an extra second to pick a variable name that really makes it clear what the variable holds, what type it is, etc.”

💡 Check out this article for 7 other ways to stand out during your coding interview . 

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After the Technical Interview

When the technical interview is over, take a breath: you made it through!

There are a few things you can do to follow up, but for the most part, it’s just a waiting game now.

Tips for after the tech interview

• Keep some emotional distance from the process. “Expect to get rejected a lot, and it’s important to not view it as personal judgment,” advises Chris.
• Even if you don’t get the job, have the perspective that the interview was great practice for the future. If it was your first one, now you know what to expect from a technical interview! Glean insights from the experience and use them to propel yourself forward.

How to be a memorable candidate

📧  Send a short and sweet thank you email to the recruiter/hiring manager within 24 hours of the technical interview. Ask if there is anything else they need from you, or if there is anything about your interview that gave them pause so you can address it, if possible.

📤 Make a note of everyone you speak to during the tech interview process and reach out to them with a quick note of thanks as well. You can send emails to them individually if you made more of a connection, or send a group email with a general note of thanks to everyone. It will definitely help the team remember you!

📨 If you haven’t heard back after a week, send a brief follow-up email to the tech recruiter or your possible future manager, reiterating your interest in the role and asking about potential next steps.

Now that we’ve gone over what happens in a technical interview, let’s backtrack a little and go over the very first step: how to prepare for a technical interview before you’re in the room where it happens!

Coding Interview Preparation

There’s a lot that goes into preparing for a programming interview . Technical interview preparation is more than thinking up clever answers to “what is your greatest weakness,” after all!

Learning how to prepare for technical interview questions may require a bit of a time investment, but it’s well worth it.

How to prepare for a technical interview

Some elements of coding interview preparation should ideally start well before you even land the interview. Other technical interview preparation steps can be accomplished closer to the day itself.

So, here are some of the most important coding interview preparation tips to master in the days, weeks, or months leading up to your job applications and interviews:

1. Prepare a 30-second to 1-minute elevator pitch for the “tell me about yourself” question and examples/stories for other interview questions

It’s important that you go prepared to talk about non-coding topics like your employment history, career goals, past projects, etc.

The technical interview could just be one part of many if you’re at a company with a long interview process, and you’ll probably have to answer some version of this question when you meet new interviewers. It’s a great time to demonstrate soft skills and passion.

It’s also a good idea to prepare some real-life examples and anecdotes/stories ahead of your interview. Doing this can help you prepare for pretty much any behavioral or situational interview question.

This works because if you have some examples/stories ready to go, you can apply them to nearly any interview question — which is important because you can’t really prepare for every single software developer interview question you might come across. 

So, for example:

• You could think of an accomplishment you’re super proud of. That one example could be applied to questions like “Describe a time you went above and beyond at work” or “What’s your proudest accomplishment?”
• You could have an example of a time you made a mistake at work. That one example could be applied to questions like “Tell me about a time you made a mistake at work” or “Give me an example of a time you overcame a challenge”

Other stories/examples to prepare include:

• When you worked as part of a team
• When you solved a difficult problem
• When you showed leadership
• What you’re passionate about and why

Think about how to adapt your anecdotes to fit common software developer interview questions you might face.

2. Before you go, study up on the most important CS fundamentals

Don’t stress yourself out like you’re cramming for an exam and trying to learn everything–but do dedicate extra preparation time to key technical interview skills.

Parker ( Interview Cake ) advises narrowing your focus to two main areas: “Fill the gaps in your knowledge of data structures and algorithms . Run a lot of practice problems.”

For software engineer interview prep or really anything computer-science related, start with these must-study topics:

• Big O Notation
• Sorting and search algorithms
• Hash tables
• Dynamic programming

💡 Need a more guided study of these topics? Check out The Ultimate Data Structures & Algorithms Course for a deep dive into the most common topics that come up in technical interviews, with 100+ popular interview questions asked by Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and other big companies.

💡 Another great resource for learning everything you need to know about algorithms and system design is Interview Camp . Their weekly live sessions and 60+ hours of self-paced content will help you conquer your coding interviews by learning real-life techniques.

Of course, depending on the exact position you’re applying for, there might be other topics you think you should brush up on during your coding interview practice. How to prepare for software developer interviews is obviously different from how to prepare for data science interviews.

3. Pick one programming language and know it really well

Here’s one of the “do this before you land the technical interview” tips: specialize. You should know at least one programming language really well, preferably C++ , Java , Ruby , Python , Go , or C.

Companies usually let you choose the language you’re most comfortable with. But which language should you use?

Go for the language you have the most practice with. Even if the company uses a different tech stack, choosing the language you know inside and out will often be the better option.

💡 You can use my 10%-off AlgoExpert discount to get access to coding practice questions with written solutions in nine popular programming languages. Just use the code ltcwm when you check out.

💡 Want to use Java in your interview? Check out Pass the Technical Interview with Java — a Codecademy course designed to help you nail the technical interview in this specific language. They also have a technical interview prep course for JavaScript lovers .

Check out these LTCWM resources for places to go to brush up on your coding skills:

• 100+ of The Best Places to Learn to Code For Free
• The Best Places to Learn Web Development Online
• Recommended Beginner Coding Resources and Tools

4. Do regular coding challenges/smart practice

During your coding interview preparation, it’s important to study the right way .

Start early so you don’t have to cram. How early? It will depend on your level of experience, how many hours per day/week you can dedicate to studying, and how soon your interview is, but if possible, start preparing before you even have a tech interview scheduled. 4-8 weeks is a good amount of time to aim for.

According to this Redditor : “If you can dedicate 1 to 2 hours most nights, you can prepare for a FAANG coding interview in 2 weeks without being completely burned out. Another 2 weeks and you can be prepared for the onsite with more coding, system design, and behavior interviews.”

Aim to solve 2-3 coding interview practice questions per day. A great resource providing software developer interview questions is Interview Cake . My review of Interview Cake is definitely positive: not only do you get a ton of practice technical job interview questions, you learn the right way of thinking about them.

Practice coding by hand on a whiteboard or piece of paper (without the help of a code editor). Consider imposing a deadline on yourself to get accustomed to working under time pressure.

The more realistic a scenario you can create, the more effective your coding interview preparation will be.

You can use my 20%-off Interview Cake discount to get the full course with comprehensive information and a ton of practice technical interview questions–or join the email list to get one coding interview question per week for free. Plus read my review of Interview Cake .

5. Understand tech fundamentals

In the majority of cases, technical interviewers aren’t going to grill you on obscure concepts or expect you to recite complex formulas from memory.

“Most questions will not be based on gotcha-knowledge,” says Chris ( Launch School ). “Instead, the interview conversation will be probing your ability to deconstruct complex concepts and seeing if you can peel back the layers.”

For example, he continues, “An interviewer may ask ‘If you had a page that’s experiencing performance issues, how would you go about figuring out the bottleneck?’ This open-ended question is simultaneously assessing a candidate’s knowledge of fundamentals, and at the same time allowing the candidate to show off their depth of understanding. It’s these open-ended questions where interviewers can [identify] those who can work at a deeper engineering level. The only way to stand out is to understand the fundamental concepts that underpin the feature in question.”

6. Come to the interview with a relevant project to talk about

“A lot of people will advise job hunters to build a project and showcase that during the interview,” says Chris. “This is a great tactic because it allows the candidate to flip the conversation from being grilled to showcasing their ability.”

However, just like you should tailor your cover letter to the company you apply to, you should think about a highly relevant project to feature during your software engineer interview prep.

“A good general rule would be to build projects that, at minimum, match the complexity of work for the job you’re applying,” advises Chris. “Prospective employers will then be able to see that you not only can but actually have done work at the level that they require.”

Don’t have a relevant project? Start building one the second you’ve sent out your job application! Or start contributing to open source projects .

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“Smart candidates should target specific roles,” Chris continues. “Study the requirements of the role and the type of projects the role is expected to work on. Then map out a way to independently produce projects of approximately equal complexity. You’ll stand out if you bring that type of project to the interview.”

💡 Check out this LTCWM podcast episode with Parker ( Interview Cake ) for more tips on how to come up with coding projects to build and talk about in interviews.

7. Learn to manage your time effectively

The more focused and efficient you can be during your tech interview preparation, the better you’ll do when you’re actually in the hot seat. Set a timer when practicing . Aim to finish a problem in about 30-45 minutes (including debugging at the end).

If you run into snags, think of ways you’d explain your hesitation and potential next-step ideas to the interviewer.

Here are some more time management strategies that can help during your tech interview prep.

8. Do mock coding interviews

Having a technical interview cheat sheet, reading books like “Cracking the Coding Interview,” (from Amazon) and doing online coding challenges on sites like Interview Cake are all amazing, but if you want to take it even further, live coding interview preparation might be what you need to really get comfortable and polished.

“ Pramp.com is an excellent place for getting realistic coding interview practice–and it’s free!” says CEO Refael. “While solving coding problems can help you improve your technical abilities, mock interviews with peers can also enhance your soft skills: the way you communicate, your body language, etc.”

Ultimately, interviewing is a skill, and your interview skills are sharpened with practice. Knowing how to prepare for coding interviews comes with time!

“Practice, practice, practice,” says Chris ( Launch School ). “Your 20th interview will be dramatically different from your 1st, so try to get to the 20th in a practice setting and your first ‘real’ interview will actually be your 21st.”

💡 With AlgoExpert, you can schedule a mock coding interview with an actual human being.

9. Get a study buddy or find a coding mentor

Got a friend or peer with similar job goals? Recruit them to help!

Study coding concepts and work through problems together. Take turns interviewing one another so you understand the perspective of the interviewer as well. You’ll be learning how to answer technical interview questions while you learn how to ask them, too!

10. Have a process you can rely on to deconstruct questions

Technical interviews can get tough–you’re probably not going to be thrown softball questions the whole time. “In a good interview, you will always be made to feel uncomfortable and be given a problem that you can’t just solve right away,” says Chris ( Launch School ).

However, by anticipating this and forming a system to “deconstruct” questions, navigating the hard ones becomes a lot easier. “If you don’t have a process, it’s not going to be possible to figure one out on the fly,” Chris explains. “Think about how to do this before the interview. For example, one that I recommend to people is PEDAC .”

11. Never turn down an opportunity to interview

This circles back around to the idea of practice! Even if a company isn’t your dream place to work, if they invite you for the tech interview stage, go.

“Don’t turn down an opportunity to interview–the more coding interviews you complete, the stronger a candidate you’ll become,” says Refael ( Pramp ). 

After all, best case scenario: you get a job. Worst case scenario: you’re one step closer to knowing how to ace a technical interview!

Doing this gives you more experience preparing for technical interviews and more feedback on your performance afterward.

12. Take a little time to reflect on impostor syndrome.

If you catch yourself feeling like you don’t belong at a technical interview or you’re not truly qualified for the job…you’re not alone!

“ Impostor syndrome affects the vast majority of us, especially during interviews,” says Parker ( Interview Cake ). “Most of us really underestimate ourselves!”

That’s where reflection time comes in. As Parker continues: “With a bit of effort, it’s possible to really shift your mindset from ‘I’m an impostor’ to ‘We all have our strengths and our weak points. I’m pretty good at some stuff, and I’m excited to learn more about some other stuff.'”

In the end, preparing for a programming interview often comes down to practice.

Sign up for Interview Cake for tons of other resources to help you sharpen your skills for the technical interview. (And get a special 20% Interview Cake discount using my link !)

13. Use ChatGPT to create a personalized study cheat sheet!

There are tons of AI prompts you can use to help you prepare for an upcoming technical interview. Check out these 10 prompts to get started.

Here are a few example prompts from that tweet:

• I’m interviewing for [Your Role] at [Company Name]. I have [Your Experience] in [Your Domain]. What are the technical aspects that need to be covered for the technical interview? Give me a list in order.
• Please provide a set of potential questions, expected responses, and relevant insights for a [Your Role] preparing for an interview in a [Company] that specializes in [Company Domain].

You could also give it a question and how you would answer it, then ask ChatGPT to rate your response with a 1-5 rating and give tips on how to improve your answer.

AI can also help in other ways! For instance, Liftoff is an AI-powered interview prep platform that helps you practice your tech interview skills. It acts like a real mock video interview with a very life-like AI person interviewing you.

Common Technical Interview Mistakes to Avoid

Knowing what not to do can be just as important as knowing what to do, so let’s quickly cover a few common technical interview mistakes.

1. Not preparing enough

Seriously, there’s no such thing as too much coding interview preparation.

“The good news is, most candidates don’t put in that time. So it doesn’t take much to really pull ahead of the pack,” says Parker ( Interview Cake ). “It’s such a bummer as an interviewer to watch a candidate really come up short and just think to yourself, ‘I can tell you’re smart–if you had just reviewed some of this stuff I’m sure you’d be able to get this.’”

2. Jumping into the code without taking a moment to think it through

You might be eager to start solving the problem, but take a few minutes to question your assumptions and make a game plan first!

“Starting too quickly gets a lot of people into trouble when they could have taken a moment to prevent confusion down the road,” says Refael ( Pramp ). “Some of the most common mistakes candidates make are avoidable. Pause for a moment to think through the problem-solving process.”

3. Being too arrogant or opinionated

People would rather work with a humble person than an arrogant know-it-all. Especially for those with fewer years of experience, “it’s more important to come across as being malleable and eager to learn, so the employer can envision you in a variety of projects and roles,” says Chris of Launch School . “Even seemingly innocent statements like ‘I love X and don’t like Y’ may come across as ‘I’m limited in my ability to work in a certain way.'”

By considering your “soft” interview skills and choosing your words carefully, you can avoid these misunderstandings. As Chris advises, “A candidate should be tempered in their preference. For example: ‘I’ve been enjoying X lately, but also have experience with Y.'”

4. Not making conversation/chit-chat

Remember, your interviewers are human! It can be extremely valuable to find a point of connection.

“An interview is not just about answering questions correctly, but also about a conversation,” says Chris. “Ask good questions. Laugh and make jokes at appropriate junctures. At the end of the interview, even if you missed a few questions, the overall feeling the interviewer has about you should be positive. If you know that you are not a great conversationalist, make sure to focus on improving this.”

Useful Technical Interview Resources

For further tech interview preparation, check out these resources!

🖥️ Online courses to help you prepare:

• Free 7-Day Interview Crash Course (Interview Cake)
• Interview Cake Full Course (20% Interview Cake discount through Learn to Code With Me! Get the job, or your money back.)
• Mastering the Software Engineering Interview (Coursera)
• 4 Week Online Bootcamp for Coding Interviews (Interview Camp)
• Java Interview Questions: Data Structures and Algorithms (Mammoth Interactive)
• Land Your First Tech Job (Break Into Tech)
• Data Structures Crash Course (AlgoExpert – get 10% discount with code ltcwm )
• Master the Coding Interview: Data Structures + Algorithms (Zero to Mastery)
• Master the Coding Interview: Big Tech (FAANG) Interviews (Zero to Mastery)
• Full-Stack Interview Prep (Udacity)
• Codecademy’s interview prep resources (Codecademy)

📚 Books to read:

These books are all available from Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

• Cracking the Coding Interview (Amazon) by Gayle Laakmann McDowell
• Programming Interviews Exposed: Secrets to Landing Your Next Job (Amazon) by John Mongan, Eric Giguere, and Noah Kindler
• Elements of Programming Interviews: The Insiders’ Guide (Amazon) by Adnan Aziz, Tsung-Hsien Lee, and Amit Prakash

👨‍💻 Good websites for coding practice problems:

• Interview Cake
• AlgoExpert (Get 10% off with code ltcwm )
• Skilled.dev

➡️ Want more interview prep help? Check out “ The 33 Best Coding Interview Courses and Books “

Before we wrap this up, here are a few technical interview FAQs with links to the answers.

(If you read this whole article, you’re amazing–but if not, this will help you jump around to find what you need to know about how to pass a technical interview!)

Technical Interview FAQs

• What is a technical interview?
• How do I prepare for a technical ph one interview?
• What should I do the day before my tech interview?
• What to wear to a technical interview?
• How important are algorithms for interviews?
• How do I study for a technical interview?
• How do I answer technical interview questions I don’t know?
• What should I bring to a technical interview?

Time to Go Crush Your Own Technical Interviews!

With these technical interview tips, you’re equipped to begin your own technical interview preparation journey!

The next step is taking advantage of all the amazing resources out there that teach you how to ace a technical interview. 

First, head to Interview Cake for extra training, strategies, and practice technical interview questions ( sign up here for an exclusive Interview Cake discount!). 

Then, acclimate yourself to live interviews by connecting with your peers on Pramp . 

Above all, keep seeking out knowledge, improving your trade, and honing those coding interview skills with practice!

Getting your dream coding job means getting through the interview. But if you go in prepared, the technical interview will be a piece of cake. 🍰

Note: there are affiliate links in this post.

The Online Coding & Design School With A

• Entry Level Tech Jobs
• Front End Developer
• Full Stack Developer
• UI/UX Designer
• Learn to Code
• Get Hired in Tech

16 Common Technical Interview Questions & How to Answer Them

This list of top technical interview questions comes straight from recruiters and tech CEOs. Ace your next job interview with this guide.

While some people might not find tech job interviews nerve-wracking, for most of us (even those with Computer Science or IT degrees), the interview process is the stuff anxiety dreams are made of.

While you’ll certainly have come across some of the standard interview questions you can expect in a tech job interview (think: behavioral questions, questions about your technical skill set, certifications, knowledge of project management systems and the development process) tech interviews are notoriously unpredictable. Hello, nonsensical curveball questions. 😏

It can leave you feeling lost when it comes to preparing.

But there’s no reason to panic. Ultimately, recruiters, tech companies, and other stakeholders are interested in your communication skills and your problem-solving skills (sometimes more so than your programming know-how).

And their questions are designed to reveal how you think and work through problems — not to trip you up or embarrass you.

For this post, we compiled some of the top questions you can expect in technical interviews. To help demystify the experience, we spoke with hiring professionals who supplied key tech interview questions and some pointers for formulating answers — even to the questions nobody sees coming.

First, we’re covering the broad types of questions that CEOs and other managers tend to ask when interviewing candidates for technical positions. Then we cover more technical questions — the kind meant to test your actual coding know-how.

Table of Contents

Common Questions Hiring Managers Ask in Technical Interviews to Find Out if You’re Right For the Job

8 real examples of technical interview questions that test your coding skills.

Is Tech Right For You? Take Our 3-Minute Quiz!

You Will Learn: If a career in tech is right for you What tech careers fit your strengths What skills you need to reach your goals

1. “What do you know about our company?”

Sound obvious? Sometimes the best technical interview questions are — and they’re more revealing than you might expect.

Alan Hattman, Manager of Talent Acquisition at Peloton Technology, has a yikes-worthy story that proves that the importance of research can’t be stressed enough: While he was looking to hire a Director of Marketing, not one but two candidates thought they were interviewing for a different company with a similar name.

“They thought we were a bike company,” Hattman says. (Peloton Technology is a vehicle technology company. The interviewees had confused it with Peloton Cycle.) “They even talked about how they used our product and everything. So those were automatic fails. Do your homework. Research the job and the company you’re applying for.”

When it comes to reading up on a prospective employer, Jenna Kass, Recruiting Manager at Tableau Software, says she always appreciates when “candidates take the time to research our company from a business standpoint.” Before you walk into the interview, find out who the company’s competitors are and gather information about their audience or customers.

The last step is to build on your research with your own expertise. ShipMonk CEO Jan Bednar asks candidates for feedback about his company’s product—specifically for changes they’d make. His ideal response “would not only explain what they would like changed but also how they would change it.”

2. “What’s the most challenging/exciting project you have done in the past two years?”

Your work should lead the way in any technical interview and Lauren Thompson, Zillow’s Communications Coordinator, says that in addition to technical specifications, Zillow’s interviewers want to see “the innovation [an interviewee] comes out with from the project.” The goal of this technical interview question? To figure out what you’re passionate about, she says.

You should start preparing for this question long before you send out resumes, and a safe bet is to dig into each of your projects as you go to focus on what parts (of web development, app development, etc.) you’re passionate about, what motivates you, and what types of work you want to do in the future.

Then, practice articulating that list, so if an interviewer asks you to explain a project from your portfolio, you’ll have more to say than a simple list of specs.

Your answer might sound like: “I love 8-bit gaming, so I developed a C++ emulator for Chip-8. It combined my interest in digital preservation with getting to dust off my Tetris and Pac-Man skills. I’m looking forward to applying some of the C++ tricks I used to more projects in the future.”

3. “What kind of tech projects do you work on in your spare time?”

If you haven’t already picked up on it, passion goes a long way in tech — almost everyone I spoke to for this article mentioned it at some point.

Kevin Hayen, CTO of Let’s Be Chefs, considers self-directed creative work a critical piece of assessing entry-level applicants and veteran candidates alike. The way an interviewee answers these types of questions shows Hayen “what in tech they are really passionate about or if they even are passionate about tech” in the first place.

It doesn’t matter what your hobby is: Talk it up with all the genuine enthusiasm you have. Like many of these questions, it’s not the actual answer that interests Kevin — he says he doesn’t care if the answer is open source, DIY, or even just playing around.

Hayen says that this question also helps him figure out “how the candidate might fit into a particular team and what ‘bonus’ skills they might bring to the company” — things you didn’t even think to add to your resume but will make you a more well-rounded applicant.

4. “Tell me about the most difficult technical challenge you’ve encountered and how you resolved it.”

Bryan Petro, COO of GetMyBoat, asks this technical interview question to make sure prospective employees can do more than check off a box when a problem is fixed. “We’re not looking for people who can just churn through bugs,” Bryan says, “but people who can understand the big picture as part of a larger product team.”

So that you’re not up all night before an interview, wracking your brain for every challenge you’ve ever faced, try keeping a log of the times your skills were pushed to their limits and how you rose to the occasion as you work on projects. You don’t need to write essays here — a few bullet points to jog your memory will suffice.

5. “What technologies could you not live without?”

Stephen Negron of LegalTech Consulting, Inc. wants to know what tech skills candidates bring to the table, of course. But after that’s out of the way, he has a different line of questioning — a list of “revealing questions” that tell him about the interviewee’s life as a techie (and potential team member).

• Tell me about your computers at home. What’s your internet speed?
• What are your favorite gadgets? Apps?
• What kind of phone do you have?
• What are your tech pet peeves?

“I really want to know if they practice what they preach, if they live the tech life, and if they have an understanding of the everyday tech frustrations,” he says.

This is a point that’s easy to overlook amidst loftier talk of expertise, but if you’re not consciously engaging with devices, apps, and websites, all the technical skills in the world won’t bridge that gap toward empathizing with the end user when it comes to designing your own products.

6. “What would you bring to our monthly bakeoff?”

“It may sound like a silly question,” says Max Schleicher, Digital Marketing Manager at Insureon, but this job interview question gives him insight into candidates that a resume simply can’t. It’s a twist on the curveball question — which usually shows an interviewee’s logic skills.

While he appreciates those questions, Schleicher wants to see creativity, social skills, and communication style. “Trust me,” he says. “You can learn a lot about someone from their baking preferences.”

There’s no wrong answer, whether it be a standard “brownies” or “double butterscotch blondies with almonds,” he says. The critical tell is whether interviewees “buy in, whether they’re excited, and how well they’re going to fit into the culture we’re working to create.”

This question has another purpose: Schleicher says that a question like this humanizes him and the company because he wants to win over the applicant, too. “We want to sell our culture and our sense of teamwork to new candidates. We want to attract candidates that buy into that,” he says.

7. “Tell me about a time you were asked to do something you had never done before. How did you react, and what did you learn?”

The key to working in tech isn’t knowing everything–that’s not even possible for multi-decade vets of the industry. For Brendan Browne, VP of Talent Acquisition at LinkedIn, this question boils down to the number one soft skill needed at LinkedIn: adaptability.

“Soft skills like adaptability are a hard thing to suss out but they’re critical for someone to be successful here,” Browne says. Projects change direction all the time, while departmental reorganizations and management shifts lead to priorities being rearranged. “Your ability to deal with these scenarios will impact where you’re best able to contribute at a company.”

As far as the best way to show your adaptability in an interview setting, Browne says he’s “looking for real answers, not the canned, stereotypical responses.”

Go with an experience from your career (a department re-org, a client changing their mind last minute) or personal life (becoming a parent, a cross-country move) that shows how you’ve been able to “adapt, persevere, and manage change.”

Not a particularly adaptable person? Don’t panic. Self-awareness is also a key trait Browne looks for. “You don’t need to pretend certain skills are your strong point if they aren’t. If adapting quickly is hard for you, that’s okay. You likely have other soft skills an employer wants (collaboration, culture fit, etc.), so play those up during your interview,” he says.

8. “How much does a first class one-way ticket from New York to Abu Dhabi cost on Etihad?”

ShipMonk CEO Jan Bednar doesn’t really expect anyone to know the answer—it’s the infamous curveball question. “Frankly,” he says, “we’d be a bit surprised if they did.” Then why ask it?

“Whether they guess $3,000 or $80,000 is functionally immaterial,” Bednar says. Instead, it’s all about the process. “What steps do they take to solve the question? Do they draw upon past experiences? Projections? General knowledge? These are the skills we want to see,” Bednar says.

(Back to Top.)

In addition to the questions above, which assess your non-technical skills more than anything — such as your software development interests — hiring managers also ask technical, knowledge-based questions to determine your technical knowledge. In other words, they have to test you to make sure you have the right skill set for the job.

Whether you’re a Python pro, a Java developer, or a jack of all trades in terms of programming languages, there are language-specific questions or general programming knowledge base questions you’re expected to know, regardless of the job description.

For this post, we scoured the Internet for common questions hiring managers ask during technical knowledge-based interviews and how to answer them.

While being able to answer these questions will benefit all aspiring developers , front end developers in particular will want to know the answers to these questions.

Interview tip: when prepping for the various types of technical interviews you might face, we recommend Googling for technical interview questions and answers for your specific area of expertise (e.g. “front end developer interview questions”) to get a good idea of the range of questions that you may be asked and to practice answering them.

Even if you don’t know all of the answers right off the bat, with practice, you’ll be on your way to acing your technical interview in no time.

1. What is the main difference between Prototypal and Class inheritance?

From Temok :

“In JavaScript, inheritance is different from a lot of other development languages. In JavaScript, the object system is based on a prototype, not the class. Objects are only a collection of value pairs and names. As far as the inheritance is concerned, there is only one construct in JavaScript: objects. Each object has a private property that comprises a link to other objects, known as the prototype of that object.”

2. What does CORS mean and how does it work?

From Mozilla :

“Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) is an HTTP-header based mechanism that allows a server to indicate any origins (domain, scheme, or port) other than its own from which a browser should permit loading of resources. CORS also relies on a mechanism by which browsers make a “preflight” request to the server hosting the cross-origin resource, in order to check that the server will permit the actual request. In that preflight, the browser sends headers that indicate the HTTP method and headers that will be used in the actual request.”

3. What is ClickJacking?

From Fullstack Cafe :

“ClickJacking is an attack that fools users into thinking they are clicking on one thing when they are actually clicking on another. The attack is possible thanks to HTML frames (iframes). Its other name, user interface (UI) redressing, better describes what is going on. Users think they are using a web page’s normal UI, but in fact there is a hidden UI in control; in other words, the UI has been redressed. When users click something they think is safe, the hidden UI performs a different action.”

4. What is the difference between let, const, and var?

“Originally, var was the only option JavaScript had for defining variables. In ES6, we got const and let as additional options. The important takeaways are:

• Variables defined with const cannot be reassigned.
• Const and let variables are block-scoped.
• Var variables are function scoped.
• Variables defined with var are hoisted.”

5. What is WCAG and what are the differences between A, AA, and AAA compliance?

From Digital Accessibility Center:

“WCAG stands for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, which are part of a series of web accessibility guidelines published by the Web Accessibility Initiative of the World Wide Web Consortium.

• Single A is viewed as the minimum level of requirement which all websites, apps, and electronic content such as documents should adhere to.
• Double A is viewed as the acceptable level of accessibility for many online services, which should work with most assistive technology which is now widely available on both desktop and mobile devices, or which can be purchased as a third-party installation.
• Triple A compliance is viewed as the gold standard level of accessibility, which provides everything for a complete accessible offering, including all the bells and whistles which make the difference between a very good experience and an excellent one.”

6. How do you find the largest and smallest number in an unsorted integer array?

From Faceprep :

“ Method 1 : Traverse the array iteratively and keep track of the smallest and largest element until the end of the array. Method 2 : Traverse the array recursively and keep track of the smallest and largest element until the end of the array. Method 3 : Sort the array using STL and return the first element as the smallest element and the last element as the largest element.

For example, consider the array. arr = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5} Smallest element : 1 Largest element : 5″

7. What is a closure?

From Eric Elliot at JavaScript Scene :

“A closure is the combination of a function bundled together (enclosed) with references to its surrounding state (the lexical environment). In other words, a closure gives you access to an outer function’s scope from an inner function. In JavaScript, closures are created every time a function is created, at function creation time.

To use a closure, define a function inside another function and expose it. To expose a function, return it or pass it to another function.

The inner function will have access to the variables in the outer function scope, even after the outer function has returned.”

8. What are the differences between null and undefined?

From That JS Dude :

“JavaScript has two distinct values for nothing, null and undefined.

undefined means that the value of the variable is not defined. JavaScript has a global variable undefined whose value is “undefined” and typeof undefined is also “undefined.”

Remember, undefined is not a constant or a keyword. undefined is a type with exactly one value: undefined.

Assigning a new value to it does not change the value of the type undefined.

8 Ways to get Undefined:

• A declared variable without assigning any value to it.
• Implicit returns of functions due to missing return statements.
• Return statements that do not explicitly return anything.
• Lookups of non-existent properties in an object.
• Function parameters that have not passed.
• Anything that has been set to the value of undefined.
• Any expression in the form of void(expression)
• The value of the global variable undefined

null means empty or non-existent value which is used by programmers to indicate “no value.”

null is a primitive value and you can assign null to any variable. null is not an object, it is a primitive value.

For example, you cannot add properties to it. Sometimes people wrongly assume that it is an object, because typeof null returns “object.”

Btw, null == undefined ref: history of typeof null.”

Having a set of tech skills is one thing, but communicating your ability to use them practically, creatively, and efficiently is what will help you land the job.

As I interviewed hiring professionals for this article, multiple people told me that surprise brain teaser questions are all about your thought process, not your answer — so don’t be afraid to give follow-up explanations as you go along.

So if you find yourself face-to-face with one of these tough technical interview questions, take a breath, don’t get flummoxed, and talk the interviewer through your thinking. That’s all they want to hear.

What are technical questions in an interview?

Technical questions in an interview are questions that are designed to assess your specific knowledge and skills related to the technical aspects of a job. These can include questions about programming languages, software tools, problem-solving, algorithms, and industry-specific knowledge.

How do I prepare for a technical interview?

To prepare for a technical interview, review the job description to understand the required skills, practice common technical questions and problems, study up on relevant tools and languages, and prepare to explain your previous projects and experiences. Mock interviews and coding challenges can also be helpful.

What are the basic questions for a technical support interview?

What questions are asked in a technical competency interview.

In a technical competency interview, you might be asked to discuss your experience with specific technologies, solve real-world problems on the spot, demonstrate how you approach complex projects, and provide examples of how you've applied technical knowledge in practical situations.

Is a technical interview difficult?

The difficulty of a technical interview can vary depending on the company, the role, and your own level of preparation and expertise. Some interviews may be highly challenging, with complex problems to solve, while others might focus more on general technical understanding and thought processes.

How do I explain my technical skills in an interview?

To explain your technical skills in an interview, be specific about the technologies you know, discuss how you've used them in past projects, and highlight any successful outcomes or achievements. Use clear, non-technical language to describe your expertise and how it applies to the role you're interviewing for.

Justina Hwang

Category: Blog , Entry Level Tech Jobs , Front End Developer , Interviews

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Tech Interview Prep: How To Ace Your Interview

You’ve applied to your dream job. You’ve passed the phone screen and screening test. Now the only thing standing in your way is the coding interview. 

Are you prepared?

Even the most experienced developers can find traditional technical interviews daunting. But many emerging technical interview approaches provide an opportunity to demonstrate your skills in a real-world setting. From coding to algorithms to problem solving, technical interviews done well should test the top skills in your arsenal. 

The Technical Interview: An Overview

Technical interviews are the process of evaluating developers through questions that place an emphasis on technical skills. Hiring teams use individual assignments such as coding questions, projects, or data structure problems to test and score a developer’s proficiency in key skills. 

These interviews gauge a developer’s problem-solving skills and technical proficiency in various programming languages and frameworks. And they also give a glimpse into soft skills — like collaboration or communication style. 

Types of Interview Questions — and How to Prepare for Them

Technical interviews come in many styles and formats. Each type of interview will test different skill sets and require a different approach to succeed. Preparing for a system design question, for example, looks a lot different than preparing for a coding challenge.

Before we dive in, it’s worth noting that there is some overlap between various types of interview questions. Technical interviews often test many skills at the same time, including algorithms, clean code practices, and language proficiency, to name a few examples, and those skills can often be showcased across a number of formats. 

Coding Questions

Coding questions — sometimes called coding challenges — ask developers to write code to find an answer to a problem. Depending on the role and company, coding questions can be language-specific or allow developers to respond in their coding language of choice. Often, these questions are asked directly via an in-browser IDE that provides developers with the tools they need to provide a solution in full. 

While coding questions come in a variety of formats, the strategies for answering them are similar. As you write your code, you’ll be expected to explain your solution to the hiring team. They’ll typically give you real-time feedback on the efficacy, complexity, and accuracy of your solution.

It’s important to keep in mind that a “correct” answer isn’t always enough to pass a coding interview. That’s because the approach also allows hiring teams to assess your technical communication, your code quality, and the efficiency of the solution.

• Write a function int max_of_four(int a, int b, int c, int d) which reads four arguments and returns the greatest of them. There is not a built-in max function in C. Code that will be reused is often put in a separate function, e.g. int max(x, y) that returns the greater of the two values. Input will contain four integers – a, b, c, d – one on each line. Note: I/O will be automatically handled. (Language: C)
• A hacker practices on HackerRank until getting to a rating of O(1) read as (Oh-one). Call the method coder.practice until coder.oh_one? becomes true. Use the until control structure. until is the logical equivalent of while not. This challenge has a one-line answer. (Language: Ruby)
• If n is odd, print Weird
• If n is even and in the inclusive range of 2 to 5, print Not Weird
• If n is even and in the inclusive range of 6 to 20, print Weird
• If n is even and greater than 20, print Not Weird
• Input format: a single line containing a positive integer n. Constraints: 1 <= n <= 100.

Problem Solving

Problem-solving interview questions test a candidate’s ability to, well, solve problems. Many developers associate problem-solving interviews with technical questions such as algorithms and data structures. And while those challenges do test problem-solving skills, a problem-solving interview question can also be non-technical.

Problem-solving interviews aren’t just about getting the right answers. Equally (or even more) important is identifying a problem-solving approach and explaining it to the interviewer. This is especially true for non-technical problems which often have no right answer. Using an answering method can help with structuring your responses and explanations.

Lastly, it’s a good idea to treat every technical interview as an opportunity to showcase your problem-solving skills. Nearly every other question format tests for problem-solving skills, even if the interviewer doesn’t directly say so. Having a strong foundation in problem solving will support your performance in other interviewing moments.

• Given the problem of selecting a new tool to invest in, where and how would you begin this task? 
• Have you ever recognized a potential problem and addressed it before it occurred? 
• Tell me about a time you used a unique problem-solving approach. 

Algorithm questions are a type of interview question that, in theory, test a candidate’s coding skills and ability to solve problems with algorithms. However, today’s common technical interview is far from perfect , and a lot of algorithm challenges are too theoretical in nature to fairly assess a developer’s skills. While they are beginning to fall out of favor, some companies still ask academically advanced algorithmic questions, so it’s important to know what to expect.

You should prepare for an algorithm-style interview question by studying fundamental concepts and practicing the types of questions you might face. Some developers feel that many such interview questions can only be solved by having memorized the solution beforehand. Developers who take this approach might spend hours memorizing concepts such as greedy algorithms or Dijkstra. While this doesn’t make for the best overall experience, some developers in line for their dream apply brute force memorization to ace the interview.

Even still, developing a solid understanding of algorithmic concepts will make it easier to develop a sound answering strategy when and if you’re asked a question of this type.

• Given an array of integers, find the sum of its elements. For example, if ar = [1, 2, 3] , 1 + 2 + 3 = 6. So, return 6.
• Given a square matrix, calculate the absolute difference between the sums of its diagonals. For example, the square matrix ar = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 , 7, 8, 9 ], arranged in a 3×3 grid resembling a phone keypad.
• Given a time in 12-hour AM/PM format, convert it to 24-hour military time. 12:00:00AM on a 12-hour clock is 00:00:00 on a 24-hour clock. 12:00:00PM on a 12-hour clock is 12:00:00 on a 24-hour clock. For example, if s = 12:01:00AM , return 00:01:00 .

Data Structures

Like algorithm questions, data structure problems are a type of interview question that have begun to fall out of favor in recent years. While data structures are a fundamental computer science concept, they’ve become associated with a needlessly complex approach to technical interviews. But some companies still ask developers to solve data structure challenges in interviews, so it’s worth being prepared.

There are many different types of data structures , including arrays, stacks, queues, linked lists, and trees, to name just a few. Each structure has its own set of properties that you’ll need to master to answer a data structure interview question. 

• Delete the node at a given position in a linked list and return a reference to the head node. The head is at position 0.
• You are given the pointer to the head node of a linked list and an integer to add to the list. Create a new node with the given integer. Insert this node at the tail of the linked list and return the head node of the linked list formed after inserting this new node. The given head pointer may be null, meaning that the initial list is empty.
• Given a pointer to the head node of a linked list, print each node’s element, one per line. If the head pointer is null (indicating the list is empty), there is nothing to print.

System Design

System design interviews challenge candidates to design a back-end system using a whiteboard or virtual diagramming tool. Candidates are asked to explain their solution and thought process as they develop their answer. To succeed in system design interviews, candidates need to both design a viable solution and explain how the components fit together. 

System design questions don’t have one right answer. Instead, they give the developer the opportunity to work toward a variety of potential solutions. Hiring teams will often have interviewing guidelines to structure the conversation as well as a suggested solution.

The key to success is to focus on the big picture and not get bogged down in the details. After all — you need to plan a back-end system, not build one.

One option for grounding the details of your answer is to reference real-world experience. Sharing an example of a similar problem you’ve previously solved adds detail to the answer while also demonstrating its viability.

• Design a flash sale e-commerce system
• Design a ride-sharing service
• Design a URL shortening service
• Design a search engine

Strategies for Acing the Interview

Don’t forget to communicate.

A coding interview isn’t just about the code. The conversation between you and the interviewer is as important as the code itself. Throughout the entire process, you should talk out loud, explaining your approach. You could, for example, ask for more details or consider how your solution might apply to the job at hand. 

Don’t put off explaining the code until after you’ve finished coding the solution. You might forget an important detail or run out of time. Describe every action you take and decision you make in real time. 

Practice, Practice, Practice

Every developer knows that sufficient interview preparation is vital to a successful interview. However, the key is to practice smarter, not harder. 

The goal of your practice sessions shouldn’t be to practice every possible question you could face. Instead, interviewing practice will expose you to enough questions to be familiar with the various types of questions and how to solve them. Even some of the most advanced coding questions are often just multiple computer science concepts combined together. 

For example, one of HackerRank’s hardest dynamic programming problems (with only a 37.4% solve rate) is really a dynamic programing problem combined with a data structure problem. If asked a similar question in an interview, a developer who’d practiced arrays, priority queueing, and dynamic programming would be able to solve this problem despite never having seen it before.

Structure Responses With an Answering Strategy

While providing solutions to tough interview questions is certainly challenging, some developers find the hardest part of the technical interview to be the non-technical components. Explaining complex technical concepts through verbal communication is a tough skill to master in its own right. 

Structuring your response with a tried-and-true answering method can make the interview go much smoother. Here are a few strategies to consider.

STAR Method

Situation, Task, Action, and Result is a great method that can be employed to answer a problem-solving or design interview question.

• Situation: Identify the situation and circumstances. 
• Task: Define the problem or goal that needs to be addressed.
• Action: What approaches and technologies will you use to solve the problem? 
• Result: Wrap it up by stating the outcome. 

PREP Method

Point, Reason, Example, Point is a presentation technique that you can use to answer problem solving and design questions.  

• Point: State the solution in plain terms. 
• Reasons: Follow up the solution by explaining your point.
• Example: Round out your answer by contextualizing it with a real-world example.
• Point: Reiterate the solution to make it come full circle.

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Technical interviews: A guide for interviewers & candidates

Introduction

Let’s face it: Technical interviews can be burdensome and unpleasant—for interviewers and candidates alike. For hiring teams, designing interview and assessment questions that accurately assess a candidate’s technical aptitude, problem-solving skills, and ability to collaborate can be a challenge. Candidates, meanwhile, face the pressure of demonstrating their technical knowledge and skills while communicating effectively in what is often a stressful interview context. 

Here at CodeSignal, the leading technical interview and assessment platform, we have spent countless hours developing solutions to make technical interviews less painful for both interviewers and candidates. Hiring teams who use CodeSignal benefit from a cohesive platform that supports pre-hire screening assessments and live technical interviews built around the same advanced integrated development environment (IDE) , which creates a seamless experience for candidates as they progress through your hiring funnel. 

Working with hundreds of top companies, we’ve learned what makes a great technical interview—and what interviewers and candidates need to know about the tech hiring process. We’ve distilled this knowledge into this comprehensive resource designed to help both interviewers and candidates navigate the technical interview process. This guide equips interviewers with effective techniques for assessing candidates’ technical abilities, while also providing candidates with valuable tips for acing their interviews. 

Skip ahead to a section of the guide here:

What is a technical interview?

What are the different stages of technical interviews, what are the different formats of technical interviews, technical interview perspectives: engineering candidate vs. interviewer, technical interview tips for recruiters & engineering managers, technical interview tips for software engineer candidates, technical interview do’s and don’ts, common technical interview scenarios and how to handle them, final thoughts.

A technical interview is a method employed by recruiters to evaluate candidates for software engineering and other technical roles. Technical interviews often focus on assessing a candidate’s job-relevant technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and communication style. The insights gathered from these interviews should help employers decide how successful a candidate would be in the role they’re applying for.

The different stages hiring for technical roles may vary depending on the company and engineering role, but usually, technical interviews can be broken down into the following stages:

Initial screening and assessment

Companies often begin the hiring process for technical roles with pre-screen assessments to hone in on qualified candidates. By incorporating these preliminary evaluations, employers can efficiently narrow down the applicant pool to a more manageable number of well-suited candidates early in the hiring process. Pre-screen assessments not only save time and resources for the hiring team, but also ensure that the candidates advancing to the next stages possess the necessary expertise and aptitude for the role. They are generally preferred to resume review as a method for initial screening candidates for technical roles.

CodeSignal Pre-Screen is a powerful tool for assessing engineering candidates at the top of the recruiting funnel. With Pre-Screen, companies can effectively streamline the initial evaluation process with objective and validated skills assessments . Since Pre-Screen Certified Evaluations are developed, validated, and maintained by CodeSignal, engineering teams reduce the amount of time they spend on recruiting by thousands of hours per year. Furthermore, Pre-Screen helps minimize bias in the hiring process, as it emphasizes objective metrics and skill-based evaluations rather than relying on factors such as educational background or previous work experience. 

Behavioral interview

The behavioral interview stage of the engineering hiring process focuses on evaluating a candidate’s soft skills, interpersonal abilities, and overall fit within the company culture. Unlike the technical interview, which assesses the candidate’s coding skills and other problem-solving abilities, the behavioral interview delves into their past experiences, work habits, and personality traits. Interviewers often pose situational or hypothetical questions to gauge the candidate’s ability to handle challenges, work effectively within a team, and adapt to an organization’s values and expectations. 

Technical interview

During the technical interview stage of the engineering hiring process, candidates are generally asked to showcase their coding abilities in real-time using an integrated development environment (IDE). This stage is a crucial opportunity for both the candidate and the engineering hiring manager to gain a deeper understanding of each other’s working style and thought processes. In this scenario, the candidate typically works on a coding problem or a small project while the hiring manager observes and assesses their problem-solving skills, technical knowledge, and overall approach. The collaborative nature of the exercise allows the hiring manager to ask clarifying questions, gauge the candidate’s communication skills, and evaluate their ability to adapt under pressure. Solutions like CodeSignal Pre-Screen provide a research-backed technical screening solution to significantly reduce the burden of technical interviewing on engineering teams.

On-site interview

The on-site interview stage is the final step in the engineering hiring process, designed to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the candidate’s technical and communication skills. Conducted by a panel of engineers, this stage typically involves a live coding exercise in which the candidate is tasked with solving complex problems or working on a project relevant to the role. The panel assesses the candidate’s problem-solving approach, coding proficiency, and ability to think on their feet. 

Additionally, the on-site interview allows the panel to observe the candidate’s communication and collaboration skills, as they may be required to discuss their thought process, ask questions, or seek feedback from the panel members. This immersive, interactive experience offers valuable insights into the candidate’s potential fit within the team and their capacity to excel in the engineering role. CodeSignal Interview is a live interviewing tool designed for on-site and panel interviews and provides a realistic development environment with built-in video calling for interviewers to evaluate candidates’ job-relevant skills.

Post-interview debrief

The final interview debrief is a crucial step in the engineering hiring process, as it allows the interviewers to come together and thoroughly discuss the candidate’s performance throughout the various stages of the evaluation. In order to objectively assess the candidate’s job-relevant skills, interviewers often employ a numerical rubric , assigning scores based on predefined criteria, such as technical expertise, problem-solving abilities, and collaboration skills By utilizing this consistent method of evaluation, the hiring team can compare candidates more accurately, ensuring that the final decision is rooted in objective data rather than subjective opinions. 

Online coding assessment

An online coding assessment is a standardized evaluation tool used by employers to gauge a candidate’s programming skills and other problem-solving abilities during the technical hiring process. These assessments typically consist of coding challenges or exercises that require candidates to write, analyze, and debug code. Online coding assessments also streamline the hiring process, allowing companies to efficiently filter potential candidates and identify top talent for their technical teams.

Multiple choice quiz

A multiple-choice quiz for technical hiring is an evaluation method used to assess a candidate’s knowledge of specific programming languages, frameworks, or concepts. These quizzes typically present a series of questions or problem statements, requiring the candidate to select the correct answer from a list of options. Although multiple-choice quizzes can provide a quick and straightforward way to gauge a candidate’s theoretical understanding, they have limitations in accurately measuring a candidate’s practical coding skills or ability to solve complex, real-world problems. As a result, these quizzes may not provide a comprehensive view of a candidate’s capabilities, potentially leading to poorly-informed hiring decisions.

Take home assignment

A take-home assignment for technical hiring is a project-based assessment that requires candidates to complete a coding or engineering task outside of the interview setting, often simulating real-world scenarios or problems. These assignments provide valuable insights into a candidate’s problem-solving abilities, creativity, and practical skills. However, take-home assignments can be time-consuming for candidates, as they may require several hours or even days to complete. This extended time commitment can be a deterrent for highly skilled candidates with limited availability, potentially causing them to opt out of the application process or seek opportunities with a less burdensome hiring process.

Whiteboard interview

A whiteboard interview for technical hiring is a traditional evaluation method in which candidates are asked to solve coding problems or design algorithms on a whiteboard, often in front of an interviewer or panel. This approach is intended to assess a candidate’s thought process, problem-solving abilities, and communication skills. However, whiteboard interviews have notable limitations, as they can create an artificial, high-pressure environment that may not accurately reflect a candidate’s true capabilities or the day-to-day work experience (since real code isn’t written on a whiteboard). Additionally, these interviews may inadvertently favor candidates with strong presentation skills over those with stronger technical abilities but who may not perform well under such stressful conditions.

What’s the candidate’s perspective on technical interviews? 

From the software engineering candidate’s perspective, technical interviews can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. On the one hand, technical interviews provide an opportunity for candidates to showcase their coding skills, problem-solving abilities, and experience. On the other hand, the pressure to perform well and the fear of being asked a question they don’t know the answer to can be intimidating.

What’s the interviewer’s perspective on technical interviews? 

While technical interviews can be challenging for candidates, they can also be challenging for interviewers. Interviewers must be able to assess a candidate’s abilities objectively and fairly, while also providing a positive and welcoming experience for the candidate. They may need to adjust their approach based on the candidate’s experience level, communication style, or learning style.

How should you conduct a technical interview?

To conduct a technical interview effectively, start by defining the specific skills and knowledge required for the position, and develop a clear evaluation criterion to assess the candidate’s abilities. Ideally, this step would involve engaging IO Psychologists in a job analysis that identifies the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (KSAOs) required for a candidate to succeed in the role. 

A technical interview may incorporate a combination of evaluation methods, such as coding tasks and knowledge-based questions, to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the candidate’s technical capabilities, problem-solving skills, and ability to communicate complex concepts. Ideally, the interview process should be structured to minimize stress and provide a realistic representation of the candidate’s day-to-day work environment.

CodeSignal provides pre-screen assessment , full-service technical interview , and live coding interview solutions that provide an advanced, realistic integrated development environment (IDE) for candidates and interviewers. With CodeSignal Interview, for instance, interviewers can observe a candidate’s coding process in real-time, engage in collaborative problem-solving, and even pull up a candidate’s pre-screen assessment results in the coding environment. This environment provides a “flight simulator” experience for candidates while enabling interviewers to assess the candidate’s skills effectively and efficiently. 

What interviewers should look for when hiring software engineers

When hiring software engineers, interviewers should look for a combination of technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and communication skills. A strong foundation in programming languages, frameworks, and algorithms is important, and the capacity to learn and adapt to new technologies is essential. Equally important is the candidate’s ability to analyze complex problems, develop creative solutions, and collaborate effectively within a team. Finally, soft skills such as communication, time management, and resilience are crucial, as they enable the candidate to navigate challenges, articulate ideas, and contribute positively to a team’s overall success and growth.

Approaching a technical interview as a candidate can feel quite daunting, particularly if it’s been some time since you’ve taken a similar assessment. Your performance in these interviews greatly influences the hiring decision, so it’s important to prepare well . 

How to make a great impression in your technical interview as a software engineer

As a software engineer, making a great impression in your technical interview is essential for showcasing your skills and securing the job offer. To ensure success, consider the following strategies:

• Prepare thoroughly: Brush up on your knowledge of programming languages, data structures, and algorithms, and familiarize yourself with the technologies and frameworks relevant to the job.
• Practice problem-solving: Work through coding challenges or sample interview questions to hone your problem-solving skills and develop a structured approach to tackling complex tasks.
• Demonstrate clear communication: Articulate your thought process while solving problems, ask clarifying questions when needed, and explain your solutions in a concise, understandable manner.
• Showcase teamwork and adaptability: Be receptive to feedback, collaborate effectively with interviewers, and demonstrate a willingness to adapt your approach when presented with new information.
• Show confidence and professionalism: Present yourself confidently, maintain a positive attitude, and exhibit enthusiasm for the role and the company.

How to prepare for a technical interview

1. research the company and role.

When applying for a software engineering role, it’s crucial for you to research the company and the specific position thoroughly. This research should involve understanding the company’s products, services, and overall mission. By gaining insight into the company culture, team dynamics, and tech stack, you can tailor your approach during the interview process, demonstrating a genuine interest in the organization and showcasing your ability to be a valuable contributor to the team’s success.

2. Review technical concepts and skills specific to the role

Before your first interview for a software engineering role, make sure to thoroughly review the technical concepts and skills specific to the position. This may involve refreshing your knowledge of programming languages, frameworks, or tech stack listed in the job description, and practicing relevant coding challenges or exercises.

3. Practice online coding challenges

Software engineering candidates seeking effective preparation for upcoming technical interviews should consider engaging in coding interview challenges . Regular practice with these challenges allows you to refine your problem-solving abilities, enhance your algorithmic thinking, and become acquainted with the structure of technical interview questions. Incorporating practice coding challenges into your interview preparation will boost your confidence—and performance—in technical interviews.

4. Prepare questions to ask the interviewer

Preparing questions to ask your interviewer when interviewing for a software engineering position demonstrates your interest in the role and showcases your proactive attitude. Ask insightful questions to help you better understand the company culture, team dynamics, and expectations of the role—and ensure that the position aligns with your career goals and values. For example, you might consider asking about the company’s approach to software development methodologies, or how the team handles code reviews and maintains code quality. 

What to expect during your technical Interview

As a software engineering candidate, you should be prepared for a range of topics and coding challenges during your technical interview. These interviews typically assess your coding skills, problem-solving abilities, and understanding of computer science fundamentals: algorithms, frameworks, data structures, and more. 

You may be asked to write code on a whiteboard or in an online coding environment, solve algorithmic puzzles, or discuss architectural design principles. The interviewer might also delve into your past experiences, asking you to explain your thought process or approach to specific projects. Remember: the primary goal of the technical interview is to evaluate not just your technical proficiency, but also your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with others. Keep a positive attitude, demonstrate your thought process, and don’t be afraid to ask clarifying questions if needed. 

Examples of technical interview questions & answers

It’s impossible to provide an exhaustive list of interview questions you might encounter as part of this guide. The type of questions will vary depending on the role, technologies, and the type of position that you are interviewing for. Nevertheless, here are a few examples of the types of questions you might encounter.

Question: How would you reverse a string in your preferred programming language?

Acceptable answer: In Python, you can reverse a string using slicing notation with the following code:

Alternatively, you can use the built-in reversed() function and join the characters:

Question: What is the difference between a stack and a queue data structure?

Acceptable answer: A stack is a last-in, first-out (LIFO) data structure, meaning the last element added is the first one to be removed. It supports two main operations: push (add an element) and pop (remove the most recently added element). A common example of a stack is a pile of plates; you add and remove plates from the top.

A queue, on the other hand, is a first-in, first-out (FIFO) data structure, meaning the first element added is the first one to be removed. It supports two main operations: enqueue (add an element to the end) and dequeue (remove the element from the front). A real-life example of a queue is a line of people waiting in a queue; people join at the end and leave from the front.

Technical Interview “Do’s”:

• Review computer science fundamentals, such as data structures, algorithms, and frameworks.
• Practice solving coding problems on various online platforms and in different programming languages.
• Clearly communicate your thought process and problem-solving approach throughout the interview.
• Ask clarifying questions if you’re unsure about the task or requirements.
• Manage your time effectively, focusing on the most important aspects of the task.
• Be prepared to discuss your past experiences and projects, emphasizing your role and contributions.
• Demonstrate your ability to work collaboratively by being receptive to feedback and suggestions.
• Research the company and its culture to show genuine interest and ask insightful questions.

Technical Interview “Don’ts”:

• Avoid memorizing specific solutions or code snippets, as interviewers may use different questions in your interview.
• Don’t underestimate the importance of soft skills, such as communication and teamwork.
• Don’t be afraid to admit when you don’t know something. Honesty is better than bluffing.
• Refrain from being defensive or argumentative if the interviewer challenges your solution.
• Don’t rush through the problem. Instead, take your time to understand the requirements and constraints.
• Avoid getting stuck on minor details or syntax. Focus on the core logic and problem-solving.
• Don’t let nerves or anxiety overshadow your abilities. Stay calm and composed throughout the interview.
• Refrain from giving generic answers to questions about the company or your motivation for applying.

For candidates

Scenario 1: the interviewer asks a technical question you don’t know the answer to.

You may encounter technical questions during an interview that you don’t know the answer to—it happens. In these situations, it’s crucial to remain calm and composed. Rather than trying to bluff your way through, be honest about your lack of knowledge, and express your willingness to learn. You can demonstrate your problem-solving abilities by attempting to reason through the question, discussing your thought process, and acknowledging any gaps in your understanding. If possible, relate the unknown topic to something you are familiar with, showing that you can adapt and leverage your existing knowledge. Interviewers appreciate candidates who can handle uncertainty gracefully and exhibit curiosity, humility, and a growth mindset in the face of challenges.

Scenario 2: You finish the coding challenge early and have extra time

If you complete a coding challenge during a technical interview ahead of schedule, it’s important to use the extra time wisely. First, double-check your solution for correctness, edge cases, and potential optimizations. This demonstrates your attention to detail and thoroughness. Next, consider the readability and maintainability of your code. Ensure that your code is well-structured, uses meaningful variable names, and includes comments where necessary to clarify complex logic. If appropriate, discuss alternative approaches or trade-offs with the interviewer, showcasing your depth of understanding and ability to evaluate different solutions. Finally, be prepared to answer any follow-up questions from the interviewer, as they may want to probe your knowledge or challenge your assumptions. Using your extra time effectively demonstrates your commitment to excellence and sets you apart as a strong candidate.

For interviewers

Scenario 1: candidate struggles with a coding challenge.

As an interviewer, when you notice a candidate struggling with a coding challenge, you may choose to provide guidance and support without giving away the solution. Start by encouraging the candidate to verbalize their thought process and ask clarifying questions, as this can help identify misunderstandings or gaps in their approach. Offer gentle hints or suggest breaking the problem into smaller, more manageable parts. Remember to maintain a positive and empathetic demeanor, as it can help alleviate anxiety and create a more conducive environment for the candidate to showcase their problem-solving abilities. If the candidate continues to struggle, consider modifying the question’s difficulty or shifting the focus to another aspect of the challenge that aligns better with their skillset. Regardless of your approach, be sure to offer consistent support for each candidate to prevent unfairness or bias in your hiring process.

Scenario 2: Candidate is overconfident

If a candidate seems overconfident or dismissive of feedback, try gently challenging their assumptions and providing constructive criticism. Ask follow-up questions to clarify their thought process and provide feedback on areas where they could improve. It’s important to balance this with positive feedback and encouragement so the candidate doesn’t become discouraged.

This guide to technical interviews has provided comprehensive documentation of what technical interviews are, as well as different types and formats of technical interviews. It has also offered guidance to interviewers on how best to assess candidates’ job-relevant skills, and advice for candidates on how to prepare for a technical interview, what to expect during the interview, and how best to handle challenges that arise. For technical interviews that help companies identify and secure a “yes” from their top candidates, hundreds of companies turn to CodeSignal.

Want to learn more about how CodeSignal can elevate your technical interviews and help you make the right hires, faster? Schedule a call with one of our tech hiring experts.

15 Technical Analyst Interview Questions (With Example Answers)

It's important to prepare for an interview in order to improve your chances of getting the job. Researching questions beforehand can help you give better answers during the interview. Most interviews will include questions about your personality, qualifications, experience and how well you would fit the job. In this article, we review examples of various technical analyst interview questions and sample answers to some of the most common questions.

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Common Technical Analyst Interview Questions

What drew you to the role of technical analyst, what do you think are the key skills for a technical analyst, what do you think are the biggest challenges faced by technical analysts, what do you think sets you apart from other technical analysts, what do you think are the biggest benefits of working as a technical analyst, what do you think is the best part of your job, what do you think is the worst part of your job, what do you think are the most challenging aspects of your job, what do you think are the most rewarding aspects of your job, what do you think is the best thing about working as a technical analyst, what do you think is the worst thing about working as a technical analyst, what do you think are the most challenging aspects of the job market for technical analysts, what do you think are the most rewarding aspects of the job market for technical analysts, what do you think is the best thing about being a technical analyst, what do you think is the worst thing about being a technical analyst.

The interviewer is trying to gauge whether the Technical Analyst is truly interested in the role, or if they are just interested in any role at the company. It is important to know if the Technical Analyst is truly interested in the role because they will be more likely to excel in the position and be a long-term employee if they are passionate about the role.

Example: “ I was first drawn to the role of Technical Analyst because of the technical nature of the job. I enjoy working with computers and solving complex problems, so this job seemed like a perfect fit for me. Additionally, I have always been interested in the stock market and financial analysis, so I saw this job as a way to combine my two interests. ”

The interviewer is likely looking for qualities that are important in a technical analyst, such as the ability to analyze data, find trends, and communicate complex information in a simple way. Technical analysts often work with teams of developers and need to be able to clearly explain their findings and recommendations. This question allows the interviewer to get a sense of the candidate's self-awareness and ability to identify important skills for the role.

Example: “ There are many key skills for a Technical Analyst, but some of the most important ones include: • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills: A Technical Analyst must be able to analyse complex data sets and identify trends and patterns. They must also be able to solve problems quickly and effectively. • Excellent communication skills: A Technical Analyst must be able to communicate clearly and concisely, both in writing and verbally. They must be able to explain technical concepts to non-technical staff members. • Strong attention to detail: A Technical Analyst must be able to spot errors and inconsistencies in data sets. They must also be able to double-check their work for accuracy. • Good time management skills: A Technical Analyst must be able to manage their time effectively in order to meet deadlines. They must also be able to juggle multiple tasks at once without getting overwhelmed. ”

There are a few reasons why an interviewer might ask this question to a technical analyst. First, they may be trying to gauge the analyst's understanding of the challenges faced by their profession. Second, they may be attempting to identify areas where the analyst may need improvement or further training. Finally, this question can also help the interviewer understand the analyst's motivations for pursuing a career in technical analysis. By understanding the challenges faced by technical analysts, the interviewer can better tailor their questions to elicit useful information from the analyst.

Example: “ There are a few key challenges that technical analysts face on a daily basis. First, they need to have a strong understanding of market trends and be able to identify potential opportunities and threats. Second, they need to be able to effectively communicate their findings to clients or employers. Third, they need to be able to continuously update their knowledge and skills in order to keep up with the ever-changing market landscape. ”

An interviewer may ask this question to a technical analyst to gain insights into how the analyst views their skills and experience relative to others in the field. This question can be important in helping the interviewer understand if the analyst is aware of their strengths and weaknesses and how they compare to others. Additionally, this question may help the interviewer understand the analyst's motivation for pursuing a particular opportunity.

Example: “ I believe that my attention to detail and my ability to see the big picture are what sets me apart from other technical analysts. I am able to take data and information and distill it down to its most essential elements, which allows me to see patterns and trends that others may miss. Additionally, I have a strong background in computer science and engineering, which gives me a unique perspective on how technology can be used to solve business problems. ”

There are a few reasons why an interviewer would ask this question to a technical analyst. First, it allows the interviewer to gauge the technical analyst's understanding of the role. Second, it allows the interviewer to assess the technical analyst's ability to articulate the benefits of the role. Finally, it provides the interviewer with an opportunity to learn more about the technical analyst's motivations for pursuing the role.

The benefits of working as a technical analyst can vary depending on the specific industry and company. However, some of the more common benefits include gaining valuable technical skills and knowledge, developing strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, and playing a critical role in helping businesses make informed decisions. Technical analysts typically enjoy challenging work and often have opportunities to advance their careers.

Example: “ There are many benefits to working as a technical analyst. One of the biggest benefits is the ability to work with a variety of people and teams. As a technical analyst, you will be able to work with different departments within a company and understand their needs and requirements. This can be very beneficial in terms of career growth and development. Another big benefit of working as a technical analyst is the ability to learn new technologies and tools. Technical analysts are always keeping up with new trends and technologies in order to be able to provide the best possible solutions to their clients. This can be a great way to stay ahead of the curve and keep your skills sharp. Overall, working as a technical analyst can be a very rewarding experience. It provides you with the opportunity to work with different people and teams, learn new technologies and tools, and stay ahead of the curve. ”

The interviewer is trying to gauge the Technical Analyst's level of satisfaction with their job and see what they perceive as the best part of it. This is important because it can give insight into how the Technical Analyst feels about their work and whether or not they are likely to be satisfied with their current position. If the Technical Analyst is not satisfied with their job, they may be more likely to leave, which would be costly for the company.

Example: “ There are many aspects of my job that I enjoy, but if I had to choose one particular aspect, it would be the challenge of finding creative solutions to difficult problems. I find it very satisfying to be able to take a complex problem and break it down into smaller, more manageable pieces, and then to develop a plan of attack that will ultimately lead to a successful resolution. ”

The interviewer is trying to gauge the technical analyst's level of satisfaction with their job and identify areas where they may need improvement. This question also allows the interviewer to see how the technical analyst perceives their own job and what they think could be improved. By understanding the technical analyst's thoughts on the worst part of their job, the interviewer can get a better sense of how they would approach solving problems and improving their work.

Example: “ There isn't really a "worst" part of my job, but there are certainly some challenges that can be frustrating at times. One of the biggest challenges is trying to keep up with the constant changes in technology. It seems like there's always something new to learn, and it can be tough to stay ahead of the curve. Another challenge is dealing with difficult customers or clients. Sometimes people can be demanding or unreasonable, and it can be tough to keep everyone happy. ”

There are a few reasons why an interviewer might ask this question. First, they want to get a sense of how you view your job and what you see as the most challenging aspects of it. This can help them understand how you approach your work and whether you feel like you're constantly struggling with certain tasks. Additionally, they may be interested in hearing about any specific challenges you've faced in your role and how you've coped with them. Finally, this question can give the interviewer some insight into your self-awareness and ability to reflect on your own performance. Ultimately, they want to see if you're able to identify areas where you could improve and have a plan for addressing them.

Example: “ There are a few aspects of my job that I find challenging. First, keeping up with the latest technology and trends can be difficult. Second, working with clients to understand their needs and requirements can be challenging. Third, managing projects and timelines can be challenging. ”

There are a few reasons why an interviewer would ask this question. First, they want to see if you are happy with your job and if you find it rewarding. This can be important because it can give them insight into how you would feel about working for their company. Secondly, they may be looking for ways to improve the job or make it more rewarding for employees. This is important because it shows that they are interested in making sure their employees are happy and motivated. Finally, they may simply be curious about what you find most rewarding about your job. This is important because it can give them insight into what you value in a job and what motivates you to do your best work.

Example: “ There are many rewarding aspects to being a technical analyst, but I believe the most rewarding is the ability to help businesses solve complex problems and improve their operations. Technical analysts play a vital role in identifying and resolving issues that can impact a company's bottom line, and their work can have a direct and positive impact on a business' success. I find great satisfaction in knowing that my work is helping businesses run more efficiently and effectively, and that ultimately leads to improved profitability and growth. ”

The interviewer is trying to gauge the technical analyst's level of satisfaction with the job, and whether they would recommend it to others. This is important because it can help the interviewer determine whether the technical analyst is likely to stay in the role long-term, and whether they are likely to be a good fit for the company.

Example: “ There are many great things about working as a Technical Analyst. One of the best things is that you get to work with cutting-edge technologies and solve complex problems. You also get to work with a team of highly skilled professionals who are passionate about their work. another great thing about working as a Technical Analyst is that you get to learn new things constantly and keep up with the latest trends in the industry. ”

An interviewer might ask "What do you think is the worst thing about working as a Technical Analyst?" to get a sense of the candidate's self-awareness and ability to reflect on their own work. It is important for candidates to be able to identify areas for improvement in their work so that they can continue to grow and develop in their role. Additionally, this question can give the interviewer insight into the candidate's motivation for seeking a new position. If the candidate is able to identify specific areas of improvement in their current role, it shows that they are proactive and looking for ways to improve their work.

Example: “ There are a few potential drawbacks to working as a technical analyst. First, the job can be extremely demanding and challenging, which can lead to burnout. Second, technical analysts may find themselves working long hours, including evenings and weekends. Finally, technical analysts may have to travel frequently for work, which can be disruptive to their personal lives. ”

There are several reasons why an interviewer might ask this question. First, they may be trying to gauge the level of experience and knowledge the technical analyst has about the job market. Second, they may be trying to get a sense of the technical analyst's motivation for pursuing a career in this field. Finally, the interviewer may be trying to determine whether the technical analyst is truly interested in the challenges of the job market or simply looking for a way to advance their career. Ultimately, it is important for the interviewer to understand the technical analyst's thoughts on the most challenging aspects of the job market so that they can make an informed decision about whether or not to hire them.

Example: “ The most challenging aspect of the job market for Technical Analysts is the competition for jobs. There are many qualified candidates vying for a limited number of positions, so it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd. In addition, employers often have specific requirements that can be difficult to meet, such as experience with a particular software program or knowledge of a certain programming language. ”

There are a few reasons why an interviewer might ask this question. First, they want to know if you have thought about the job market for technical analysts and if you have a good understanding of it. Second, they want to know what you believe are the most rewarding aspects of the job market for technical analysts. This question can help them gauge your interest in the job market and your level of knowledge about it. Finally, they may use your answer to help them decide if you are a good fit for the job market or not.

Example: “ There are many rewarding aspects of the job market for Technical Analysts. One of the most rewarding aspects is the variety of roles that are available to Technical Analysts. There are many different types of Technical Analyst roles, such as business analyst, data analyst, system analyst, and software engineer. This variety allows Technical Analysts to find a role that best suits their skills and interests. Another rewarding aspect of the job market for Technical Analysts is the salary potential. Technical Analysts can earn a very competitive salary, especially if they have experience and specialize in a particular area. Finally, another rewarding aspect of the job market for Technical Analysts is the opportunity to work in a variety of industries. Technical Analysts can work in many different industries, such as healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and retail. This allows them to gain experience in a variety of fields and learn about different businesses. ”

The interviewer is trying to gauge the technical analyst's level of satisfaction with the job in order to determine how likely they are to stay in the role long-term. It is important to gauge employee satisfaction levels because happy employees are more productive and less likely to leave the company.

Example: “ There are many things that make being a technical analyst great, but here are some of our favourites: 1. The technical analyst role is constantly evolving. As new technologies emerge and business needs change, the technical analyst is always learning and growing. This makes for a very dynamic and exciting career. 2. Technical analysts get to work with a wide variety of people and technologies. We get to work with different teams across the company to understand their needs and help them solve complex problems. 3. Technical analysts are often the bridge between business and IT, which means we have a unique perspective on how businesses operate and how technology can be used to support them. This allows us to really add value and make a difference in the organizations we work for. 4. Technical analysts get to use their creativity to come up with innovative solutions to complex problems. We get to think outside the box and come up with creative ways to solve difficult challenges. 5. Technical analysts get to work with cutting-edge technologies and stay up-to-date on the latest trends in the industry. This allows us to be at the forefront of innovation and helps us keep our skills sharp. ”

There are a few reasons why an interviewer might ask this question:

1. To gauge the technical analyst's self-awareness. It's important for technical analysts to be aware of their own weaknesses and areas for improvement, so that they can work on them and become more effective in their role.

2. To see how the technical analyst deals with difficult situations and criticism. Technical analysts will inevitably face challenges and criticism in their work, and it's important to see how they handle it.

3. To get a sense of the technical analyst's priorities. What the technical analyst perceives as the worst thing about their job may reveal what their priorities are, and whether they are aligned with the company's goals.

Example: “ The worst thing about being a Technical Analyst is that you are constantly dealing with complex problems and trying to find solutions to them. This can be very stressful and can sometimes lead to burnout. ”

Related Interview Questions

• Technical Business Analyst
• Technical Support Analyst
• Technical Account Manager
• Technical Sales Engineer
• Technical Sales Manager
• Technical Sales Representative

26 Expert-Backed Problem Solving Examples – Interview Answers

Published: February 13, 2023

Interview Questions and Answers

Actionable advice from real experts:

Biron Clark

Former Recruiter

Contributor

Dr. Kyle Elliott

Career Coach

Hayley Jukes

Editor-in-Chief

Biron Clark , Former Recruiter

Kyle Elliott , Career Coach

Hayley Jukes , Editor

As a recruiter , I know employers like to hire people who can solve problems and work well under pressure.

 A job rarely goes 100% according to plan, so hiring managers are more likely to hire you if you seem like you can handle unexpected challenges while staying calm and logical.

But how do they measure this?

Hiring managers will ask you interview questions about your problem-solving skills, and they might also look for examples of problem-solving on your resume and cover letter. 

In this article, I’m going to share a list of problem-solving examples and sample interview answers to questions like, “Give an example of a time you used logic to solve a problem?” and “Describe a time when you had to solve a problem without managerial input. How did you handle it, and what was the result?”

• Problem-solving involves identifying, prioritizing, analyzing, and solving problems using a variety of skills like critical thinking, creativity, decision making, and communication.
• Describe the Situation, Task, Action, and Result ( STAR method ) when discussing your problem-solving experiences.
• Tailor your interview answer with the specific skills and qualifications outlined in the job description.
• Provide numerical data or metrics to demonstrate the tangible impact of your problem-solving efforts.

What are Problem Solving Skills? 

Problem-solving is the ability to identify a problem, prioritize based on gravity and urgency, analyze the root cause, gather relevant information, develop and evaluate viable solutions, decide on the most effective and logical solution, and plan and execute implementation. 

Problem-solving encompasses other skills that can be showcased in an interview response and your resume. Problem-solving skills examples include:

• Critical thinking
• Analytical skills
• Decision making
• Research skills
• Technical skills
• Communication skills
• Adaptability and flexibility

Why is Problem Solving Important in the Workplace?

Problem-solving is essential in the workplace because it directly impacts productivity and efficiency. Whenever you encounter a problem, tackling it head-on prevents minor issues from escalating into bigger ones that could disrupt the entire workflow. 

Beyond maintaining smooth operations, your ability to solve problems fosters innovation. It encourages you to think creatively, finding better ways to achieve goals, which keeps the business competitive and pushes the boundaries of what you can achieve. 

Effective problem-solving also contributes to a healthier work environment; it reduces stress by providing clear strategies for overcoming obstacles and builds confidence within teams. 

Examples of Problem-Solving in the Workplace

• Correcting a mistake at work, whether it was made by you or someone else
• Overcoming a delay at work through problem solving and communication
• Resolving an issue with a difficult or upset customer
• Overcoming issues related to a limited budget, and still delivering good work through the use of creative problem solving
• Overcoming a scheduling/staffing shortage in the department to still deliver excellent work
• Troubleshooting and resolving technical issues
• Handling and resolving a conflict with a coworker
• Solving any problems related to money, customer billing, accounting and bookkeeping, etc.
• Taking initiative when another team member overlooked or missed something important
• Taking initiative to meet with your superior to discuss a problem before it became potentially worse
• Solving a safety issue at work or reporting the issue to those who could solve it
• Using problem solving abilities to reduce/eliminate a company expense
• Finding a way to make the company more profitable through new service or product offerings, new pricing ideas, promotion and sale ideas, etc.
• Changing how a process, team, or task is organized to make it more efficient
• Using creative thinking to come up with a solution that the company hasn’t used before
• Performing research to collect data and information to find a new solution to a problem
• Boosting a company or team’s performance by improving some aspect of communication among employees
• Finding a new piece of data that can guide a company’s decisions or strategy better in a certain area

Problem-Solving Examples for Recent Grads/Entry-Level Job Seekers

• Coordinating work between team members in a class project
• Reassigning a missing team member’s work to other group members in a class project
• Adjusting your workflow on a project to accommodate a tight deadline
• Speaking to your professor to get help when you were struggling or unsure about a project
• Asking classmates, peers, or professors for help in an area of struggle
• Talking to your academic advisor to brainstorm solutions to a problem you were facing
• Researching solutions to an academic problem online, via Google or other methods
• Using problem solving and creative thinking to obtain an internship or other work opportunity during school after struggling at first

How To Answer “Tell Us About a Problem You Solved”

When you answer interview questions about problem-solving scenarios, or if you decide to demonstrate your problem-solving skills in a cover letter (which is a good idea any time the job description mentions problem-solving as a necessary skill), I recommend using the STAR method.

STAR stands for:

It’s a simple way of walking the listener or reader through the story in a way that will make sense to them. 

Start by briefly describing the general situation and the task at hand. After this, describe the course of action you chose and why. Ideally, show that you evaluated all the information you could given the time you had, and made a decision based on logic and fact. Finally, describe the positive result you achieved.

Note: Our sample answers below are structured following the STAR formula. Be sure to check them out!

EXPERT ADVICE

Dr. Kyle Elliott , MPA, CHES Tech & Interview Career Coach caffeinatedkyle.com

How can I communicate complex problem-solving experiences clearly and succinctly?

Before answering any interview question, it’s important to understand why the interviewer is asking the question in the first place.

When it comes to questions about your complex problem-solving experiences, for example, the interviewer likely wants to know about your leadership acumen, collaboration abilities, and communication skills, not the problem itself.

Therefore, your answer should be focused on highlighting how you excelled in each of these areas, not diving into the weeds of the problem itself, which is a common mistake less-experienced interviewees often make.

Tailoring Your Answer Based on the Skills Mentioned in the Job Description

As a recruiter, one of the top tips I can give you when responding to the prompt “Tell us about a problem you solved,” is to tailor your answer to the specific skills and qualifications outlined in the job description. 

Once you’ve pinpointed the skills and key competencies the employer is seeking, craft your response to highlight experiences where you successfully utilized or developed those particular abilities. 

For instance, if the job requires strong leadership skills, focus on a problem-solving scenario where you took charge and effectively guided a team toward resolution. 

By aligning your answer with the desired skills outlined in the job description, you demonstrate your suitability for the role and show the employer that you understand their needs.

Amanda Augustine expands on this by saying:

“Showcase the specific skills you used to solve the problem. Did it require critical thinking, analytical abilities, or strong collaboration? Highlight the relevant skills the employer is seeking.”  

Interview Answers to “Tell Me About a Time You Solved a Problem”

Now, let’s look at some sample interview answers to, “Give me an example of a time you used logic to solve a problem,” or “Tell me about a time you solved a problem,” since you’re likely to hear different versions of this interview question in all sorts of industries.

The example interview responses are structured using the STAR method and are categorized into the top 5 key problem-solving skills recruiters look for in a candidate.

1. Analytical Thinking

Situation: In my previous role as a data analyst , our team encountered a significant drop in website traffic.

Task: I was tasked with identifying the root cause of the decrease.

Action: I conducted a thorough analysis of website metrics, including traffic sources, user demographics, and page performance. Through my analysis, I discovered a technical issue with our website’s loading speed, causing users to bounce. 

Result: By optimizing server response time, compressing images, and minimizing redirects, we saw a 20% increase in traffic within two weeks.

2. Critical Thinking

Situation: During a project deadline crunch, our team encountered a major technical issue that threatened to derail our progress.

Task: My task was to assess the situation and devise a solution quickly.

Action: I immediately convened a meeting with the team to brainstorm potential solutions. Instead of panicking, I encouraged everyone to think outside the box and consider unconventional approaches. We analyzed the problem from different angles and weighed the pros and cons of each solution.

Result: By devising a workaround solution, we were able to meet the project deadline, avoiding potential delays that could have cost the company $100,000 in penalties for missing contractual obligations.

3. Decision Making

Situation: As a project manager , I was faced with a dilemma when two key team members had conflicting opinions on the project direction.

Task: My task was to make a decisive choice that would align with the project goals and maintain team cohesion.

Action: I scheduled a meeting with both team members to understand their perspectives in detail. I listened actively, asked probing questions, and encouraged open dialogue. After carefully weighing the pros and cons of each approach, I made a decision that incorporated elements from both viewpoints.

Result: The decision I made not only resolved the immediate conflict but also led to a stronger sense of collaboration within the team. By valuing input from all team members and making a well-informed decision, we were able to achieve our project objectives efficiently.

4. Communication (Teamwork)

Situation: During a cross-functional project, miscommunication between departments was causing delays and misunderstandings.

Task: My task was to improve communication channels and foster better teamwork among team members.

Action: I initiated regular cross-departmental meetings to ensure that everyone was on the same page regarding project goals and timelines. I also implemented a centralized communication platform where team members could share updates, ask questions, and collaborate more effectively.

Result: Streamlining workflows and improving communication channels led to a 30% reduction in project completion time, saving the company $25,000 in operational costs.

5. Persistence 

Situation: During a challenging sales quarter, I encountered numerous rejections and setbacks while trying to close a major client deal.

Task: My task was to persistently pursue the client and overcome obstacles to secure the deal.

Action: I maintained regular communication with the client, addressing their concerns and demonstrating the value proposition of our product. Despite facing multiple rejections, I remained persistent and resilient, adjusting my approach based on feedback and market dynamics.

Result: After months of perseverance, I successfully closed the deal with the client. By closing the major client deal, I exceeded quarterly sales targets by 25%, resulting in a revenue increase of $250,000 for the company.

Tips to Improve Your Problem-Solving Skills

Throughout your career, being able to showcase and effectively communicate your problem-solving skills gives you more leverage in achieving better jobs and earning more money .

So to improve your problem-solving skills, I recommend always analyzing a problem and situation before acting.

 When discussing problem-solving with employers, you never want to sound like you rush or make impulsive decisions. They want to see fact-based or data-based decisions when you solve problems.

Don’t just say you’re good at solving problems. Show it with specifics. How much did you boost efficiency? Did you save the company money? Adding numbers can really make your achievements stand out.

To get better at solving problems, analyze the outcomes of past solutions you came up with. You can recognize what works and what doesn’t.

Think about how you can improve researching and analyzing a situation, how you can get better at communicating, and deciding on the right people in the organization to talk to and “pull in” to help you if needed, etc.

Finally, practice staying calm even in stressful situations. Take a few minutes to walk outside if needed. Step away from your phone and computer to clear your head. A work problem is rarely so urgent that you cannot take five minutes to think (with the possible exception of safety problems), and you’ll get better outcomes if you solve problems by acting logically instead of rushing to react in a panic.

You can use all of the ideas above to describe your problem-solving skills when asked interview questions about the topic. If you say that you do the things above, employers will be impressed when they assess your problem-solving ability.

More Interview Resources

• 3 Answers to “How Do You Handle Stress?”
• How to Answer “How Do You Handle Conflict?” (Interview Question)
• Sample Answers to “Tell Me About a Time You Failed”

About the Author

Biron Clark is a former executive recruiter who has worked individually with hundreds of job seekers, reviewed thousands of resumes and LinkedIn profiles, and recruited for top venture-backed startups and Fortune 500 companies. He has been advising job seekers since 2012 to think differently in their job search and land high-paying, competitive positions. Follow on Twitter and LinkedIn .

Read more articles by Biron Clark

About the Contributor

Kyle Elliott , career coach and mental health advocate, transforms his side hustle into a notable practice, aiding Silicon Valley professionals in maximizing potential. Follow Kyle on LinkedIn .

About the Editor

Hayley Jukes is the Editor-in-Chief at CareerSidekick with five years of experience creating engaging articles, books, and transcripts for diverse platforms and audiences.

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The Top 10 Electrical Interview Questions and How to Ace Them

Finding the right expert with in-depth knowledge of electricity and circuits for your business isn’t easy. Do they know the difference between a series and a parallel circuit? Have they worked with AC circuits before?

There are, however, two main ways to tell if their skills are enough for the job you want to fill:

Below, we’ve provided 73 interview questions to help you prepare for interviewing your candidates. All the questions you need are here – along with some sample answers to review applicants’ responses.

Interviewing for an electrical position? You can expect to face a range of technical and behavioral questions that explore your electrical knowledge and hands-on skills. With competition high for electrician and engineering roles, how you perform at the interview can make or break your chances.

This comprehensive guide unpacks the 10 most common electrical interview questions, providing tips and examples to help you craft winning responses. Read on to learn expert strategies for dazzling recruiters and landing the job.

1. What experience do you have with electrical systems and equipment?

This fundamental question gauges your overall electrical background and hands-on experience. The interviewer is looking to understand:

The specific types of electrical systems you have worked on – highlight experience with systems relevant to the role like lighting generators, transformers, industrial control systems etc. Quantify your experience in years.

Your exposure to electrical tools and equipment – emphasize proficiency with essential tools like multimeters, clamp meters, thermal imaging cameras, cable testers, etc.

The settings where you’ve acquired experience – e.g. construction sites, industrial facilities, commercial buildings.

The scope and complexity of electrical projects you’ve handled.

A strong response will demonstrate a robust background with electrical systems and showcase your versatility working across various sites and project scales

Example: “I have over 8 years of experience working with electrical systems encompassing lighting, power distribution, motor control, and backup power generation across industrial, commercial, and residential settings. My expertise includes medium and low voltage systems up to 35kV. I am highly proficient with a diverse range of electrical tools including digital multimeters, clamp meters, insulation resistance testers, and thermal imagers, having used them extensively for installation, troubleshooting, and preventive maintenance on projects ranging from lighting retrofits in warehouses to MCC replacements and generator installations in manufacturing plants.”

2. How do you ensure a safe working environment when performing electrical work?

Safe working practices are paramount when dealing with electricity. With this question, the interviewer seeks to understand:

Your knowledge of key electrical safety protocols and procedures. Emphasize critical measures like use of PPE, lockout/tagout, hazard identification, etc.

Your discipline in adhering to safety guidelines. Share examples that demonstrate vigilance even under pressure.

Your attitude and record toward safety. A proven zero-accident track record conveys your commitment.

How you proactively identify hazards and control risks on the job.

Highlight recent safety training and your adherence to codes like NFPA 70E. Ultimately, your response should instill confidence that safety is an utmost priority for you.

Example: “To ensure safe working conditions, I rigorously follow electrical safety protocols like wearing appropriate PPE, isolating circuits before work, observing minimum approach distances, and eliminating ignition sources in hazardous areas. I also perform hazard assessments before starting work to identify risks and implement controls like barricading work areas, use of arc flash boundary markers, and posting safety observers. I actively participate in monthly toolbox talks and job safety analyses to reinforce a culture of safety-first. My training is up to date including NFPA 70E, and I have an impeccable safety record with zero accidents over my 8-year career. Safety is an unwavering priority for me.”

3. How do you troubleshoot complex electrical issues? Walk me through your process.

This behavioral question allows you to demonstrate your systematic approach to diagnosing and fixing electrical problems. Convey the following:

Strong problem-solving skills – emphasize gathering symptoms, replicating issues, and isolating root causes.

Technical expertise – highlight using the right tools and tests at each step.

Methodical workflows – outline step-by-step processes tailored to different issue types.

Collaborative abilities – involve teammates, end users, vendors as needed.

Continuous improvement – implement fixes that reduce recurrence and downtime.

Provide a specific example that illustrates your structured troubleshooting process and creative problem-solving skills in action.

Example: “When troubleshooting complex electrical issues, I use a rigorous 5-step process tailored to the specific problem:

Gather information – Consult documentation and end users to understand symptoms and patterns.

Replicate issue – Personally observe issue, recreate it if intermittent.

Isolate – Segment system and use testing tools to narrow down root cause.

Implement fix – Apply applicable codes and best practices in implementing repair.

Report and improve – Document fix for records and recommend improvements to prevent recurrence.

For example, when investigating intermittent motor failures, I gathered trend data to identify overheating patterns. By replicating loads and using thermal imaging, I isolated the issue to undersized cabling. After replacing the cables per code, I recommended adding temperature sensors for preventive monitoring. This systematic process ensures comprehensive solutions.”

4. How would you explain a technical electrical concept to someone without an electrical background?

This question tests your grasp of technical concepts and ability to explain them in simple, engaging ways. To shine:

Select a suitable concept that relates to the role – e.g. 3-phase power, circuit protection, motor controls, etc.

Explain the concept at a high level first in plain terms.

Use relatable analogies and visuals to simplify complex details.

Gauge the listener’s comprehension and adjust your approach as needed.

Welcome and answer questions to reinforce understanding.

Highlight the relevance of the concept to the listener’s context.

Ultimately, you want to showcase your mastery of the subject matter and your patience and skill in educating non-experts.

Example: “If asked to explain a technical concept to a non-electrical person, I would choose 3-phase power as it’s a key foundation yet commonly misunderstood. I would first explain that it’s a type of power with 3 energized wires that can efficiently run heavy equipment versus standard single-phase power in homes.

To simplify how the phases interact, I would draw a 3-cylinder engine analogy, comparing each phase to the pistons’ cyclic motion. I would use everyday examples like observing traffic lights to explain phase sequence and why it matters. If they seem engaged, I would get into more technical details, but only as relevant to their context. My goal would be a high-level yet visually engaging overview that demystifies the key principles of 3-phase power.”

5. How do you prioritize tasks when multiple urgent issues arise?

Electrical professionals often juggle competing urgent issues. This question reveals your:

Composure under pressure – stay focused when overwhelmed.

Analytical skills – quickly assess severity and risks.

Decision-making – use sound criteria to prioritize.

Multi-tasking abilities – handle concurrent issues efficiently.

Communication skills – inform stakeholders of priorities.

Provide a case where you demonstrated these abilities by prioritizing competing emergencies. Emphasize risk mitigation, time and resource allocation, stakeholder updates, and outcomes.

Example: “When multiple urgent issues arise, I pause, evaluate the risks of each, and assign priority using criteria like safety impact, potential for downtime, and resource needs. For instance, when a facility lost partial power just as we discovered a major MCC issue, I categorized restoring partial power as the top priority given immediate safety concerns. Simultaneously, I gathered resources to begin assessing the MCC while keeping the facility manager updated at every step. This enabled stabilizing the urgent situation while still making progress on the MCC repairs. My ability to rapidly weigh risks, allocate resources dynamically, and keep stakeholders informed allows me to handle concurrent emergencies efficiently.”

6. Describe a time you made a mistake on an electrical job. How did you handle it?

This question probes your accountability, attitude toward errors, and learning mindset. A strong answer will demonstrate:

Owning the mistake – avoid shifting blame or downplaying it.

Focused problem-solving – quickly corrected and contained the impact.

Earnest learning – sought feedback to improve personally.

Communication – informed supervisor and affected parties transparently.

Process improvement – implemented lessons learned to prevent recurrence.

Showcase your genuine commitment to safety, transparency, and excellence despite errors.

Example: “In one instance, I mistakenly installed an incorrect control fuse resulting in a motor overload. As soon as I detected the issue, I powered down, replaced the fuse, inspected for damage, and restarted the motor. I immediately informed my supervisor and the production department of the 20-minute downtime. During the post-event review, I took accountability for overlooking the fuse specs and worked with my team to implement an additional QA check in our procedures. I learned the importance of thoroughly validating components before installation. Though mistakes happen, I take responsibility for errors and focus energy on correcting them safely and learning from the experience.”

7. How do you ensure your electrical knowledge and skills remain up to date?

The rapid rate of change within electrical technology and codes necessitates ongoing learning. Interviewers want to understand:

Breadth of knowledge – pursuing education across technical and functional areas.

Commitment to learning – dedicating time and budget to continued growth.

Application of knowledge – integrating new skills and solutions into your work

How would your coworkers rate your problem-solving skills?

Because electrical engineers need to be able to solve problems, ask applicants this question during the interview to see if their skills meet your needs.

Applicants should be able to give an example of a time when they solved a problem to complete a task, like when they fixed an electrical problem. Consider our Problem-Solving skills test if you need to review applicants’ problem-solving skills in more depth.

Explain what capacitance means

Do the people you’re interviewing know that capacitance means the charge in a capacitor? They may also know that this word can also mean the way a system stores electrical charges and that the capital letter C stands for capacitance.

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER Interview Questions & Answers! (Electrician Interview Tips and Answers!)

How to crack an electrical engineer interview?

What questions do electrical engineers ask in an interview?

Here are five situational interview questions for electrical engineers, along with their sample answers. Use them to gauge your applicants’ responses and see who has the skills you need. 1. How would your coworkers rate your problem-solving skills?

How do you answer a technical question in an electrical engineering interview?

Objective: This question is especially important in electrical engineering interviews. It gives you the chance to show your passion for electrical engineering and highlight your technical know-how. How to answer: Use the job’s technical requirements to speak to your experience in that subfield.

What is an electrical engineer interview?

Interviewing is a way for candidates to share more about their qualifications and skill set, personality, interests and motivation. An interview for electrical engineers often includes technical questions to measure your knowledge of the field, basic background questions and behavioral questions to learn how you might react in certain situations.

How do you answer electrical engineering questions?

How to answer: The best answer will showcase your passion for electrical engineering, which can often be more valuable to interviewers than knowing the solution to technical questions. Avoid answers such as, “I knew engineers made good money” or “My parents wanted me to study it.”

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Cars24 Interview Experience For SDE 2

After accumulating 2.9 years of experience in software development, I had the opportunity to interview for the SDE 2 position at Cars24. My journey through the interview process was thorough and rewarding, culminating in a successful outcome. This article aims to break down my experience into key sections, offering insights, tips, and reflections on each stage of the process.

The Interview Stages:

Technical round 1: problem-solving and coding.

Format: Online coding test

Duration: 1 hour

• Two algorithmic problems focused on data structures such as arrays, linked lists, and trees.
• Emphasis on optimal solutions and coding efficiency.
• Preparation should include practising problems from platforms like LeetCode and HackerRank.
• Time management is crucial; prioritize easier problems before tackling the harder ones.

Technical Round 2: System Design

Format : Virtual face-to-face

Duration : 1 hour

• Design a scalable system, often related to real-world applications (e.g., designing a URL shortener).
• Discuss trade-offs, scalability, and system components such as databases, caches, and load balancers.
• Understanding of high-level system architecture and the ability to break down complex systems.
• Communication skills to articulate design decisions and thought processes.

Technical Round 3: Advanced Coding and Problem-Solving

Format: Virtual face-to-face

• Advanced algorithmic problems, often with a focus on dynamic programming, graph algorithms, or complex data structures.
• Real-time coding on an online compiler with a focus on writing clean and efficient code.
• Proficiency in advanced algorithms and understanding their time and space complexities.
• Ability to debug and optimize code on the fly.

Hiring Manager Round: Behavioral and Technical Assessment

• Combination of behavioural questions and technical discussions.
• Topics include past project experiences, challenges faced, and problem-solving approaches.
• Clear communication of past experiences and learnings.
• Ability to align your skills and experiences with the company’s goals and culture.

Outcome and Reflections:

After successfully navigating all four rounds of the interview, I was informed that my offer status was on hold. This situation persisted for over 20 days after the result declaration. This uncertainty is an important aspect to consider for future candidates. While my technical and behavioural performance was strong, the delayed offer status highlights the need to keep multiple options open and not rely solely on a single company.

Tips for Future Candidates:

• Be prepared for potential delays and uncertainties in the hiring process.
• Always have backup options to avoid putting all your eggs in one basket.
• Use the interview experience as a learning opportunity to refine your skills and interview strategies.

Securing an SDE 2 position at Cars24 was a rigorous yet rewarding journey. Each interview stage tested different aspects of my technical and behavioural skills, ultimately leading to a successful outcome. Despite the hold on my offer status, the experience was invaluable, providing key insights and areas for growth. Future candidates should remain vigilant, keep multiple options open, and view each interview as a stepping stone towards their career goals.

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• Write It Up 2024
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Improve your Coding Skills with Practice

What kind of Experience do you want to share?

600+ Computer Science Interview Questions Practice Test

• Post published: 28 May, 2024
• Post category: StudyBullet-18
• Reading time: 9 mins read

What you will learn

Mastery of Key Computer Science Concepts

Enhanced problem-solving skills, confidence in technical interviews, up-to-date knowledge of industry practices.

Why take this course?

Computer Science Interview Questions and Answers Preparation Practice Test | Freshers to Experienced

Master Computer Science Interview Questions with Comprehensive Practice Tests

Are you preparing for a computer science interview? Whether you are aiming for a role at a top tech company or simply seeking to improve your technical interview skills, our Udemy course, “Master Computer Science Interview Questions with Comprehensive Practice Tests,” is designed to provide you with the most thorough preparation. This course covers essential topics across six core sections, each with detailed subtopics, to ensure you are fully equipped to tackle any question that comes your way. Interview questions and practice tests are our primary focus, ensuring you gain confidence and competence through extensive practice.

Why Enroll in This Course?

In the fast-paced world of technology, staying ahead of the competition requires not only theoretical knowledge but also practical problem-solving skills. Our course offers:

• In-depth practice tests : Overcome interview anxiety by practicing with questions similar to those you will encounter in real interviews.
• Comprehensive coverage : Each section is meticulously curated to cover the most important and frequently asked topics in computer science interviews.
• Detailed explanations : Understand the reasoning behind each answer with thorough explanations.
• Regular updates : Stay current with the latest trends and technologies in computer science interviews.

Course Structure

Our course is divided into six major sections, each encompassing six crucial subtopics. Here’s an overview:

1. Data Structures and Algorithms

• Arrays and Strings : Learn to manipulate arrays and strings, which form the basis of many interview questions.
• Linked Lists : Understand the implementation and usage of various types of linked lists.
• Stacks and Queues : Master these fundamental data structures and their applications.
• Trees and Graphs : Explore complex data structures and their algorithms, such as binary trees and graph traversals.
• Sorting and Searching : Dive into algorithms that are essential for efficient data processing.
• Dynamic Programming : Solve problems using this powerful algorithmic paradigm.

2. Operating Systems

• Processes and Threads : Differentiate between processes and threads, and understand their management.
• Memory Management : Learn about memory allocation, paging, and segmentation.
• File Systems : Understand how data is stored and managed in file systems.
• Synchronization and Deadlocks : Explore techniques to handle concurrency and avoid deadlocks.
• CPU Scheduling : Discover various scheduling algorithms and their efficiency.
• Virtualization and Containers : Understand the concepts behind virtualization and containerization technologies.

3. Database Systems

• Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS) : Grasp the fundamentals of RDBMS and SQL.
• SQL Queries : Practice writing and optimizing SQL queries.
• Indexing and Query Optimization : Learn techniques to speed up data retrieval.
• NoSQL Databases : Explore the world of non-relational databases and their applications.
• ACID Properties : Understand the principles that ensure reliable database transactions.
• Database Normalization : Learn to design efficient database schemas.

4. Networking

• OSI Model : Understand the layers of the OSI model and their functions.
• TCP/IP Protocol Suite : Learn about the protocols that make up the Internet.
• Routing and Switching : Explore how data is transmitted across networks.
• Network Security : Understand the measures to protect data integrity and privacy.
• Wireless Networking : Learn about wireless communication technologies.
• Network Protocols (HTTP, FTP, DNS, etc.) : Dive into the protocols that support the Internet.

5. Software Engineering

• Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) : Master the principles of OOP and design patterns.
• Design Patterns : Learn common solutions to recurring design problems.
• Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) : Understand the phases of software development.
• Testing and Debugging : Explore various testing methodologies and debugging techniques.
• Agile Methodologies : Learn about Agile practices and their benefits.
• Version Control Systems (e.g., Git) : Master the use of version control for managing code.

6. Web Development

• HTML/CSS : Learn the basics of web design and development.
• JavaScript : Understand the core concepts of JavaScript, the language of the web.
• Server-Side Scripting (e.g., Node.js, Django) : Explore server-side technologies for web development.
• Web Frameworks (e.g., React, Angular) : Dive into modern web frameworks for building dynamic applications.
• RESTful APIs : Learn to design and consume RESTful web services.
• Security Best Practices for Web Applications : Understand the importance of web security and how to implement it.

Sample Practice Test Questions

To give you a taste of what our course offers, here are five sample practice test questions with detailed explanations. These questions cover various topics from the six sections.

Sample Question 1: Data Structures and Algorithms

Question: What is the time complexity of accessing an element in an unsorted array?

a) O(1) b) O(log n) c) O(n) d) O(n log n)

Answer: a) O(1)

Explanation: Accessing an element in an array by its index takes constant time, O(1). This is because arrays provide direct access to their elements using the index, which translates to a simple arithmetic operation involving the base address and the index. Regardless of the size of the array, this operation’s complexity remains constant.

Sample Question 2: Operating Systems

Question: Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a good CPU scheduling algorithm?

a) Maximizing CPU utilization b) Minimizing response time c) Ensuring all processes are treated equally regardless of priority d) Maximizing throughput

Answer: c) Ensuring all processes are treated equally regardless of priority

Explanation: A good CPU scheduling algorithm aims to maximize CPU utilization, minimize response time, and maximize throughput. However, treating all processes equally regardless of priority is not a characteristic of a good scheduling algorithm. Prioritizing certain processes (e.g., real-time processes) is essential to ensure that critical tasks are completed in a timely manner, which is a key aspect of effective CPU scheduling.

Sample Question 3: Database Systems

Question: In a relational database, which operation is used to combine rows from two or more tables based on a related column?

a) SELECT b) JOIN c) INSERT d) UPDATE

Answer: b) JOIN

Explanation: The JOIN operation is used in relational databases to combine rows from two or more tables based on a related column between them. There are several types of JOIN operations (e.g., INNER JOIN, LEFT JOIN, RIGHT JOIN, FULL JOIN) that define how the tables are related and how the rows are combined. This operation is fundamental for querying and manipulating relational data efficiently.

Sample Question 4: Networking

Question: Which layer of the OSI model is responsible for end-to-end communication and error-free delivery of data?

a) Physical Layer b) Data Link Layer c) Transport Layer d) Application Layer

Answer: c) Transport Layer

Explanation: The Transport Layer (Layer 4) of the OSI model is responsible for end-to-end communication and ensuring the error-free delivery of data between hosts. This layer manages data flow control, error checking, and recovery, and provides services such as connection establishment, maintenance, and termination. Protocols like TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) operate at this layer to provide reliable data transfer.

Sample Question 5: Software Engineering

Question: Which design pattern is used to provide a simplified interface to a large body of code, such as a class library?

a) Singleton b) Factory Method c) Adapter d) Facade

Answer: d) Facade

Explanation: The Facade design pattern is used to provide a simplified interface to a complex system or a large body of code, such as a class library. It offers a high-level interface that makes the subsystem easier to use by hiding the complexities of the underlying code. This pattern is particularly useful when a system is complex or when there are many interdependent classes that are difficult to understand and work with directly.

Enroll Today

Our course is perfect for anyone looking to excel in computer science interviews. Whether you are a student, a recent graduate, or a professional looking to switch careers or advance in your current role, this course will provide you with the necessary tools and knowledge to succeed. Practice tests and interview questions are integral to mastering the skills needed to impress in technical interviews.

Enroll now and take the first step towards acing your computer science interviews! With comprehensive practice tests and detailed explanations, you’ll be well-prepared to tackle any challenge that comes your way.

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