Technical interviews
This document provides technical interview tips for both interviewers and interviewees. It recommends doing research on the company and role before an interview to understand their technologies, products, responsibilities, culture and values. It also suggests preparing by refreshing fundamental knowledge, practicing sample questions out loud, thinking of relevant experiences to share, understanding code and being able to explain it. Additionally, it recommends practicing whiteboarding, asking clarifying questions, showing your thought process even if you don't know an answer, talking about past achievements and sharing what excites you about technology. The document concludes by recommending building an online portfolio to showcase skills beyond just the interview.
Technical interviews
- 1. TECHNICAL INTERVIEW TIPS LESSONS LEARNT AS AN INTERVIEWER AND INTERVIEWEE HEATHER CAMPBELL @HCampbell07
- 2. READ THE JOB DESCRIPTION & RESEARCH WHAT THE COMPANY DOES • Technologies • Products • Responsibilities • Type of Work • Culture/Values …. Then target you prep around these
- 3. KNOW YOUR FUNDAMENTALS • Interviews often kick-off with these • Refresh your understanding • Make sure you can clearly explain them
- 4. PREP ANSWERS & PRACTICE SAYING THEM • Make use of sample questions online • Think about your best answer • Practice saying out loud – helps it stick • Helps warmup brain for answering questions
- 5. THINK ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE YOU WANT TO SHARE • How can you tie them in to answers • Thinking about them before hand makes them easier to recall in interview • Common to ask questions about previous experiences
- 6. KNOW WHY YOU USE/DO SOMETHING • Next level of understanding beyond fundamentals • Positives and Negatives – The tradeoffs • The alternatives • Personal experience
- 7. KNOW WHAT GOOD CODE LOOKS LIKE • Tell me what is wrong with this piece of code/how it could be improved • Code review checklist • Functional and format • Talk through – give yourself time to think
- 8. PRACTICE EXPLAINING USING A WHITEBOARD • Problem solving/explaining solution • Experience doing so comfortable • Often takes several goes to find right point to start • Talk out loud as you practice • In interview demonstrate willing to get up and explain • Being able to communicate thought process/concept/solution is key
- 9. GRAND TO ASK QUESTIONS/SEEK CLARIFICATION • Shows you are thinking • Gives you time to think • Helps you answer the right thing
- 10. DON’T BLUFF BUT DO SHOW THOUGHT PROCESS • Only put on your CV what you are willing to be asked questions on • If you don’t know an answer don’t make it up • Do try to think through it • Articulate out loud your thought process as you work through it • The end answer is not everything the ability to work through a new problem is an important skill
- 11. USE YOUR EXPERIENCE EVEN IF IT IS IN A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE • Use experience in a similar language/product/situation to describe how you might approach something • Illustrates experience and shows ability to apply it to new situations
- 12. TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE DONE • Own what you have done • As part of your prep think of you achievements • How have you made your project/team better • What have you delivered
- 13. SHARE WHAT EXCITES YOU • I always ask about the person interviewed has last read/listened to • Share the parts of technology which interest you • Demonstrate willing to learn
- 14. BUILD YOUR ONLINE PORTFOLIO • Like coursework… means it is not all on final exam (interview) • Great if you have time for projects/open source • Blogging/medium • Twitter • Have an opinion and share it