Many coding professionals want to work for a big tech organization. However, most of them get stuck only because interviews for software engineering and programming positions are very different from other job roles. The technical coding interview process involves a series of tasks you might need to complete to get your dream tech job.
If you are an aspiring developer and clearing coding interviews is a source of anxiety and stress for you, do not fear! In this guide, we are going to discuss the best practices and coding interview tips you need to know to ace your next coding interview test. So, let us dive right in!
How to prepare for coding test?
Technical interviews are very daunting, especially if it is your first one and you do not know what to expect. Besides coding skills, you must have good problem-solving and communication skills.
And guess what? With the right preparation and coding interview tips, you can easily clear many coding interviews at some of the best tech companies like Google, Microsoft, Facebook, etc. Here are best practices and tips you must remember before you appear for your next coding interview test:
Understand the interview format
Understanding the typical coding interview format is essential before diving into your coding interview preparation. Generally, programming interviews include technical questions, problem-solving exercises and sometimes a coding problem or a whiteboard session.
Moreover, you might face behavioral or situational questions. Knowing the coding interview test format will help you tailor your preparation and focus on the relevant skills and knowledge needed to ace the interview.
Strengthen your data structures and algorithms and practice for coding interview
You might already know that data structures and algorithms are essential basics in computer science that form the core of coding interviews. Therefore, you must devote significant time to reviewing and practicing common data structures, including arrays, stacks, graphs, linked lists and queues.
In addition, consider developing a solid grasp of essential algorithms such as sorting, travel traversal and searching. You can rely on online coding platforms and the best coding interview prep sites to enhance your skills. Since the main issue that arises is the amount of time it takes to learn them, planning and coding interview practice are key.
Solving coding problems daily is another crucial part of interview preparation that can help you enhance your problem-solving skills and ability to write efficient code. Start by solving easy problems and gradually progress to more complex ones. Remember, do so under timed conditions, as it will simulate the pressure of a real interview.
Master system design principles
Do not forget that many programming interviews may include a system design component to assess your ability to create scalable and efficient architectures. Therefore, you must know fundamental system design principles like scalability, performance, modularity and fault tolerance.
Learn about common system design patterns and how to design complex architecture for different scenarios. In addition, keep up with the latest industry trends and best practices regarding distributed systems, microservices and cloud computing.
Practice mock interviews
Practicing mock interviews is the best way to prepare for coding interview, imitate the interviewing process and receive constructive feedback. Practice for coding interview with your friends, experienced professionals or colleagues and better prepare yourself for the real interview.
Choose interviewers who can provide you with valuable insights about your performance and, at the same time, offer recommendations and suggestions for your skill enhancement and improvement. In addition to technical aspects, emphasize effective communication and problem-solving abilities. Take note of all your weaknesses and problem areas and focus on improving those areas to enhance your overall performance.
Research the company and role
To ace the coding interview, it is crucial to research the company thoroughly. This includes researching its values, services/products, recent news and work culture. This knowledge will help you tailor your responses to align with the specific needs of the company and demonstrate how your skills and experience are the right fit.
In addition, predict potential interview questions related to the job position and prepare relevant examples that showcase your accomplishments, experience and skills. This preparation will help you effectively highlight how you meet the company’s requirements.
Start clarifying questions
Do not rush into solving the problem given to you without asking questions first. This mistake is a red flag for interviews. Ask some clarifying questions even if you are confident that you have understood the problem. That is because most technical coding interview are intentionally cryptic and interviewers do not provide all the necessary information directly.
Stay calm and confident
Lastly, do not lose your calm and lower your confidence throughout the technical interviewing process. That is because nervousness cannot only affect your performance but can reduce your chances of getting hired. Therefore, it is essential to be calm and have a positive attitude. Trust your preparation and have confidence in your knowledge and skills.
Also Read: Tips to Help You Ace Your Next Panel Interview
Conclusion
Landing a software engineering job requires you to clear several interviews, including behavioral and system design. But at the end of the day, your coding skills are the main thing that matters. Simply put, your coding proficiency will help employers determine whether you are the right fit for the role.
And with enough coding interview practice, coding interviews will become less intimidating and challenging. You only need to remember the best practices and tips for coding interviews discussed in this blog and then, you are good to go and ace the technical interview!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1- What is a coding interview?
Ans. A coding interview, also called a software interview, a technical interview or a programming interview, is an interview that assesses the creativity, logical reasoning, communication skills, problem-solving skills and technical abilities of candidates for software development roles.
This technical-based job interviewing process demands candidates to solve programming problems in real time. Coding interviews are typically conducted in-person or online and generally last 30 to 45 minutes.
Q2- How does the coding interview process work?
Ans. In a technical coding interview, the interviewer poses a problem and asks the interviewee to write code to solve the problem in real-time either in a collaborative editor or on a whiteboard. The interviewer usually gives 30-45 minutes to the candidate for the same.
In addition, the interviewer may also ask some additional technical questions to evaluate the problem-solving skills, creativity and coding skills of the candidate.
Q3- Which language is best for coding interviews?
Ans. C, C++, Python and Java are the best programming languages for coding interviews.
