For aspiring computer engineers and recent graduates who are new to the coding interview process, it can be an intimidating experience. Depending on the company, a coding interview can require a thorough knowledge of coding and algorithms and the ability to think on your feet and craft a solution during the interview. Fortunately, there are many ways to prepare so that you’ll be ready to ace your next coding interview. To help you get started, we’ve answered some of the most commonly asked questions about coding interviews.
What is a coding interview?
A coding interview is a technical assessment where an employer evaluates a candidate’s ability to solve programming problems. The interview can be conducted online or in person and may involve writing code on a whiteboard, a shared screen, or in a code editor.
A coding typically lasts between 30 minutes to 1 hour and involves solving a combination of algorithmic puzzles, data structures problem sets, and coding challenges. The coding interview assesses a candidate’s logical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and ability to craft code optimized for space and time complexity.
How will you be assessed during your coding interview?
Employers are looking for several traits in their coding interview candidates. They want to see how well you can communicate your thought process, demonstrate problem-solving skills, and showcase technical competency.
Your ability to explain your code and why it works through clear communication is essential during your coding interview. Employers also want to assess the logic behind your solutions to ensure that you understand the underlying concepts. Technical competency means writing clean, maintainable code with good optimization techniques free of syntax errors. Lastly, testing your solutions thoroughly will show employers that you take quality seriously and do not overlook edge cases or bugs in your code.
How should you prepare for your coding interview?
Now that you know what employers are looking for, here are some tips to help you prepare for your coding interview:
Research the company
Research the company you are interviewing for and learn their tech stack, products, and services. This knowledge will help you to be better prepared for interview questions related to their products and services.
Prepare a strong introduction about your experience and interests
When the interview begins, you want to set the tone by providing an introduction that reflects your experience and interests. This will give the interviewer a sense of how well you communicate and provide them with useful context for the rest of the interview.
Brush up on your algorithms and data structures
These are the foundations of coding interviews, so be sure to refresh your understanding of them. In particular, you should review arrays, linked lists, trees, sorting algorithms, and how they can be used to solve different problems.
Choose a familiar programming language
Your interviewer may tell you which language to use, but if they don’t, pick a language you’re comfortable using. This way, you won’t waste time going through the syntax during your interview and can instead focus on solving the problem.
Most hiring managers or technical recruiters suggest higher-level languages with many standard library functions and data structures that are easier to code.
The most common coding languages for interviews are JavaScript, Java, Python, and C/C++.
Create a plan to tackle each problem
When tackling a coding challenge, it’s essential to take a step back and create a plan for how you will solve the problem. Think through the steps that you’ll need to take and develop an algorithm before writing any code. Make sure your solution is efficient, and try not to over-engineer or use too many complex data structures.
Practice, practice, practice!
The best way to prepare for your coding interview is to practice. There are many online resources with coding challenges and mock interviews using tools like Pramp and Interviewing.io to get a feel for the problems you will encounter. This will help you refine your problem-solving skills and get used to writing code under pressure.
Continue to practice, ask questions to mentors or professionals in similar roles, and soon you’ll be ready to ace your next coding interview.
What resources are there to help you prepare for your coding interview?
There are many resources available to help you prepare for your coding interview, including:
Online coding platforms: Websites like LeetCode, HackerRank, or CodeWars offer coding challenges and problems to solve.
Coding bootcamps: Bootcamps like Flatiron School, General Assembly, or App Academy offer coding courses and career services to help you prepare for a coding interview.
Career services: Many universities and colleges offer career services, including mock interviews, resume reviews, and job search support.
Coding clubs: Join coding clubs or organizations on campus or in your community to learn from other developers and collaborate on coding projects.
Coding books: Books like “Cracking the Coding Interview” by Gayle McDowell or “Programming Interviews Exposed” by John Mongan, Noah Kindler, and Eric Giguere offer tips and strategies for coding interviews.
For more advice on navigating your first technical interview, such as tips for during the interview, see here.
By preparing for your coding interview with the tips above, you will be one step closer to landing that dream job in tech. So keep practicing, refining your skills, and never stop learning. If you’re a college student or recent graduate looking for an opportunity in computer science or computer engineering, join RippleMatch to get matched with top employers looking for early-career talent like you!
