How to crack a coding interview
If approached correctly, it does not matter if it is a coding interview or any kind of job possible. The interview can be one of the easiest aspects of a company’s recruitment process; otherwise, it can be one of the most difficult obstacles to overcome. I’ve watched people struggle for a long time in coding interviews, and just a few of them have been chosen in the end. That is why the purpose of this article is to assist you in understanding what a company looks for in an interview and how you can prepare for it.
We are going to separate or article on three little interviews that will get you the job you always wanted. Follow this article step by step, and you will be unstoppable.
The recruiter interview
A recruiter is a person who has a one-on-one chat with an employee, but he is not a management or appointing authority. The recruiter delivers your resume to employers who require the abilities you possess; he should be aware of the job’s requirements and then select employees based on the employers’ desires.
He assists the employee or applicant in practicing for the real interview and building confidence. This recruiter interview is an initial interview, so be on your best behavior and dress appropriately for the job.
If you are wondering how you can make a perfect first impression here are some advice:
Demonstrate the fundamental abilities that qualify you for the position:
HR personnel or recruiters will often not look at your educational qualifications or other important aspects such as technical skills; instead, they will look at whether you are qualified for the position and meet the minimum standards.
They will send potential applicants to company authorities and hiring managers after the basic interview; the recruiters will merely examine the baseline requirements.
Recruiters will always encourage you to conduct thorough research of the job description and list of required abilities. Always remember to emphasize your experience and accomplishments, and if you are employed as an interrogator, attempt to be on time.
Demonstrate your excitement for the job by:
Recruiters always favor candidates that are enthusiastic about the job and also possess the necessary skills. If you only have the qualifications but show no interest in the job, the recruiter will assume you are not interested; thus, demonstrate your willingness to the recruiter.
This produces a favorable impression on the recruiter, who will recommend you to the company’s recruiting managers if he believes you will be a good worker and perform well in the position.
Show that you fit in their team environment
The last condition is important since the worker must stay in the workplace for at least a few hours each day, and if he is not comfortable, it will impact his working capacity and performance.
So, first, try to learn the workplace culture and requirements by speaking with the employees, and then do your best to blend in. Follow the firm on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to learn more about the work environment and culture; do an online search on the company to learn more about its requirements and employees.
These were just some basic points to complete the first interview on the right foot.
The technical interview
The interviewers need to understand more about your technical skills after you amazed the recruiter. An online technical coding test will be issued to you to evaluate your programming, development, and technical skills. This is your chance to show your abilities.
Do background search:
So for the first step, I chose one of the most important ones, which is the background search about the company you want to be part of. Before sitting in the interview you should know some things about them, like whos the most used programing language etc. Knowing all this you can study and refresh your knowledge some days before the interview happens. Also, you will be able to ask the right question about the job.
Utilize your time:
Usually, there is quite some time that separates the initial interview from the real technical one. You better use this time and practice some of the most common questions that might happen in a technical interview. The interviewer might ask some questions on topics that you feel rusty about and forgot about the answer to.
Don’t get demotivated if you fail to answer some questions?
Often for the interviewers is not that important if you answer right away to all of their questions. They also look closely who you approach their question. Keep your cool, do not answer right away even if you heard the question before, breathe and take your time. And if you haven’t come with the solution after 3-5 minutes you can just tell straight away that you can’t solve it so he/her can proceed with the next one.
Use logical algorithm:
If you can’t code the whole solution because of many factors you can always ask the interviewer if you can proceed with the solution with a logical algorithm. This solution can be way better than no solution at all.
Stay cool:
The trinity for the interview to go well is: being confident, smile and maintain eye contact. If you keep your cool, you will be able to think clearly, take your time and you can show them exactly what you can do.
The final interview
The final interview is focused more on your soft skills. For a company is not important only if someone can do his job good in his little corner but also if he/she can work and cooperate on a team project. Most of the questions at this stage will be about your creativity, communication, teamwork, problem-solving, etc. Try and show your interviewers that you are a team player and everyone can rely on you how you would on them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some tips for cracking a coding interview?
The foremost tip to excelling at anything is practice. It’s the same when preparing for a coding interview. You must practice. Practicing on paper will help you adapt your mind to distinguish algorithmic patterns. You will derive a lot of confidence from this kind of practice.
Coding on paper will also stretch your abilities because you don’t have the convenience of syntax highlighting and quick debugging provided by coding applications. So use paper as much as you can.
Learn coding through online courses, YouTube videos, and books. Also, access resources for coding interviews on as many platforms as possible.
What are the basic coding skills?
The top skills necessary for coding are self-reliance, attention to detail, logical thinking, and abstract thinking. Of course, it would help if you also had a strong memory, patience, and knowledge of the scientific method.
Can I use Google during coding interviews?
Coders are typically allowed to use the internet while undergoing an interview. There may be tasks or tests that the interviewer will introduce that will require internet-based resources and tools.
What technical questions are usually asked in a coding interview?
Questions often come from Sliding Window, Recursion, Merge sort, 2-pointers, BFS & DFS, Subsets, etc.
How long do I need to prepare for a coding interview?
If you are a fresher, you must prepare and cover every ground you can. So, you may need as many as 6 months to prepare for the interview. However, if you have at least 3 years of experience, you may need only 4-8 weeks of prep.
How do I ace a coding test?
First, you need to make sure you master the basics of coding. Then, be proficient in your selected programming language. Practice all the time. Also, you need to know how to explain your code verbally. Finally, stay open to new things because the highly dynamic coding world.
