How To Prepare For Technical Interviews

Technical interviews are very common for software development positions. Anyone who is applying for a technical position should prepare to participate in a technical interview. Use the tips below to help you get ready!

1. Be familiar with the job. You should be familiar with anything in the job description, and be able to discuss it. Consider the problems the employer would want you to fix and think of ways you could solve these problems.
2. Be ready to use a whiteboard. Writing your code on a whiteboard is not guaranteed in a technical interview, but it is very common. Prepare yourself by practicing writing code on a whiteboard before the interview.
3. Brush up on the core principles and basics. Expect questions to range from the fundamentals to higher level concepts. Brush up on anything you may have not touched in awhile. Don’t overlook the basics, employers want to make sure you are well versed in the language. Make sure to look over anything specifically listed in the job description, these topics are likely to be question topics.
4. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. You want to make sure that you fully understand a problem before beginning to work on it ask questions if you aren’t sure.
5. Prepare yourself mentally. Like any other interview you need to be able to focus.  The day of your interview make sure you are in the right mindset.  This is different for everyone, you could work out simple logic problems or listen to classical music, the opportunities are endless. Do what works for you.
6. Be honest. If you do not know how to solve a problem don’t just wing it. If you aren’t actually sure what to use to solve the problem, but understand the logic behind it explain that and be honest about your knowledge on the subject. If you are completely unsure how to solve a problem be honest with the employer. They will be able to tell if you are writing nonsense code and will appreciate your honesty.
7. Be articulate and communicate clearly. Have a good understanding of the skills you would like to show off during your interview. Practice presenting to yourself or friends. Remember you are selling yourself, you want to show the employer why they should hire you.
8. Bring in a portfolio of your work. It is never a bad idea to compile your best work to show an employer. This gives employers examples of how to approach a problem and the tools you use.
9. Have a strong closing. Many interviews end with an awkward goodbye. Use this time to express your enthusiasm for the position, or work in any points you didn’t get to cover.  After the interview jot down any important notes or names you want to remember, and consider sending your interviewer a simple thank you note.