A software developer job interview can be pretty challenging. Here are some helpful tips to help you prepare for the job interview questions.
The software developer role is one of IT graduates’ most sought-after job titles today. By 2024, the number of developers worldwide will reach 28.7 million. It comes as no surprise since it’s a highly fulfilling career with many learning opportunities.
But as a popular role, the competition is stiff. Companies are raising their standards in finding the most suited candidates for the job. Hence, one must leave a lasting impression during their technical interview.
Preparing for a software developer job interview starts with understanding the hiring process for the role. Find out what to expect during the interview and learn all the steps leading toward that coveted job offer.
How to Prepare for Your Software Developer Job Interview
The technical interview is a uniquely demanding recruitment process. It evaluates your character, problem-solving skills, and coding skills as a developer. Some companies may have a more straightforward process; nonetheless, the level of difficulty remains relatively high. It’s especially challenging when it’s a tech company that’s handling expensive projects.
As an applicant, you must anticipate all the technical questions and prepare for the possible coding tests. Here are ways you can prepare for the technical interview:
Start with your resume
The hiring process starts when you beat out all the other applicants for the role through an impressive resume. However, your resume still plays a big role during the actual technical interview. Recruiters will most likely refer to your skills and experience to determine the type of tests and questions they’ll be asking. So make sure that your resume is up-to-date with your latest practiced skills and knowledge.
Tips on Writing Your Resume:
- Highlight your Strengths – Having an impressive portfolio buys your ticket to an interview. It’s important to strategically highlight your experience and past achievements to get through the initial screening stage.
- Don’t Exaggerate – Avoid exaggerating your skill level and timeline of experience. Remember that recruiters will not only verify this information, but they’ll also use this to prepare your test question. You don’t want to bite off more than you can chew.
- Prioritize the skills and experience relevant to the position – You may want to study and use the most popular tech tools to get more job opportunities. JavaScript and HTML/CSS are the most used programming languages by software developers globally.
Research the interview format
Some companies might let you know about their entire hiring process right off the bat. However, others may not disclose it unless you’ve made it to the next stage. To be on the safe side, prepare for all interview settings possible.
Here are a few of the most common interview formats:
Quizzes
These are meant to be a first-pass filter to identify the least qualified candidates. Recruiters, non-technical personnel, or automated graders usually administer this type because they are questions with clear-cut answers and structure. Quizzes are typically given early on in the hiring process.
Online coding assessment:
Online coding tests are frequently given early in the procedure. Candidates must develop code via an online coding interface to solve an algorithm issue with well-organized input and output. A popular site for performing online coding evaluations is HackerRank.
A wise technique to prepare for the problem-solving sections of online coding tests is to use LeetCode. The need to build code that can read from stdin and print to stdout in HackerRank can trip up candidates if they are unfamiliar with the APIs.
Take-home assignment
Take-home assignments are a format created to overcome the flaws of the algorithm interview. Allowing applicants to work on bigger projects will let them show their expertise in software development. These usually require more time, so it’s not practical for large companies. You can expect this assessment format from small businesses and startups.
Phone screen interviews
The most common format for interviews is over the phone, and every candidate will experience this at some point during the process. You will be required to do an interview over the phone or via VoIP (BlueJeans, Skype, or Google Hangout). You will be given a question to answer and use an online collaborative editor (such as CoderPad, CodePen, or Google Docs) to do it.
Onsite interviews
The onsite stage typically lasts a few hours and consists of several rounds (coding, system design, and behavioral). Since you are on-site, an interviewer may ask you to complete a whiteboard exercise with them in which you will have to solve a problem using an algorithm or a system design. You may also be required to bring your own laptop to work on a project or resolve a coding issue immediately.
Smaller businesses will let you use your own laptop during on-site interviews. So, you must set up your development environment in advance.
Master the basics
Review the fundamental concepts of programming. There is a big chance you’ll be asked about the basic programming principles, rules, ethics, and other technical concepts. Brush up on textbook definitions and formulate answers to common technical questions beforehand.
Pay extra attention to the tech you’ll use for the software developer role. Read up on its latest updates and familiarize yourself with all the latest practices.
Practice for the coding interview
Be intentional about improving your coding skills. Practice writing clean code and following the best practices for documentation and troubleshooting. You might find yourself live coding for the interview, wherein you must demonstrate how you write code. Your interviewers will assess how long and effective your thought process is. So, practicing writing code regularly is best to ensure you don’t miss anything during the test.
Get ready for the behavioral interview
Culture fit refers to the idea of pre-screening individuals to see what kind of cultural influence they will have on the organization. This is predicated on the team member and employer sharing the same values, beliefs, and habits. Interviewers typically conduct behavioral interviews to ensure you match the company’s culture.
You will be given a set of scenarios and asked how you would respond to them. Some interviewers might ask you to share past work experiences to evaluate your behavior. Keep all your answers clear, concise, and informative. You can practice your narratives beforehand to be more confident in answering.
Apply at Full Scale
Want to advance your software development career? Apply at Full Scale!
We’re hiring software developers of all experience levels from all over the Philippines. Our goal is to help you grow professionally. We’ve simplified and streamlined the hiring process so that applicants can focus on showcasing their abilities.
At Full Scale, we believe each team member plays a vital role in the success of a project. This is why we make the team our top priority. We offer only the highest quality tools, training, and mentorship programs to ensure each member’s professional growth. Furthermore, we provide all our employees with premium pay, great benefits, and modern equipment.
