How to Hack Your Next Coding Interview

Generally, technical interviews in numerous top software companies have a specific format and you need to prepare for it. Even when you are technically strong, you may still need to get used to this format. Furthermore, in numerous coding interviews, you may need to write code on a white board. However, the time allotted to solve and code a problem is usually limited.

Learn More: EC-Council Certified Security Analyst (ECSA v10)

Although some people are better at thinking on the spot than others, you may still need a guide to help you ace your coding interview. This blog is the perfect guide for you if you want to pass your next coding interview. We are going to highlight everything you need to know about your next coding interview, from what you can wear to how to prepare yourself for the interview.

What Is a Technical Interview?

Technical interviews are not like other types of interviews as they involve assignments and challenges. They can be regarded as an exam instead of the usual question and answer interview. Furthermore, in a technical interview, you need to prove that you have the required skills needed for the job instead of just telling the interviewer that you do.

Generally, the major goal of a coding interview is not to trick you with brain teasers or impossible questions but to test how you can tackle real-world problems that you may face on the job.

What to Wear to Your Tech Interview?

This is among the most common questions that people ask during the preparation process for a job interview. It is best if you dress smartly for an interview even though most tech companies have a casual workplace. Generally, it is best to dress a level above the company’s dress code.

You can learn more about a company’s dress code by searching for the organization on social media platforms like Facebook, asking the recruiter, or checking its careers page.

Things to Bring to Your Coding Interview

There are no special materials that you need to bring to a technical interview. Just bring the essentials like a normal interview, such as:

◉ Notepad

◉ Pen

◉ Printed copies of your resume

Note: You don’t need to bring your laptop or coding samples unless the interviewer requests you to do so.

What Interviewers Are Looking For

Here are some things that interviewers look for during a coding interview.

◉ Problem-solving skills

◉ Coding skills

◉ Technical knowledge

◉ Experience

◉ Whether you fit into their culture

Common Mistakes You Can Make During a Coding Interview

Here are some mistakes you can make during a coding interview:

Not Clarifying the Question First

Although a question may not be clear to you, this does not mean that it is confusing or tricky. Once you receive the question, avoid assuming anything, because asking questions will prove to the interviewer that you are a careful person.

Starting the Coding Immediately

A common mistake made by many candidates is that they start coding immediately before they have a solution. However, you need to interact with the interviewer about the codes that you want to write so you can help create an effective solution. Without much communication, you can easily misunderstand the question or use a not-so-reasonable approach to solve the problem.

This is why you should discuss your plan with the interviewer and explain your methods out loud to help the interviewer work with you to choose the best route, especially if he/she notices that you are heading towards a dead end.

Not Analyzing Time and Space Complexity

The only unit that is used by IT experts to compare algorithms is complexity. Furthermore, it is important not only for interviews but also to work on real projects. Analyzing time and space complexity is a good way to compare and convince interviewers of the functions of a solution that is better than the other.

Moreover, there are times when you have to deal with two trade-offs: one solution is faster while the other uses less space.

Not Reviewing Your Code with Your Own Test Cases

When you still have time to check your code, you should avoid ending the coding interview immediately. The best thing you can do is create your own test cases. This is because it is best if you find your own bugs instead of the interviewer discovering them.

Not Asking for Help Whenever You Need It

You should not be afraid to ask for a hint whenever you are stuck. When the interviewer gives you a hint, you can then develop your idea based on the hint. Furthermore, you should always discuss anything that you are thinking about with your interviewer. You will be surprised to find that almost all interviewers are ready to help you out.

Hack Your Next Coding Interview

Nowadays, coding interviews are getting harder. Furthermore, there are several resources available out there that can create confusion for students who are preparing for a coding interview. However, one course that can give you all the latest tips and tricks that you need to help you crack your coding interview is the “Hack Your Next Coding Interview Course” by EC-Council CodeRed (coming soon).

In this course, there are more than 50 example problems to help you come up with a list of patterns that you need to crack any coding interview. Furthermore, the techniques that are used in this course will help you to land your dream jobs at big technology companies such as Microsoft, Amazon, Google, etc.

Source: eccouncil.org