Do’s and Don’ts of Technical Interviews

3 min readAug 22, 2020

Interviewing can be stressful. Instead of viewing it as an interrogation, try thinking of it as an opportunity to learn more about a company and see if it’s the right fit for you.

Here is a guide of essential things to do and avoid in an interview, including questions that will help you make your decision once an offer is available:

General Guidelines

Do:

Research the company, its culture, and its news coverage beforehand. If you mention what you learned in your research during the interview, the hiring manager will notice your interest.
Think of recent relevant situations that exhibit your strengths and weaknesses to help prepare for behavior-based questions.
Contact the recruiter or the company’s HR department to clarify whether the interview will be informal or technical. If the answer is technical, ask if they will require you to code through an online code editor, such as Codeshare.
Get plenty of sleep before the interview.
Stay hydrated.
Ask clarifying questions if the interview problem is unclear to you. Make sure to prepare questions you want to ask the interviewer to learn more about your potential team, the culture, day-to-day work, and anything else that interests you.
Clarify and communicate your assumptions when solving a problem.
Bring your whole self to the interview. What makes you stand out?
Always tell the truth, even when admitting you don’t know the answer.
Stay calm, and don’t give up

Don’t

Bad-mouth past employers.
Talk too much or too little. Give sufficient answers, but avoid showing off or not giving the interviewer enough time to ask all of their questions.
Use cellphones during the interview.

Phone or Video Conference Interview

Double-check your internet connection.
Use headphones to negate background noise.
Present yourself well. Many companies conduct video interviews, so dress as if the interview were in-person and make sure your background is well-lit and not distracting.
Talk clearly and slowly because it’s harder for listeners to follow via technology.

In-Person Interview

Arrive early to avoid unforeseen issues like parking, locating the right building, etc.
Dress appropriately, but it’s okay to wear something that still represents you.
Practice good hygiene. Shower, brush your teeth, wear deodorant, etc.
Bring copies of your resume.
Pay attention to your body language — it’s an essential element interviewers notice. For example, make eye contact, don’t cross your arms, and keep your posture straight.
Don’t be afraid to use a whiteboard.