Have an upcoming tech interview and are confused about the Dos and Don'ts? The ultimate guide for tech interviews of 2023

Job interviews are an essential component of the application process, but many applicants experience stress and anxiety when they go through them. It can be extremely stressful to perform well and leave a positive impression during an interview, especially if the interview occurs in a formal interview setting. It can be stressful and intimidating for the candidate to be in this small area with a panel of interviewers who are closely examining each answer.

The interviewer typically sits at a desk while the candidate is seated in a chair facing them in a formal and professional environment. In particular, for candidates who are not accustomed to being in such a formal setting, this physical arrangement can create a power dynamic that can be challenging to navigate. Other elements can impact interview-related anxiety in addition to the physical environment. Candidates may feel dread and anxiety due to the fear of rejection, the pressure to perform well, and the uncertainty of the results.

Despite these difficulties, it is crucial for applicants to maintain composure and focus throughout the interview process. It is possible to control interview-related anxiety and perform well in the interview setting with the right strategies and techniques. The causes and effects of interview-related anxiety will be discussed in this essay, along with some helpful advice for reducing stress and anxiety while conducting interviews.

Today in this article we are going to discuss a few of the very important Dos and Don’ts that you need to take special care of during your next technical interview. So without further ado, let us begin this informative article.

1. Be prepared for System Design based questions. They are the new favorites of product-based companies.

There was a time when product-based companies were concerned only about your understanding of the data structures, algorithms, and problem-solving skills in general. But now there has been a recent shift in the industry. Product-based companies, which are the dream of every software developer to be a part of, are seen asking questions related to design patterns and how systems work from the perspective of High-level and Low-level designs.

The answers to these questions, which are frequently open-ended, must take into account a variety of elements, such as the system’s requirements, the technologies involved, and potential trade-offs between various design choices.

Questions about system design are based on actual situations that candidates will probably run into in their roles. Candidates who possess the ability to design efficient systems are therefore better suited to excel in their careers and add value to their employers. Candidates must use both critical and creative thinking to respond to system design questions.

Candidates are assumed to be better able to handle complex issues at work if they can approach problems methodically and break them down into smaller components.

Candidates must take into account a variety of factors when answering system design questions, including technical requirements, user needs, and business objectives. Candidates who can strike a balance between these elements and create systems that satisfy the needs of all stakeholders are highly prized by employers.

2. Be fully prepared for your coding interviews

It is very important to solve as many coding questions as possible before you appear for the Java test or any online coding interview. Getting familiar with data structures, algorithms, basic logic building, and having a fair idea of tweaking the classical algorithms to achieve results of the given problem is something that practicing problems beforehand teaches us.

3. Give as many interviews as possible

It is very important for you to face the interviews as much as possible to gain the confidence and deal with the anxiety in a calm and composed way. Giving multiple coding interviews not only increases your chance of selection but also shapes you to be better than your last version.

4. Honesty is the key

If you don’t know the answer to a particular question it is always best to admit it and move on rather than trying to fool the interviewer which not just exposes your weakness but also puts you in a bad picture in front of the interviewer. Not having all the information is acceptable. Keep your composure and inhale deeply. Verify that you comprehend the question being posed.

Ask the interviewer to repeat or clarify the question if you’re not sure. In order to demonstrate your ability to learn quickly, try to connect the question to your experience so that even if you don’t know the answer, you may be able to discuss related experiences or skills. If only Ask for more information if you don’t know the answer but have an idea of the details you’ll need to provide.

This demonstrates your capacity for critical thought and, when necessary, assistance. After the interview, if you have a good response to a question, you can always get in touch with the interviewer by email or thank-you note. Towards the end of the interview, you can bring up the subject and get their opinions on your suggested course of action. This gives the interviewer the impression that you are eager to learn things you don’t know.

5. Start with a brute force solution and optimize it as and when you move forward

Discussing your inner thoughts and approaches is key to the live coding challenges. It helps the interviewer to judge your approach. Therefore it is very crucial for you to first come up with a simple, non-optimized, but working solution rather than hammering your head over writing the optimized code in the first attempt. In fact, even if you know the correct optimized solution to a given problem it is better for you to still start with a naive approach and keep optimizing it while discussing it with the interviewer during a programming test.

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