Best Practices for Acing Your Technical Interview

If you are considering a career in the tech industry, it is important to know that a technical interview is often very different from a traditional job interview.

Technical interviews typically include behavioral questions, situational questions, and technical problem-solving questions.

Preparing for a technical interview differs significantly from preparing for a traditional interview as well. In addition to thinking about standard interview questions and answers, you'll also need to consider what questions might be asked about technical methods and skills. As such, you have to be ready to demonstrate knowledge of diverse technical topics and scenarios.

Knowing the types of questions to expect during a technical interview can help you prepare your answers carefully and showcase your skills and experience in the best way possible.

In this article, we discuss the most common interview process during a technical interview, with tips and examples on best practices.

The first part will generally occur during a phone call where a qualifying interviewer determines whether you’re a good fit for the position. The recruiter will most likely ask you questions over the phone and assess your initial fit and knowledge.

Make sure to sound confident, and don’t be afraid to demonstrate your knowledge.

And remember: interviewing is a two-way street. You're also assessing whether or not you want to work with them.

If the phone interview went well, you'll most likely be asked to perform a remote coding assignment to secure the in-person interview.

For example, you may be asked to demonstrate your coding and problem-solving skills in several languages depending on the position you applied for.

After you’ve had a phone screen and done your homework, your next interview step might be to come in and sit down with an interviewer to confirm your candidacy.

If you'll be doing the interview in-person, be sure to dress appropriately. Let's say you're interested in joining a startup. Don't go overboard by showing up in a suit and tie.

Conversely, you wouldn't want to wear jeans and a t-shirt if you're interviewing at a well-established FinTech.

During the in-person interview, you’ll be asked behavioral and technical questions. Plus, you'll have the opportunity to bring up questions of your own.

At this stage, it is important to prepare some questions on your own and understand the company's background and mission. Assessing for cultural fit is one of the most important aspects of any interview. Both you and the employer must analyze how you will fit within the team.

Based on the position you are applying for, there may be multiple in-person interviews. But if it’s for a remote position, potentially none at all.

Still, the interview framework presented above is standard process prior to a technical interview.

There are multiple skills that you should try showcasing leading up to the interview itself. Preparing yourself for this type of interview is essential.

The best way for you to prepare is by first reviewing the job description. This is the foundation that will enable you to fully understand what to study and how to approach the interview process.

A good understanding of the position and the basic requirements will allow you to answer different questions and be prepared for any specific topics that might come up.

Many technical jobs are based on thought processes. To prepare for a technical interview, you can practice potential mathematical processes involving the position.

Not only is it a good way to stay engaged while solving complex problems, but it’s also important for interviewers to understand your thought process. That being said, when you are solving technical problems, you should process your thoughts out loud in order to better prepare yourself for the interview.

If you’re applying for a coding position, you should practice answering coding questions. You can also practice answering questions using the STAR method.

The STAR interview technique offers a straightforward format that you can use to answer behavioral interview questions. These are relatively standard prompts where you're asked to provide a real-life example of how you handled a certain kind of situation at work in the past.

The start method is an acronym that consists of the following.

Situation: Set the scene and give the necessary details of your example.

Task: Describe what your responsibility was in that situation.

Action: Explain exactly what steps you took to address it.

Result: Share what outcomes your actions achieved.

While you’re practicing questions for all sorts of scenarios, review the kinds of general interview questions about skills and behaviors that you’re likely to have at an interview. These will be key to securing your technical job, so you make sure you spend time on them!

To better prepare for the conversation, have a few questions you’d like to ask the interviewer.

This will require additional research on your part to better understand the company and job description prior to the interview. Take notes of questions that arise both before and throughout the interview process.

Candidates are also encouraged to hold their questions for the end of the interview. Keep this in mind prior to jumping into your own pre-scripted questions.

Once the time comes, asking thoughtful questions that show your interest both in the position and the company will impact the overall chances of you landing the job.

The last advice we have is to follow up after the interview.

Send a thank-you email to reiterate your interest in the position and your appreciation for the selection process. This will show interviewers that you are committed and interested in working with the company in the future.

At TieTalent, we have our own Talent Agents who will help you throughout the entire selection process. They'll make sure you're prepped for each interview ahead of time. That way, you can do your best and land a job that matches your interests and needs.