Tips to clear any Technical Interview: Architect Guide

Technical interviews are a crucial step in the process of getting a job in the tech industry. They can be intimidating, but with the right preparation and mindset, you can ace them. In today's post, we will go through some very important tips and tricks to help you clear technical interviews easily.

Study the basics

You need to make sure that you have a solid foundation in the basics of computer science, such as Data structures, Algorithms, and Programming languages. You need to refresh your knowledge by studying relevant textbooks, online courses, or practice problems. Some of the popular resources for technical interview preparation include Cracking the Coding Interview, LeetCode, GeeksForGeeks and HackerRank.

Practice, practice, practice

Technical interviews most often requires candidate to solve coding challenges or whiteboarding problems on the spot. The best way to prepare for this is to practice as much as possible. Solve practice problems beforehand on websites like LeetCode, participate in coding challenges, and practice whiteboarding with a friend or mentor.

Understand the company and the role

You need to research the company and the role you are applying for to understand what skills and knowledge are required. This will help you tailor your preparation and responses to the specific job. A good research on company will definitely help you in answering some of the questions you might face during your interviews.

Communicate clearly

Communication skills are crucial in technical interviews. Make sure you can explain your thought process and solutions clearly and concisely. Use diagrams, pseudocode, or other visualization techniques to help explain complex ideas. A candidate with good communication skills has more chances to get a job compare to the person with poor communication skills. Even though you are technically very strong, a poor communication can put brakes on your success.

Show your problem-solving skills

Technical interviews are designed to test your problem-solving skills. Make sure you demonstrate your ability to break down complex problems into smaller, manageable pieces, and to come up with creative solutions. System Design questions are often asked during the technical interview. If you have good understanding of how a system is designed, you can easily satisfy the interviewer.

Be familiar with common interview questions

Many technical interviews involve common questions that interviewers use to evaluate candidates. Be familiar with these questions, such as "tell me about a time you solved a difficult problem" or "what are your strengths and weaknesses?" or "When was the last time you failed and how did you get over that?". The idea here is to judge both your strengths and weaknesses. Such questions are available on may job preparation websites so its better to have them prepared.

Practice time management

Technical interviews often involve time constraints, so it's important to practice time management. Learn how to prioritize tasks, allocate time effectively, and optimize your workflow. Practice solving complex problems in a time bound manner so to avoid delays at the time of actual interview.

Ask questions

Technical interviews are not just about answering questions; they're also an opportunity for you to learn more about the company and the role. Ask questions to demonstrate your interest and engagement, and to gain a better understanding of the company culture and values. It is often considered positive when you ask questions during an interview. If you are given a system to design, it's better to ask and get clarification rather than an implicit assumption. This shows that you have a better understanding.

Technical interviews can be challenging, but with the right preparation and mindset, you can succeed. Study the basics, practice, understand the company and the role, communicate clearly, show your problem-solving skills, be familiar with common interview questions, practice time management, and ask questions. I'm sure with these important tips, you will be able to crack your technical interview. Good luck!