During an interview in the IT field, we usually have a code challenge . At this stage, the candidate will have to solve a programming problem, where the main objective is for the interviewers to be able to assess their reasoning and technical skills.
In short, at this stage the candidate must implement a solution that meets the requirements of the proposed problem. These may vary in complexity, as it largely depends on the level of the position you are applying for.
There are code challenges that you can do at home, independently, where you have a deadline to complete and send to the person in charge. But, in this article, we will focus on the code challenge stage that you do in the interview itself, together with the person interviewing you.
Since it is a real-time stage, the candidate may be a little apprehensive and unfortunately not be able to show their full potential. Therefore, we have separated 4 tips to help you do your best in this stage.
Ask and interact
When reading the proposed problem, it is important to extract as chinese america data much information about it as possible, so ask questions if you have any doubts. Don't assume anything hastily. Interviewers expect candidates to ask questions, and often the statement of the challenge may not be exactly clear, precisely to force the person to leave their "comfort zone" and ask questions, so that they can see how the person communicates. So, interact with the interviewers, this shows that you are engaged and committed to solving the problem.
Another example: generally, for positions with a more senior profile, the statements are more open. This is because when the person is more senior, they will probably ask some more mature questions. Therefore, the interviewers can see what types of questions the candidate will ask and, from this, they can see a little of the maturity and experience of that person.
Pay attention to communication
Despite being a technical step, the candidate must be concerned about their communication. It is very important to know how to communicate your thoughts to the interviewers, because there is no way for them to understand your line of reasoning if you just type the code. They want to understand what your thoughts are in order to reach that result. So, by expressing your thoughts out loud, the person evaluating you can better understand how you are approaching the proposed problem and what line you are thinking of following.
The ability to explain code coherently and clearly is just as important as the code itself. This can even count more than the code itself depending on the situation. Sometimes the candidate is technically good, but not a good team player, and the interviewers may understand that you may have some problem working in a team.
Use the language that is most comfortable for you.
Most companies at this stage do not specify the language you will use, they leave it open for you to use whatever language you prefer. However, candidates often fall into the trap of using a language that they sometimes do not master so well just to please the company.
Of course, language proficiency is important, but if the selection process does not specify a language for this stage, use the language you are most comfortable with. Often, it is not the choice of language that will make an impact, but rather the communication and the result delivered.