A technical interview is probably the most dreaded kind of interview you can go through. This is largely because technical interviewers love to see your problems with a computer, and they love to see you have problems with an actual problem, not just a vague answer to a question. These technical interviews can also turn into quite heated discussions, so it is very important to remember that it is likely that the candidate you will have to interview for this position has done technical interviews before. And if you don’t have a good memory, they will most likely ask you questions like “where did you get that idea?”
This means that when you are interviewed, you need to be prepared for both types of interview – you need to come prepared with a list of questions to show them where you learned your actual problem and how that related to your work, and you need to show them how you came up with the problem and how you solved it. I know that I’m probably going to sound a little redundant right now – after all, these questions are the ones you’ll be expected to do, right?
One good way to prepare for an interview is to create a mock or simulated question or problem that you want to explain to the interviewer in your first few sentences. In other words, instead of saying “so, let’s say I’ve got this problem that needs to be solved,” have them say, “So, let’s say that you have this problem that needs to be solved.” and then have them explain the actual problem as if you have the answers ready for them. You might also consider creating a sample problem for them to show them and then giving them the problem. and how you arrived at the solution.
You should also make sure you can give a good example. Let them see you actually implementing your proposed solution, showing them exactly what you are talking about. This will help them feel that you understand the problem and you understand why you are presenting it to them. It can be hard to demonstrate what you know about in this type of a short amount of time, but you can certainly practice by writing down some problems you encounter and showing them to your friends and family who can help. Also, it’s important to look for examples that you have personally written about.
Be careful when answering technical interview questions. If you don’t know the answer or the specific examples, it will hurt your case more if you say “So, lets say that I’ve got a problem that I’d like to fix. I’ll try to show this problem to a friend that will understand it better.” Instead, tell them that the problem is a simple one and show them that you can explain it better.
Another thing to remember is to show your interest in your work. People are more impressed with a person who is interested in their work than they are in someone who is interested only in selling their products. In the past, technical interviews would ask you to show your “big picture” with a simple problem and your solution. Now, many technical interviews will ask you to demonstrate how you have used the tools, programs, etc. available in your software to accomplish the problem.
You also need to make sure you are relaxed in your technical interview. If you are nervous or anxious, it is likely that the interviewer will sense that and will treat you as if you are not. If you are not confident about your ability to answer technical questions, then you might want to think about whether you have the necessary background to do the job. or if you are truly interested.
