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By Arun Kumar
You've landed an interview with your dream company for a software developer. Congratulations! Now it's time to prepare and be ready for the big day.
The 10 points below will help you make a great impression and increase your chances of getting the job. Follow these tips and you'll be one step closer to achieving your career goals.
The first and the most important topic for any technical interview is the DSA/Algo round. No matter the seniority, whether a fresher or an experienced developer, the starting and eliminator round will be DSA/Algo round.
We can’t stress enough the importance of data structures and algorithms for technical rounds. Due to increased competition around the world, the DSA round has gotten tougher and tougher every day. But, on the brighter side, there are tons of resources available today online which specifically stress this subject.
The second hurdle in the technical interviews is the system design round. Almost all the tech giants and dream companies are having rigorous system design rounds in their process of interview. The main focus of system design rounds will be testing your knowledge to quickly generate a skeleton for a system.
For giving examples, you may be asked to design an elevator system, a food delivery app, etc. You would need to design the said system in a limited time. The design would be the skeleton of “how” you would create the system and maintain it so it would work in the best way possible.
Not all the companies but a few companies (tech giants like Amazon, Google, etc) have a fair weight on the behavioral round. This is one of the most tricky rounds. The main idea of this round is to check if a person is fit for the company culturally, and ethically.
You need to answer the questions keeping in mind what you say. Once you have answered a particular question, remember the crux of it. There may be a different question pointing to the same cause of the previous question. If you answer differently there, it may be a problem. So, just be sure of what you are answering.
Due to a large number of applications, the majority of businesses now employ automatic resume trackers and scanners. You can reduce the number of application failures by starting this virtuous circle well ahead of time with people around you, including academics, colleagues, friends, supervisors, etc.
Instead of waiting for feedback from your applications, you can get feedback from people before you submit them.
We have already discussed different technical rounds and the impact it has on the interview. Let’s dig deeper and find the perfect resources to ace all the rounds.
For data structures and algorithms round, there are numerous resources available. From courses to websites to challenges, each one of these will help you achieve that extra mile. Below are the resources for DSA/Algo round.
Similarly, there are multiple resources available for the system design round. A few of them are as listed below.
For the behavioral round, each company has its own set of policies. You can go over their website and find the best resources. As this is company-dependent, mentioning a few would be futile.
When interviewing for a software developer role, don't forget the basics. Make sure you have common sense, and that your technical skills are up to par. To ace, your dream interview, review the 10 points below.
1. Remember the Basics: Common Sense and Technical Skills
2. Do Your Research
3. Dress for Success (Even in virtual interviews)
4. Be on Time
5. Have Multiple Copies of Your Resume Ready
6. Have Questions Ready
7. Sell Yourself
8. Use Positive Body Language
9. Stay Calm and Positive
10. Thank the Interviewers
When preparing for your interview, remember that the company is looking for the right fit just as much as you are. They want to find someone who is not only technically skilled but also has the right attitude and personality for the job. Make sure you come across as someone passionate about software development. Be prepared to talk about your experiences and skills in detail. Most importantly, relax and be yourself – you already have what it takes to ace your dream interview!
The interview process is often long and tiring, but it's worth it to be one step closer to your dream job. By following this checklist, you'll be well-prepared for any questions your interviewer might throw your way.
Just the technical skills aren’t enough. You should be prepared mentally and have the appropriate soft skills too. Be positive, think positive, and never give up.
We wish you the best of luck in your upcoming interview.
