Looking for the best interview prep? Our step-by-step guide helps you succeed at every stage, from screening calls and technical interviews to final rounds. Get practical advice, common questions, and tips from top employers.
Contents
Understanding your job search goals
Most common technical questions
Coding exercises & Pair programming
How to effectively talk through a project
Interview tips from companies on hackajob
Understanding your job search goals
Before diving into interview preparation, take a moment to reflect on why you’re looking for a new job. Understanding your motivations will help you focus your efforts and increase your chances of success. Perhaps you’re seeking a more challenging role, better work life balance, or a higher salary.
Ask yourself:
- What does more of a challenge look like for you?
- What does a higher salary mean to you?
- What kind of environment are you looking for?
- What does a better work-life balance entail for you?
Determine which items are non-negotiable and which are nice to have. Once you’ve figured this out, you can approach your job search with more intention and focus.
Standard interview stages
On hackajob, most companies follow a similar interview process, including stages such as a first-round screening interview, technical interview, and a behavioural or cultural interview.
Always invest time and effort in interview preparation. This shows you're serious about the opportunity and helps boost your confidence during the interview.
Screening interviews
What to expect
The most common type of first round interview on hackajob is an initial screening interview. This is usually conducted by a member of the internal recruitment team via a phone call or video conferring platform. You might be asked questions such as:
- What are you looking for in your next job?
- What is your current location? What is your flexibility in terms of hybrid working?
- What do you know about our company?
- What's your experience using X technology?
- What are your salary expectations?
Preparation tips
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Research the company: Start with their website. Who are their customers? Who are their competitors? What are their business objectives? Check their social media pages, especially LinkedIn for additional insights. What recent blogs or news articles can you find about them?
This understanding is crucial not just for answering potential questions like “What do you know about us?” but also for aligning your answers with the company’s goals and objectives.
Visit the Company profile page on your Interviews dashboard for more details. You’ll typically find a company summary, videos, active roles, benefits, and information about the interview process.
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Read and understand the job description: Ensure you have a deep understanding of the role you’re interviewing for.
Focus on the key responsibilities and explain how your skills and experience uniquely qualify you for the role. This should be the main point of your interview discussion.
The job description is located just below the Company profile on your Interviews Dashboard. It includes information on compensation, location, role requirements, and key benefits.
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Remember to ask questions: Prepare thoughtful questions that show your interest in the role and the company.
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Nailing the first question: “Tell me about about yourself”
Nearly every job interview begins with this question. There’s a high chance you’ll be asked this question in your first interview with a company. Try not to overthink your response. There’ll be more opportunities to sell yourself in the questions that follow.
Think of this question as an icebreaker. The interviewer can see your skills and experience from reading your CV. So instead, think about what they don’t know:
- Who you are: What’s your background? Where did you start out in your career? What motivates you? What got you interested in this field or career path? What are you passionate about? What are your professional interests or values that drive your work?
- What you’ve done: What’s been your career journey so far? How have you progressed in your roles and responsibilities? What key projects have you worked on? Can you mention any standout projects or accomplishments that highlight your experience? How have you grown professionally? What skills have you developed along the way, and how have they prepared you for this role?
- Where you’ve done it: Where have you gained your experience? Which companies or industries have you worked in, and what kind of environments have shaped your career? Why have you chosen to work in these areas? What drew you to those specific roles or industries? What have you learned from your experiences in these environments? How has each position contributed to your overall skill set and career growth?
Adding a bit of personal information can also be helpful. Keep your response concise—no longer than two minutes.
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Effective questions to ask: Towards the end of nearly every interview, you’ll likely be invited to ask questions. While it’s good to have questions prepared, avoid asking: “Do you have any concerns/reservations regarding my suitability for the role?”. This part of the interview is your chance to leave a strong final impression. Instead of pressuring for immediate feedback, end on a positive note by asking questions like:
- Can you describe a typical day in this position?
- What are the biggest challenges someone in this role might face?
- What opportunities are available for learning and development?
- Could you tell me more about the team I'll be working with?
- What are the company’s business objectives for this year, and how does this role contribute to achieving them?
Technical interviews
What to expect
The second round usually assesses your technical skills and fit for the role. This may involve a technical discussion, a CV walkthrough, describing a project from start to finish or a live programming session. These interviews are usually conducted by the technical hiring manager or members of the team you would be joining.
Make sure to turn up on time and dress appropriately. Plus, be yourself and remember to show enthusiasm for the role!
Technical discussion
Typically a technical discussion will be a walkthrough of your CV and experience. Articulate your career history, experience, skills, and achievements. Align your answers with the key experience and criteria required for the role.
Your interviewers will expect your interview responses to be consistent with the information on your CV. If you have been honest and accurate, this should be straightforward, as it simply narrates the story of your career.
When discussing examples of what you've achieved with teams, focus on your individual contributions and the role you played.
Use the job description to guide your preparation. Reflect on past experiences that demonstrate why you would be a great fit for the role.
The STAR Method
The STAR method is a structured approach to answering behavioral interview questions, helping you provide clear, concise, and impactful responses. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result.
We recommend using the STAR method because it helps you tell a clear and structured story. It makes it easy for the interviewer to see how you approached challenges and what you did to get results. Breaking your answers into these steps keeps things simple and focused, while also showing off your skills and the impact you’ve made. Plus, it helps keep your responses short and to the point, making sure you highlight the important parts of your experience. It’s a great way to stand out and make your answers more memorable.
- Situation: Describe the context within which you performed a task or faced a challenge at work. Include details about the project, event, or scenario, providing enough background for the interviewer to understand the circumstances.
- Task: Explain the actual task or challenge involved. Outline your specific responsibilities or what was required of you to address the situation.
- Action: Detail the specific actions you took to address the task or challenge. Focus on what you did, how you did it, and any tools, techniques, or teamwork involved. This is your opportunity to highlight your contribution.
- Result: Share the outcome of your actions. Ideally, this should be a positive result, such as completed projects, solved problems, or achieved goals. Quantify your success with data or specific examples where possible to demonstrate the impact of your actions.
Don't forget! Focus on concrete examples, emphasize your role in the process, and highlight positive results that align with the job you’re interviewing for.
Most common technical questions
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What are some of the languages and frameworks you’ve used? Your answer should be clear, concise, and relevant to the job you're applying for.
For example - “As a full stack developer, I've gained experience with both frontend and backend technologies. On the front end, I work with React and Angular to create user interfaces, and I've used GraphQL for data fetching. For backend development, I'm proficient in Node.js and Express. I've also worked with Ruby on Rails for certain projects. My database experience includes PostgreSQL and MongoDB. I'm familiar with Docker for containerization and have experience deploying applications on AWS."
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Describe some of the development tools you’ve used in the past. It's important to provide a well-rounded answer that includes a mix of tools for coding, version control, project management, and other aspects of the development lifecycle.
Here’s how you might structure your response: “As a DevOps engineer, I use Git for version control and GitLab CI/CD or Jenkins for automating builds, tests, and deployments. Docker is crucial for containerizing applications, and I use Kubernetes for orchestrating those containers in a scalable manner. For infrastructure management, I work with Terraform and Ansible for provisioning and configuration management. AWS services like EC2, S3, and CloudFormation help in managing cloud resources effectively. Additionally, Prometheus and Grafana are used for monitoring and visualizing system performance."
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What is your understanding of what your daily responsibilities would be in this role? Highlight the key responsibilities and requirements mentioned in the job description and connect them to relevant projects you’ve worked on, or technologies you’ve used. Remember to show enthusiasm and demonstrate you have a clear understanding of the role!
Coding exercises
For certain roles, your technical assessment might be conducted virtually. You’ll receive clear instructions on the technologies required and how the assessment will take place, so you'll know exactly what to expect.
These exercises can vary widely. Common tasks include writing code to solve a problem, debugging or fixing existing code, or developing a small application or feature within a set time. You may also need to refactor code to make it more efficient or readable, or work with algorithms to optimize performance. In some cases, you might even be asked to implement test cases or demonstrate your understanding of specific frameworks and libraries relevant to the role.
Prepare by brushing up on the basics of data structures, algorithms, and design patterns. Make sure you’re in a quiet, controlled environment where you won’t be interrupted by ringing phones, door knocks, or barking dogs!
Pair programming
Pair programming is a common technique used in technical interviews where two developers collaborate on the same task. One acts as the "driver" (writing code) and the other as the "navigator" (reviewing and offering feedback). It’s a great way for interviewers to see how you approach problem-solving and teamwork.
There are three main styles of pair programming:
- Driver-Navigator Style: One person writes the code while the other reviews it and provides real-time feedback.
- Ping-Pong Style: Developers alternate between writing test cases and implementing the corresponding code, keeping both involved throughout the session.
- Unstructured Style: Both participants code freely, working together without predefined roles. This encourages fluid collaboration and creative problem-solving.
Best practices for pair programming:
- Communicate Clearly: Always explain your thought process and stay engaged, even if you’re not the one coding.
- Ask Questions: Don’t hesitate to ask for clarification if something is unclear. It shows you’re invested in the task.
- Be Open to Feedback: Collaboration is key, so be willing to both give and receive constructive suggestions.
- Stay Focused: Whether driving or navigating, stay attentive and actively participate.
Pair programming is a great opportunity to demonstrate both technical skills and teamwork. Embrace the collaborative nature to make the most of the experience!
How to effectively talk through a project
During a technical interview you might be asked to talk through a project from inception to completion. This shows the hiring manager your understanding of the full development lifecycle. The purpose of the exercise is to test your communication skills and to display how much you know about project development.
Step 1: Introduce the project
- Overview: Begin by giving a brief description of the project as a whole. What was the project about? What was the main goal?
- Example: "I worked on developing a customer feedback portal aimed at improving user satisfaction by streamlining feedback collection and analysis."
Step 2: Explain the inception stage
- Context: Discuss the initial stages of the project. What business challenge(s) were you addressing? How did the project come about?
- Example: "The project was initiated to address the gap in collecting actionable user feedback efficiently, which was identified during a quarterly review meeting."
Step 3: Walk through the development process
- Step-by-Step: Break down the development lifecycle, explaining each phase in detail. Highlight key decisions, challenges, and how you addressed them.
- Example: "We began with requirement gathering, followed by designing the architecture using Spring Boot and React. During development, I focused on optimizing server response times."
Step 4: Highlight tools and technologies used
- Technical Details: Mention the tools, technologies, and methodologies you used throughout the project.
- Example: "I utilized AWS for cloud deployment, enabling us to reduce downtime and improve scalability."
Step 5: Discuss the outcome
- Results: Share the final results of the project. Did you meet your goals? What was the business impact?
- Example: "The portal was launched successfully, leading to a 25% increase in user satisfaction scores within three months."
Step 6: Practice and preparation
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Practice makes perfect: To gain confidence, practice describing your project to a friend or family member. Aim to take about 5 minutes to cover all the key points.
💡Tip: Focus on being clear and concise, and ensure you can explain technical aspects in a way that’s understandable to non-technical listeners.
Industry-standard questions
Technical interviews can cover a range of topics including project experience, certifications, and your key technical strengths. Here are some of the most common questions we hear:
- Why do you want to work here? The interviewer is looking to see if you’ve done your homework on the company and are genuinely interested in the role. Your answer should reflect your personal values and career goals. For example, you might say, “I noticed that your company prioritizes sustainability, which is important to me because…”
- Why should we hire you? Focus on the value you can bring to the position - How your experience aligns with the job description and the insights you’ve gathered about the company. An example response could be, “I see that client satisfaction is very important to your business. In my current role, I improved client satisfaction scores from 60% to 82% by implementing strategies like x, y, and z.”
- What is your biggest weakness? While the specific weakness you mention is less important, the key is demonstrating self-awareness and a commitment to growth. For example, you could say, "Public speaking is a challenge for me, but I’m actively working to improve by seeking out opportunities to speak at networking events.
- How do you perform under pressure? Provide an example of a time you were under pressure, describe how you managed it, the result of your efforts, and what you learned from the situation.
- Describe a difficult situation at work and how you approached it. Consider a situation that aligns closely with the responsibilities of the role. If the role involves customer interaction, think of a scenario where you tackled a complex issue for a client and delivered top-notch service. Explain the steps you took, why you chose those particular actions, and what the outcome was.
- Why are you leaving your current job? Avoid speaking negatively about your current or previous employer(s). Instead, highlight your desire to grow, develop new skills, or take on new challenges. An example response could be, "I’ve learned so much and am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had, but I’m eager to broaden my experience in a different environment."
- Do you have any questions for us? It’s essential to prepare questions to display genuine interest in the role you’re interviewing for. Avoid asking about salary, benefits, or work conditions at this stage. There will be plenty opportunity to discuss this at later stages of the process. Suitable questions to ask might include, "What do you see as the biggest challenge for the person in this role?" or "What do you enjoy most about working at the company?” or “How does the company support employees in their career progression and professional development?
Final stage interviews
What to expect
Congrats, you are very close to landing your dream role! At this stage, the interview will typically include behavioural and cultural fit questions. These questions are designed to understand how you handle specific situations and whether you’re a good fit for the company’s values and work environment.
Behavioural questions look at how you've approached challenges or successes in the past, while cultural questions aim to determine how well your personal values align with the company. A great way to structure your answers is by using the STAR method, which helps you stay clear and focused. If you ever need a moment to gather your thoughts, don’t hesitate to take a brief pause—clarity is always appreciated.
Most common questions
Collaboration & teamwork
Working well with others is essential in most roles. You’ll likely be asked about your ability to collaborate with a team, resolve conflicts, and contribute to shared goals.
- Can you share an example of a time you collaborated with a team?
- Have you ever been in a position where you had to both lead a team and perform some of the tasks yourself?
- Describe a situation where you encountered a difficult client or customer.
💡 Tip: Highlight how you share responsibilities, manage conflicts, and celebrate team successes.
Achievements
Employers want to know how you’ve gone above and beyond in your career. Use specific examples to show where you’ve exceeded expectations.
- Can you describe a time when you exceeded the expectations of your role?
- Tell me about an achievement in your career that you consider your greatest.
💡 Tip: Focus on how your actions positively impacted the company and why these moments matter to you.
Handling challenges
Handling stress and overcoming obstacles are key skills in any role. Expect questions about how you manage under pressure or respond when things don't go to plan.
- Have you ever encountered a stressful situation at work? How did you handle it?
- Can you provide an example of a mistake you made at work and how you approached handling it?
- Share an experience where a project didn’t go as planned. What actions did you take?
💡 Tip: Show resilience and what you’ve learned from the situation. Emphasize the steps you took to find a solution.
Initiative & problem-solving
Companies value people who can think on their feet and take the initiative. These questions aim to see how proactive you are in addressing issues and finding opportunities.
- Tell me about a situation where you took the initiative at work.
- Can you describe a time when you needed to quickly learn something new?
💡 Tip: Show how you identified opportunities or tackled a problem before it became an issue.
Time management & prioritization
Balancing multiple tasks is a valuable skill, especially in fast-paced environments. You may be asked to describe how you manage deadlines and conflicting priorities.
- Tell me about a situation where you had to juggle multiple priorities.
- Can you share an example of a time when you missed a deadline? What led to the delay, and what did you learn from that situation?
💡 Tip: Focus on how you organize your work, prioritize tasks, and manage your time effectively.
Feedback & learning from mistakes
Receiving feedback and learning from mistakes is part of growth. Employers will want to know how you handle feedback and what steps you take to improve.
- Can you describe a time when your work was criticised? How did you respond?
- Can you provide an example of a time you had to give constructive feedback to a coworker?
💡 Tip: Show that you’re open to feedback and how you’ve used it to enhance your performance.
Interview tips from companies on hackajob
We asked the recruitment teams at popular tech employers—TripAdvisor, Next, and Third Bridge—to share their tips and advice for being a successful candidate. This section provides insider tips directly from the companies hiring on hackajob. While not every tip may apply to all interviews, they offer valuable insights into what different companies look for in their candidates.
Use these tips to better prepare, understand the process, and improve your performance during technical and cultural interviews. Keep in mind that every company has its own approach, so be adaptable and ready to showcase your best skills!
Interview advice from TripAdvisor on Senior Software Engineering positions
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Balanced experience: Successful candidates usually have balanced front-end and back-end knowledge, cloud expertise, and database experience. You should also be able to communicate your thought process while coding.
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Interview stages
- 1st stage: Screening, CV walkthrough, and code debugging (both front-end and back-end), along with computer science fundamentals.
- 2nd stage: Coding & problem-solving. Be prepared to write a class or compile code, and solve unfamiliar coding problems, optimizing as you go. Know your code complexity and Big-O.
- 3rd stage: Coding interview focusing on data structures and algorithms. Know how to implement arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, graphs, etc. You’ll need to understand search, sorting, and traversal algorithms.
- 4th stage: Architectural design interview.
💡Tips
- Communication clarity: Speak clearly and at a steady pace, especially when discussing complex topics. Don't hesitate to ask for clarification if needed.
- Preparation is key: Bring specific examples of your previous work to demonstrate your experience rather than speaking in general terms.
- Be yourself: Showing your authentic personality is important, as we value a cultural and team fit. Relax, be warm, and approachable.
Interview advice from Next
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Preparedness
- Successful candidates provide relevant examples of complex technical challenges and explain how they approached or resolved them. They also demonstrate their ways of working or thinking in their answers.
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Interview structure
- The interview typically starts with an introduction to the hosts and an overview of the role’s responsibilities. Then, questions are organized by technical areas, like Azure DevOps and Infrastructure as Code (IaC), with 2-3 questions per topic. It concludes with the candidate’s questions.
💡Tips
- Effective storytelling: Provide detailed examples of your contributions to projects. Rather than saying “we did this,” focus on your role in resolving challenges.
- Technical depth: Offer structured responses by describing the problem, your actions, and the results. Using STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is a great way to organize your answers.
- Tailored responses: Tie your answers to the technical skills they’re looking for and how your experience matches.
Interview advice from Third Bridge Group
- Research the company
- Visit the company page to understand the business and be ready to share what you've learned.
- Clear communication
- Since Third Bridge is an international company, it's important to communicate clearly and slowly, especially as many employees speak English as a second language. Don't hesitate to ask for clarification if needed.
- Concrete examples
- Be prepared with specific examples from previous projects or scenarios. Avoid generalizing and provide details about your contributions.
- Relax and be yourself
- Cultural and team fit is important to us. Third Bridge values openness and collaboration, so showing warmth and being authentic will help you make a good impression.
Conclusion
We hope this guide has provided valuable insights and strategies to help you stand out. Thorough preparation not only enhances your responses but also helps you feel more confident and at ease throughout the interview process. Follow the steps outlined here, and you'll be well on your way to success!
👋Screening interviews
- Reflect on your motivations for seeking a new role, such as career growth or work-life balance, to approach the process with focus
- Thoroughly Review Job Descriptions; Understand key responsibilities and requirements to align your skills and experience during interviews.
- Prepare Thoughtful Questions - Asking insightful questions shows genuine interest in the role and company.
- For questions like "Tell me about yourself," keep responses concise, focusing on background, accomplishments, and relevant experience.
- Review your CV and use the STAR method to structure answers that highlight problem-solving and individual contributions.
💻Technical interviews
- Be ready to discuss relevant languages, frameworks, and tools, demonstrating clear understanding of your responsibilities.
- Coding Exercises and Pair Programming; Emphasize clear communication, collaboration, and adaptability, and explain your thought process during coding exercises.
- Project Walkthroughs; Explain projects by discussing goals, your role, development process, and outcomes, practicing both technical and non-technical articulation.
- Industry-Standard Questions: Be ready to answer common questions about your interest in the company, your fit for the role, and how you handle challenges, ensuring you reflect enthusiasm and alignment with company values.
💭Behavioural and cultural fit interviews
- Expect questions about handling situations and aligning with company values; use the STAR method to structure responses.
- Collaboration and Teamwork; Provide examples of teamwork, leadership, and conflict resolution.
- Achievements; Highlight instances where you've exceeded expectations and positively impacted the company
- Initiative and Problem-Solving; Emphasize your proactive approach in addressing challenges.
- Handling Challenges; Show resilience by discussing how you've managed stress, learned from mistakes, and solved problems.
- Feedback: Show openness to feedback and highlight how you've used it to improve your performance and grow professionally.
Final takeaway
Remember, the interview process can be tough, and even the most qualified candidates face challenges. Be kind to yourself and understand that setbacks are a natural part of the journey. Stay resilient and keep pushing forward—each step brings you closer to the right opportunity! 💕