The Tech Interview Guide Podcast

How would you determine if an interview task is unreasonable?

In this episode I handle a question where someone was given 48 hours to produce a 15min technical talk and prepare for a 60min Q&A session. Is that fair to ask?

A thank-you note after an interview is a great way to be remembered by a company.

Sending a thank-you message won't guarantee an offer -- or even a next-round interview -- but they'll definitely remember you for it. A little gratitude can go a long way.

How do you handle competing priorities on the job?

There's a saying "when everything is a priority, then nothing is really a priority". In the tech industry, you might find yourself pulled in several directions on a daily basis. How do you set your own priorities? As a senior dev, you'll probably have more autonomy to figure this out. As an entry-level dev, you may want to ask for help in this area.

Should you tell your recruiter that you want to go to grad school in the near future?

Some companies will have tuition reimbursement, but wait until AFTER you get the job to talk about future goals like this, unless it's a vital requirement for the job itself. Otherwise, the company might bias against you if they don't think they're going to get a good ROI on hiring you if you're leaving for full-time school in the near future.

My interviews are done, my references were called, and then ... nothing?!

The interview process doesn't end the day you finish your final round, but you shouldn't have to wait TOO long to get feedback, or an answer from the company about your status. If it's been more than a few days, reach out to them to find out what's up. My guess for this person asking the question is that they came in second place and the company is waiting to see if their first choice accepts an offer.

Is preparing for a remote interview different than for an in-person interview?

Many aspects of the interview process will be the same whether you are remote or in person. In this episode I list a LOT of things to consider when thinking about participating in a remote interview, such as bandwidth, clothing, and background noise.

What kinds of questions should you be prepared to answer as a web developer?

There are lots of different kinds of jobs in the tech industry. In this episode, let's dive into the kinds of questions you might get asked for different kinds of roles. By no means is this list exhaustive as every company will have its own preferences. When in doubt: ask the company what you should study.

What are some top tips to stand out as an applicant? Can we guarantee ourselves an interview?

There are a lot of ways to stand out from the crowd when applying for a job. Nothing will guarantee an interview, but here are some ideas on improving your chances.

How do you answer questions about salary expectations without sounding rude?

At some point in the interview process, you're going to be asked about your salary expectations. Some companies won't move forward until they get an answer. You can defer the answer to this question by using some of these tips, but be aware that your PREVIOUS salary should never play into your future salary at any other company.

How to answer questions about leaving your current job, or why you left your previous job.

If this isn't your first tech job, you're going to be asked why you're leaving, or why you left, the last company. You need to be very careful and strategic about how to answer this question, and you need to pivot your answer to talk about your future and THEIR company instead.