The interview process for computer science graduates

There are two types of interviews, the behavioural interview and the technical interview. The technical interview is used by the interviewer to test your knowledge on technical aspects of the role that you are applying for. These aspects will be related to the language or technology that you or your team will be working on. If there is a technical aspect that you are unsure of then do not feel intimidated to tell your interviewer that you do not know. Just because there is an aspect that you do not understand, does not mean that you will not get the job. Again, the technical interview is used to assess your knowledge that will be needed in the role and this will help determine if you are coachable as well so do not be surprised if the interviewer tries to help you figure aspects that you do not understand during the interview. This point is key as this will demonstrate if you can pick up information and understand what you will be doing in your role. The faster you do understand these aspects, the better your chances will be at getting the role. Perhaps the technical skill that you are unsure of will not be a deal breaker for the employer and possibly a responsibility that an employee that works alongside the role you are applying for already knows. It does not hurt to let your interviewer know that you want to upskill in any aspects that you are unsure of. Always be upfront with your responses because you want to be fit for a role that suits your professional goals.

A portion of the interview may have the white boarding process. The purpose is to show if the candidate has adequate communication and problem solving skills. Here is a basic rundown of how the process of white boarding is laid out. First the interviewer(s) will give you a problem to solve and you will write your steps to your solution out on the whiteboard. The interviewer will observe how you process the problem, ask questions, and answer any questions that you might have. White boarding may take on many forms depending on where you are interviewing, the company culture, the product, the language but what remains the same is that the company is looking to see how you approach the problem and talk through the process.

However, not all companies will use the white boarding process and with many companies now working remotely, they may opt for alternative ways for you to work. It will differ at each company and position, but you will want to familiarize yourself with other tools than just white boarding. Pair programming is an interview where you and another candidate will be grouped together to write code. Pair programming is not a quiz to catch you off guard but rather, an opportunity to show the interview your skills and personality. You will learn and see firsthand someone you will be working with. It gives you a preview of the work you will be doing and the culture in the company. I will share some tips that will help assist you in this style of interview. There is usually a driver or navigator, if you are the navigator, your job is to provide guidance to the other developer on how to implement a solution to a given problem. Make sure you understand what resources are available and utilize them when necessary. If you are the driver, your job is to do the coding and take guidance from your navigator. Whether you are the navigator or driver, ask questions. This will be your time to learn about the feature your building or designing, and get clarification on the project, or code.

Depending on the role you are applying to, an employer may find it more valuable to take a look at your portfolio. If you have a portfolio review you will show artifacts from your projects, give concise insights, and share what you learned. This will allow them to get a look at the work you have created and hear your thought process around it. Personally, I like to use the platform Behance to promote my professional portfolio as it is very user friendly and you can highlight snippets of your best work. Typically, the portfolio review is a presentation of some of your work to an interviewer or panel. When tasked with a portfolio review, you will want to curate it with more of your recent projects or relatable projects to the company you are applying for. Some candidates will choose to promote their work on their personal website. While that can be one way to show your projects, it may not always be the best format to present it in. Consider opting to make a presentation deck which will be worth the effort as this medium of showcasing your work can help you highlight portions of your work that you have decided will showcase all of your most relevant skills. When you are putting together a portfolio review, be sure to gather three projects to present. Make sure to be intentional when selecting the projects for the portfolio review. You want them to be tied to either the technical needs of the company based on the company job description or the industry. For each of your projects that you have chosen for your portfolio, you should start with a high level explanation of the project and what your role was In it. Some questions to think about were was it a solo project, or a team project and what did you contribute in that case? Take great care to show your mock-ups and wireframes and do not be afraid to call out your challenges that you solved along the way. Using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, and Results) you can organize your delivery in a concise way and information at a high level. Try to focus on the big picture delivery.

Another alternative to white boarding is a take home exercise. The take home assignment could be related to the company. A company that pays for you to complete an exercise shows how they value your time.

I hope that this brief overview of the interview process helps to prepare any young professionals or experienced professional aiming to enter the computer science industry. I believe as we shift to more remote jobs this field will expand largely.

From the archives of www.jobpathnow.com

Author: Shane Singh