Tech Interview Guide

Tech interviews can feel intimidating, but with the right preparation, you can walk in with confidence. This guide covers the most common interview formats and how to prepare for each stage.

Understanding the Interview Process

Most tech companies follow a multi-stage process:

  1. Application & Resume Screen — Your resume is reviewed by a recruiter
  2. Phone/Video Screen — 30-minute call with recruiter or hiring manager
  3. Technical Assessment — Coding challenge, take-home project, or live coding
  4. On-Site / Virtual Panel — 3-5 rounds covering technical + behavioral
  5. Offer & Negotiation — Salary, equity, and benefits discussion

Preparing for Technical Interviews

Coding Interviews

  • Practice on LeetCode, HackerRank, or CodeSignal — focus on medium difficulty
  • Master the fundamentals: arrays, strings, hash maps, trees, graphs, dynamic programming
  • Always think out loud — interviewers want to see your problem-solving process
  • Start with a brute force approach, then optimize
  • Ask clarifying questions before coding

System Design Interviews

  • Practice designing systems like URL shorteners, chat applications, or notification services
  • Cover: requirements gathering, high-level design, database schema, API design, scalability
  • Study resources: “System Design Interview” by Alex Xu, or Grokking the System Design Interview
  • Focus on trade-offs — there’s rarely one “right” answer

Behavioral Interview Tips

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions:

  • “Tell me about a challenging project” — Describe the context, your specific contribution, and the measurable outcome
  • “Describe a conflict with a teammate” — Show emotional intelligence and resolution skills
  • “Why do you want to work here?” — Research the company’s mission, tech stack, and recent news
  • “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” — Show ambition aligned with the company’s growth

Questions to Ask the Interviewer

Always have questions ready. Smart questions show genuine interest:

  • “What does a typical day look like for this role?”
  • “How do you measure success in the first 90 days?”
  • “What’s the team’s tech stack and how do you make technology decisions?”
  • “What are the biggest challenges the team is facing right now?”
  • “How does the company support professional development?”

After the Interview

  • Send a thank-you email within 24 hours
  • Reference specific topics you discussed to show you were engaged
  • If you don’t hear back within the stated timeline, follow up politely
  • If rejected, ask for feedback — it helps you improve for next time

Start Applying

Ready to put these tips into practice? Browse fresh tech opportunities on TechJobs360 — updated every 8 hours with verified listings from top employers worldwide.