20 Interview Questions for Getting a Developer Job

20 Interview Questions for Getting a Developer Job

From discussions on the same over at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com, the interviewing process often varies for developer roles. While you are unlikely to find a set template to follow, there are some common questions to prepare for, depending on your level of experience in the field. To help you put your best foot forward, we have curated for you a list of the 20 most common developer interview questions and how to answer them.

What development methodology are you most familiar with?

With this question, the interviewer is eager to know how you would fit into their organization and its environment according to RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. Depending on your previous work experience and background, you could give an example of a relevant situation where you had to use a specific methodology and how the process worked out.

What type of development are you currently working on?

This is another question that hiring questions ask to know that you understand your contribution to a company. Therefore, when you answer this question, explain the business reasoning for your everyday work as a developer.

What tools do you use to keep track of project requirements?

As per RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com, hiring managers ask this question to determine how you stay organized at work and how strong your time management skills are. When answering, tell them the specific software or tools you use to stay on top of your projects, like say an online spreadsheet.

What programming languages are you familiar with?

This question is designed so that hiring managers can determine if your skills align with the job’s qualifications. While you need to let them know the programming languages you have experience with, it is also important to show you are willing to learn additional languages to fit the needs of the job.

Describe your ideal environment as a developer

Be honest when you answer this question. If you require a quiet room to code freely, you are probably not going to be a fit in the open-plan office. Be honest and direct with your answer, while also considering the layout and culture of the company you are applying to.

Describe a conflict you had with a team member

Hiring managers ask this question to try and assess your problem-solving skills as articulated at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. This question is likely to come up if the company plans to have you work within a large team or department. Your answer is a great opportunity to showcase your communication and problem-solving skills. Remember to stay positive when speaking about a former colleague.

Tell us about a tough software development problem you encountered and how you solved it

Interviewers ask this question to identify the candidate’s problem-solving skills as well. It will allow you to showcase how you handle such challenges, showing the interviewer that you are capable of doing so when working with them.

What is your process to test and find bugs in an application?

As captured at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com, this question is important to showcase your own process for finding security bugs, as every candidate will have a different way of doing so. You can also use answering this question as an opportunity to show your knowledge of different debugging tools you are familiar with, while also highlighting your preferred ones.

What excites you most about coding?

While this question may seem straightforward, it helps determine how passionate you are about your job. Hiring managers want to hire a candidate who can articulate their excitement and passion for development, so don’t be afraid to get animated when discussing the elements of your job you enjoy.

Tell us about a project you worked on that you are proud of

When answering this question, you need to choose a project that is current enough to still be relevant but big enough to make an impact. Given that coding changes so quickly, it is pointless talking about an outdated build. As well as describing the project, be sure to focus on your own role, where you added value, and where you helped other team members as the overall success of the project will be less significant to a hiring manager than your specific role in it.

Describe a project that you worked on that you are not so proud of

This question not only shows a potential employer that you are capable of critically analyzing the work of your team but also that you are not afraid to admit your own shortcomings or mistakes as covered at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com.

What source control do you use?

Source control is vital when working in a team to manage code in the build stage and track and save changes. It means that when multiple people are working on code and something breaks, it is possible to revert to a stable version. This question is asked to try to identify any bad habits in your coding and your experience of working within a team.

What is your favorite feature of the product?

If the place you are interviewing for builds a certain product, being able to speak about the different features of the product shows the interviewer that you are invested in the company and that you have done your homework as described at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com.

How do you ensure you are communicating effectively with non-technical colleagues?

Interviewers ask this question to get a good insight into whether you have worked with non-technical teams productively and collaboratively or whether you have just added it to your application to look more rounded. Watch the language and terminology you use to describe your non-technical teammates.

What passion projects are you working on?

Hiring managers are looking for developers who are committed to upskilling and can take responsibility for their own learning. Talking about side projects shows an enthusiasm for programming outside your professional experience. It is important to show balance and a passion for projects beyond a paycheque.

Why do you want to work at this company?

If you want to stand out from other candidates, reference specific features of the product and how you feel your skills are aligned with the requirement of the role as discussed at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. Don’t discount the non-technical aspects of the role either.

How do you know what to work on each day?

The purpose of this question is to identify dysfunction. Interviewers want to get answers from 2 or 3 developers. If company leadership says the company follows a certain process, but the developers don’t talk about the process, that is a sign of dysfunction.

How do you find a bug in an application?

The interviewer will ask this question to gauge your attention to detail. As revealed at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com, when answering this question, demonstrate your ability to find bugs and how often you debug your code work.

How do you keep updated with the latest industry trends and technologies?

The coding and development industry is constantly changing and a developer must demonstrate an ability to keep up with the latest trends. When answering this question, demonstrate your ability to stay updated on developments.

What part of software development do you think is the most difficult?

This question is designed to judge your self-awareness which means you should avoid humblebrags when answering. Be honest and specific when answering, and if you have areas you struggle with or possible gaps, don’t be afraid to bring them up.

As always, if you are looking for more information on this topic, and so much more, don’t be afraid to check out the excellent RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com.