We know, we know, interviews are stressful on the best of days but throw in coding challenges and timed tasks, and it gets a bit dicey. Whether you’re a seasoned professional making a career change or just starting with entry-level coding positions, it’s easy to get nervous.

But we’re here to help! We’ve seen a lot of people learning through Altcademy ace their coding interviews and we’ll shed some light on what to keep in mind throughout the process.

Before we get into it...

But our general advice across the board will be: Keep your cool. Remember, during a coding interview, they are not just looking at your coding skills. You are also being evaluated on your problem-solving abilities, how you process information, and your working style itself. Keep a level head and try your best not to get too flustered as you work through challenges.

Advice #1: Pick a language and run with it

You’ll hear this advice a lot when preparing for coding interviews, and for a good reason. Don’t stress yourself out trying to master all languages; most companies will allow you to pick one of your choosing. Think about what you’re most comfortable with, what you have the most fun with, and ultimately, what you want to be doing.

Don’t force yourself to go for languages you dislike but you think companies want to see. Because ultimately, once you pick a language, practice is what will help you excel. If you choose something you like, the practice can be fun. Pick something you’re not that into, and you’ll struggle during the interview...and that’s just not a good way to start things off.

Advice #2: Be methodical

You’re given a challenge, so the obvious step is to jump to coding immediately...right? Not quite. The challenge is just one element like we said earlier. What the interviewer is trying to see is how you process information and how you plan your approach.

So when you get the challenge, take some time to read and ask questions to clarify things. Write out your approach if it’s an in-home test. Talk out loud so the interviewer can understand your thought process, and brainstorm together if you’re unsure about the solution. The challenge is about seeing how you solve problems, so be methodical and go through every step so the interviewer can understand precisely how you landed on the solution.

Advice #3: Run through some non-coding questions

While yes, the coding challenge will be the brunt of your interview, don’t forget the other interview component - getting to know you! It might be tempting only to practice coding languages and challenges, but don’t skip the other questions.

Look through Glassdoor to see what kinds of questions are generally asked, and have some answers in mind. Remember, the interview is also about understanding whether you’re the right cultural fit for the company and how you’ll work with others. Having some background on company culture and values will be helpful to bring up during the interview to show you’ve done your research.

We promised this would be a quick read! Your coding interview goal is to show that you a) know your stuff and b) you know how to execute. The tests and challenges are a part of the process but think of it as practice. The more familiar you are with the interview structure, the better you’ll do under pressure.

At Altcademy, we’re here to help you at every step of your coding journey with self-directed coding courses, access to mentors, and career help. Get in touch today to learn more about how you can learn to code with us.