Hundreds of tech companies are created each day all around the world and developers play a key role in all of them. There’s no question that developer jobs have been very popular lately. But these startups are looking for very specific profiles.
According to a study based on hundreds of job offers posted on JobFluent, more than 30% of job descriptions mentioned “passion” as an important trait in a developer, while “talent” was mentioned only in 20% of the cases –interesting, huh?
If you’re a passionate and talented developer looking for a new job, note interviewing for a web developer position is challenging and full of competition. Before you start applying for positions:
- Work on a portfolio of your work
- Clean up your code
- Think about the interview from the beginning
And in that last one is when we come into the game. At JobFluent, we truly value the work of developers and want to ease your experience when job searching. We have put together a list of possible questions you may get asked by a recruiter.
Let’s tackle them!
1. What web browser do you use?
There’s only one right answer to this question: all. Show the recruiter manager that you know in depth each and every browser and how to test your code in all of them.
2. What coding sites, blogs and forums do you visit regularly?
Mention your favorite sites and explain why. Use this question to show the hiring manager that you are passionate about coding and that you are constantly learning.
3. Give me examples of sites that you love.
Answer this question from a web developer perspective. Explain why you find them so great: do they apply any original/brilliant/elegant solution? You may also want to mention specific parts of those sites that could be improved and how you would do it.
4. Which programming languages are you best at?
Mention the languages you use the most and describe your experience working with them. You can add about the positives and negative aspects of those specific languages and in which cases you would use a specific language. Also, show interest about the programming languages and tools the company is using.
5. Do you prefer to work alone or on a team?
Some developers feel at ease being part of a team, while others prefer to work on their own. Answer this question honestly –if they are looking for a team player and you are not comfortable working like that, then the job is not the best fit for you.
6. Have you ever worked in a customer support or client facing role?
Most companies prefer developers who aren’t isolated with their code, but can also be mindful about what real users and clients want. Again: tell the truth. Even if you haven’t worked specifically in a client facing position, you probably have some experience dealing with clients or end users –describe your experiences and explain what have you learned of them. If you’re lacking experience here, always show you’re willing to learn and share your knowledge.
7. How would you explain a technical problem to a non-technical person?
Developers technical jargon is all Greek to the rest and the ability to explain technical problems with simple words is a must when you have to deal with non-technical people. Recall your personal experience and give a couple of examples of harsh problems you had to explain in the past and how you did it.
8. Are you working on any personal project?
Every passionate developer has, at least, one personal project. Since your personal projects are not constrained by other requirements, they are the ideal showcase not only for your coding work, but also the way you think as a developer and your sense of aesthetics. Be prepared to show off the personal project you are most proud of and use it to expose your strengths – and your passion.
9. Can you describe the process you use for writing a piece of code?
Describe your working method step by step, from the project planning and scheduling to the testing and the delivery of the code. Show interest about the way of working of the company you are applying to and explain why you think you’d be a good fit for it.
10. What’s the project you’ve worked on that you’re most proud of and why?
This is your time to shine and transmit how passionate you are. Describe the project, your role on it and explain why you think the results were so brilliant and how you contributed to its success. Here, you can also mention the project you are least proud of, explain what happened and what have you learned from that experience; don’t fear to talk about failed projects –use them to show the recruiter manager that you can learn from your mistakes.
In a nutshell, these are some questions that can give you an idea of what to expect when interviewing for a developer position. Did we miss your favorite one? Please share it with us!!