How to answer coding interview questions?

@jerod.sauer Coding interview questions are the 'holy grail' of the industry. They live up to their reputation because they can be challenging to address. There are multiple ways to address coding interview questions; you must know what those are. It would help if you did your research beforehand about different interviewers and the types of questions that they might ask you before arriving for the interview. Here are some tips on how to answer coding interview questions

Coding interview framework

The first thing you need to be able to do when answering coding interview questions is to know your framework. What terminology are you going to use? Are there specific rules or principles which are essential in a given situation? If so, what are they? These frameworks have become so well-known because they give us an answer right off the bat, even if it is not the optimal answer. You must take the time beforehand to review all of these frameworks thoroughly.

Example coding interview answer

The second thing you need to be able to do is to have an example coding interview answer in mind. Larger companies will use this to test your knowledge of the Java programming language, while smaller companies might use it to test your coding speed. Having an example in mind is crucial when answering coding interview questions. It keeps you from being caught off-guard and makes the process much smoother for everyone involved.

Good vs. great technical candidates

Many become complacent when they think they know the best answers to coding interview questions. They assume that they know what would be the best answer based on their own experience, but this usually leads to them being rejected by the company. These companies want to hire great technical candidates. They want to hire people who are not just good at programming but can also think outside the box and solve problems in novel ways.

Coding interview preparation

Interview preparation is the key to beating coding interview questions. The best preparation involves taking several approaches to each coding interview question and reading over other candidates' responses and feedback. This helps you hone in on the best answer possible.

Coding interviews are not easy, and you need to keep your head clear during the interview. Don't get too comfortable answering coding interview questions, as you will only be penalized for that by the interviewer. You need to be fully prepared to answer questions correctly, so do all your research beforehand and remember to keep calm even if the question is tricky.

@jerod.sauer 

Here are some specific steps you can follow to answer coding interview questions effectively:

1. Understand the question: Read the question carefully, and make sure you fully understand what is expected from you. If there are any ambiguities, ask the interviewer for clarification.
2. Plan your approach: Before diving into coding, take a moment to plan your approach. Break down the problem into smaller sub-problems and think about the algorithm or data structures that could be used to solve them.
3. Start with a brute-force solution: If you're unsure where to start, begin with a simple brute-force solution that solves the problem but may not be efficient. This approach shows the interviewer that you can code and helps you get familiar with the problem.
4. Optimize the solution: Once you have a working solution, think about ways to make it more efficient. Consider time and space complexity and try to come up with an optimized approach. This may involve using different algorithms or data structures.
5. Write clean and readable code: While coding, maintain a clean and readable coding style. Use meaningful variable names, indents, and comments to clearly explain your thought process and make it easier for the interviewer to understand.
6. Test your code: After writing the solution, test it with various inputs to ensure it works correctly in different scenarios. Consider edge cases and error handling. If you encounter bugs, debug them logically and methodically.
7. Optimize for code reuse and modularity: Think about how your solution can be generalized or modified to solve similar problems. Consider the reusability and modularity of your code and make appropriate improvements.
8. Communicate with the interviewer: As you code, communicate your thought process with the interviewer. Explain why you chose a specific approach, discuss trade-offs, and ask for feedback. This demonstrates your problem-solving skills and ability to collaborate.
9. Be confident but humble: Answering coding interview questions can be challenging, but maintain confidence in your abilities. However, don't be afraid to admit if you don't know the answer or need help. Employers often value honesty and willingness to learn.
10. Practice, practice, practice: The more you practice coding interview questions, the better you will become at answering them. Use online platforms, coding challenges, and mock interviews to gain experience and improve your problem-solving skills.

Remember, coding interviews are not just about getting the right answer; they are about demonstrating your problem-solving abilities, analytical thinking, and communication skills. So, focus on the process and approach rather than just the final outcome.