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Technical interviews are common among employers recruiting for engineering or science positions. Essentially, it's an interview to assess your technical ability, usually related to the technical knowledge required for the role and the organization you wish to work for. Read on for tips and tricks to ace your next technical interview!
Let's ââLearn ââAbout ââTechnical âInterviewing
Technical interviews are common among employers recruiting for engineering or science positions. Essentially, it's an interview to assess your technical ability, usually related to the technical knowledge required for the role and the organization you wish to work for.
Some questions might focus less on technical knowledge and more on how you think. Such questions are looking to test your problem solving or your numerical reasoning abilities. This might involve being asked âto solve a puzzle or âtroubleshoot a glitch in a computer program.
The good news is, this isn't just about getting the question right. Rather, the interviewer is looking at a lot of different clues, including focusing on how you solve the problem to see who you are as an engineer or scientist.
âTop âTips for âTechnical âInterviews:
Ask questions: You should feel encouraged to ask questions. If anything is unclear, ask about it. âShow your interviewer that you are brave enough to seek out additional help when needed. Asking questions is a sign of confidence and reassurance that you pay attention to detail. Having your questions answered will also give you a better chance of acing the problem that you have been presented with.
Talk it out: Be open with your interviewer to give them a glimpse into your problem-solving methods. âThink out loud and show your interviewer the path you are taking as you solve a problem. This also gives the interviewer an opportunity to help you if you are missing the mark.
Be flexible: All interviews will be different. Some interviewers may have you talk through a problemâ; others may watch you as you work through a computer âprogram. Show them that you can think on the spot, address unique problems as they arise, and don't get overly flustered with novel questions. It's okay if you mess up, just use it as a learning experience and show your interviewer that you have the ability to grow as a problem-solver.
Work on your soft skills: Your coding skills may get you the interview, but it's the soft skills that will âfacilitate your career. Skills like good communication, critical thinking, âand project management are what you'll need to supplement your coding, both for landing the job and for advancing once you've got it. This is another area where practice makes perfect. The more you practice selling your soft skills out loud, the more comfortable you'll be when it's time for the real thing.
Show you care: Research the company's culture. Will you get along with coworkers? Can you fit in with the culture? These are huge predictors of how well you'll do at a company. Knowing about a company's culture is the best way to show interviewers you'd be a good fit. If you know the names of people you'll be working with, don't be afraid to reference them in your answers. This demonstrates that you've done your homework and understand how things are done there. By showing an ability to fit into the culture, your interviewer will have an easier time imagining you as part of it.
*A very special thank you to Maddie Foster, UCSB Career Counselor, for her content and idea contributions to this article.*
For more help preparing for âa technical interview, try these websites:
1. Top Technical Interview Questions
3. The Ultimate Guide to Acing Your Technical Interview
Also make sure to check out the UCSB Career Services Website, Interviewing & Networking for Graduate Students.