As you know, the hiring process involves several stages, from analyzing profiles and résumés to the final decision about who will take on the new role. During this journey, the recruitment team will ask you to share your experiences, any specific knowledge required for the job, and even your interpersonal skills.
In addition, for tech-related roles, the technical interview has become a key opportunity to discuss the candidate’s day-to-day responsibilities and how their skills can help address real-world challenges in the company.
Is the mere thought of it causing you anxiety? Don’t worry—I’ve written this article to share insights from my experience as a recruiter here at Techunting so you can feel more confident and prepared.
Let’s explore it together before your next technical interview comes around.
The Right Mindset: Confidence and Preparation Matter
First tip: Stay calm and focused so that stress and anxiety don’t get in your way.
Easy to read, not so easy to do, right? Anxiety is like an unwelcome visitor. You can’t wait for that uncomfortable feeling to go away.
That’s why, most of the time, the candidate who’s undergoing a technical interview ends up saying little and not showing their knowledge when they’re feeling anxious. So, it’s essential to take a deep breath and focus on the moment, avoiding distractions and believing in yourself.
However, if you find yourself feeling like you don’t belong there or that you’re not truly qualified for the job… you’re not alone. Imposter syndrome affects a vast majority of us, especially during interviews.
With some effort, you can shift your mindset from “I’m an imposter‘’ to “We all have our strengths and weaknesses”.
In the end, preparing for a technical interview—or any interview, for that matter—often comes down to practice.
Six Essential Tips to Succeed in a Technical Interview
If you’ve been selected to take part in a hiring process, take a moment to review the following items and turn them into a checklist—they’ll be helpful as you prepare:
1. Read the Job Description Carefully
In the rush of applying to multiple positions, it’s easy to overlook key details about a specific role. So, when you’re invited to a technical interview, take the time to revisit the job description. Make sure you understand what the company is looking for and what the role requires.
Better yet, write this information down so you can refer to it later.
2. Study the Company
Next, make it a point to learn more about the company before your interview:
- Understand the industry it operates in.
- Get a sense of its background and history.
- Explore the tech-based products or services it develops and offers.
You can find this information on the organization’s website and social media channels, and through industry news.
3. Assess Your Journey and Knowledge
After reviewing the job and researching the company, reflect on your own path. Make a list of your key skills, relevant experiences, and future goals—then evaluate how well they align with the role.
Think back to past projects and coursework that relate to the position. Identify areas where you may lack experience, and think about how you can address them. For example, you might choose not to focus on that topic during the interview or explain how you’re working to build your knowledge in that area.
4. Practice Voicing Your Story with Confidence
Now, write a clear narrative that connects your skills and experience to the role. Think about possible technical questions you might face and how you’d respond. Practice speaking your answers out loud, both on your own and with someone who can offer feedback.
This will help you clarify your ideas and gain confidence in telling your story.
5. Evaluate Your Technical Readiness and Performance
This step is all about sharpening your technical edge. Practicing coding challenges and problem-solving techniques not only prepares you for what you’ll likely face in interviews—it also boosts your speed, accuracy, and mental agility.
Make it a habit to work through real-time problems and simulate the pressure of timed assessments.
6. Try to Stay Calm
As I mentioned earlier, technical interviews can trigger stress and anxiety, often leading to nervousness or physical symptoms. That’s why it’s important to find strategies that help you stay grounded.
You might try exercising, listening to music, or meditating—whatever helps you relax and stay focused.
Bonus: Should You Have a Script for a Technical Interview?
Creating a script ahead of your technical interview can be a helpful part of your preparation. It encourages you to think through possible questions and organize your thoughts in advance.That said, be careful not to rely too heavily on it. The questions may or may not come up, and the interviewer might phrase things differently than you expected.
Common Technical Interview Questions and How to Approach Them
Next, I’ve compiled common questions candidates get asked in technical interviews so you can check and prepare for your next one.
Just a heads-up: “Project X” is a placeholder. Feel free to replace it with the name of a real project you’ve worked on.
1. “What was your role in Project X?”
This question focuses on what you specifically did and how your skills contributed to the project. It’s a great opportunity to highlight your strengths and areas of expertise.
Be sure to review your résumé or LinkedIn profile in advance, as questions will come up based on what you’ve shared there.
2. “What did you accomplish?”
Here, the goal is to understand how you contributed to the success of “Project X”. Walk through the steps you took and the technology you worked with.
If you can, mention any metrics you used to track the results.
3. “Can you give me an example of how you would approach a technical problem as a member of a project team?”
In this case, interviewers are assessing your ability to solve technical issues and collaborate within a team. Share a real example of a tricky project and use it to showcase your technical knowledge related to the specific subject and tools involved.
It’s also a great chance to demonstrate soft skills like leadership, flexibility, and teamwork as well.
4. “What’s one area you think you need more experience with in order to do this job well?”
This question helps recruiters understand your self-awareness and growth mindset. Be honest and clear about what you know and what you want to learn more about.
Many employers appreciate candidates who are open about learning over someone who claims to have every skill already.
Bonus questions:
- “What do you do to keep your technical knowledge and skills up to date?”
- “Can you share an experience where you had to learn a technical skill on the job?”
- “How would you measure quality performance in this role?”
My Top Tool Picks to Boost Your Tech Interview Skills
I’ve handpicked three go-to tools that can help you feel more confident and prepared for your next technical interview. While they’re not the only ones out there, they’re a solid place to start.
| Platform for Practicing Coding Challenges: Codeforces |
| Codeforces is an excellent and free platform, especially if you want to improve your problem-solving and algorithmic thinking. It’s widely used by programmers and offers thousands of challenging problems, regular contests, and a vibrant community. |
| Mock Interview Tool: Pramp |
| Pramp is super popular for its free peer-to-peer interview practice setup. It matches you with other users so you can interview each other with the same questions. Many students and pros use it to get comfortable with coding interviews and behavioral questions—all in a timed, interactive way. |
| Self-Assessment Tool: Google’s Interview Warmup |
| Google’s Interview Warmup is an AI-powered, free self-assessment tool made to help you practice answering common interview questions. You can reply using your voice or text to questions in areas like data analytics, UX design, and IT support, and the tool analyzes your answers right away. |
Your Next Steps Toward Success
Landing a job interview is already a win. Every application you submit and every interview you attend adds to your experience and builds your confidence.
And if things don’t go as planned? That’s okay. You’ll be even better prepared next time. Keep up the good work. Final tip for now: Don’t forget to explore Techunting’s open positions and discover the perks of joining a globally connected team.
