Technical interviews can feel like coding in a shark tank—you’re judged on every semicolon while someone watches you squirm. But here’s the secret: interviewers don’t expect perfection; they want to see how you think. The difference between panic and poise comes down to preparation (and pretending your whiteboard marker isn’t drying out).
First, practice out loud. Explaining your code while writing it is a muscle memory you need to build. Use the "rubber duck method" but replace the duck with a very patient friend. When you hit a mental block, narrate your thought process—interviewers care more about your problem-solving than instant solutions.
Second, study patterns, not answers. Most coding questions are variations on:
Array/string manipulation
Linked list tricks
Tree traversals
Recursion gone wild
Learn these cold, and you’ll spot them hiding in every problem.
Finally, simulate the stress. Time yourself, use a whiteboard, and practice with random questions. The first few tries will be messy—that’s normal. By interview day, you’ll be ready to turn that blank screen into a showcase of your skills (or at least fake it convincingly).
Post a Comment