Your first tech interview can feel overwhelming. The pressure to solve algorithmic problems, explain your thought process, and navigate behavioral questions can make even the most confident candidates nervous. But the good news? With the right preparation, you can walk in with confidence.
Tech interviews are unique. Unlike traditional job interviews, they often include coding challenges, system design discussions, and problem-solving exercises. Companies want to see what you know and how you think, so practicing coding questions, refining your problem-solving approach, and preparing for behavioral rounds are all essential steps.
In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know to prepare, from understanding the interview process and sharpening your technical skills to researching the company and managing interview anxiety. Whether you’re applying for a software engineering or tech-related position, following these steps will help you confidently approach your interview.
So, let’s get started!
Understanding the Interview Process
Before preparing, it’s important to understand the structure of a typical tech interview. While every company has its approach, most follow a similar multi-stage process.
1. Phone Screen
The first step is usually a recruiter call. This is a casual conversation during which the recruiter assesses your background, interest in the role, and salary expectations. Some companies may also ask a light technical question at this stage.
2. Technical Assessment
This can be an online coding test (via platforms like HackerRank or Codility) or a take-home assignment. It typically involves solving algorithmic problems, debugging code, or implementing a small project.
3. Technical Interview(s)
This is the core of the interview process. You’ll be expected to solve coding problems in a live setting (on a whiteboard or an online coding platform). Some roles may also include system design or object-oriented programming questions.
4. Behavioral Interview
Companies assess your soft skills, teamwork, and problem-solving approach. Expect questions about past experiences, challenges, and how you handle conflicts.
5. Final Interview / Onsite Round
There’s a final round for some roles where you meet senior engineers or managers. This may include more coding questions, system design discussions, or culture-fit assessments.
Understanding these stages helps you prepare effectively so you won’t be caught off guard at any step. Next, we’ll discuss how to sharpen your technical skills.
Building Technical Skills
Technical preparation is the most crucial part of a tech interview. Hiring managers want to see how well you can solve problems, write clean code, and think logically under pressure. Here’s how to build strong technical skills:
1. Master Data Structures and Algorithms
Most technical interviews focus on fundamental concepts like:
- Arrays, strings, linked lists
- Stacks and queues
- Hash tables and dictionaries
- Trees and graphs
- Sorting and searching algorithms
- Dynamic programming
Practicing these topics will improve your ability to solve problems efficiently. Resources like LeetCode, HackerRank, and CodeSignal are great for hands-on practice.
2. Solve Coding Problems Regularly
Dedicate time each day to solving coding problems. Start with easy questions to build confidence, then progress to medium and hard problems. Aim to solve problems in a structured manner:
- Understand the problem statement.
- Identify the best data structure to use.
- Optimize for time and space complexity.
- Write clean, well-documented code.
3. Learn System Design (If Applicable)
For mid-level and senior roles, system design questions are common. Study topics like:
- Scalability and load balancing
- Database indexing and sharding
- Caching mechanisms
- Microservices architecture
Books like Designing Data-Intensive Applications and platforms like Grokking the System Design Interview can help.
4. Know the Tech Stack
Understand the languages and frameworks used by the company. If they primarily use Python or JavaScript, ensure you’re comfortable coding in those languages.
Consistent practice will strengthen your problem-solving abilities and boost your confidence before the interview. Next, we will examine how to prepare for behavioral questions.
Preparing for Behavioral Questions
Tech interviews aren’t just about coding; you also need to show that you’re a great team player, problem solver, and communicator. That’s where behavioral questions come in. Many candidates underestimate this part, but it can make or break your chances.
1. Understand the STAR Method
Most companies expect structured responses. The STAR method helps you answer clearly:
- Situation – Describe the context.
- Task – Explain the challenge.
- Action – Walk through what you did.
- Result – Share the outcome.
For example, if asked about handling conflict, you could explain when you disagreed with a teammate, how you worked through it, and what you learned.
2. Prepare for Common Questions
Expect questions like:
- Tell me about yourself.
- Describe a time you solved a difficult problem.
- Have you ever failed at something? What did you learn?
- How do you handle tight deadlines?
Reflect on past projects, internships, or even schoolwork where you overcame challenges.
3. Show Your Thought Process
Interviewers don’t just care about what you did—they want to see how you think. Walk them through your reasoning, even if the outcome wasn’t perfect.
4. Practice Out Loud
It feels awkward at first, but saying your answers out loud helps. Try mock interviews with a friend or record yourself to refine your responses.
A strong behavioral interview can set you apart from candidates with similar technical skills. Next, let’s talk about mock interviews and time management.
Mock Interviews & Time Management
Practicing in a real interview setting can make a huge difference. Mock interviews help you get comfortable thinking under pressure, articulating your thoughts, and managing time effectively.
1. Do Mock Interviews
The best way to simulate the real thing is by doing mock interviews. You can:
- Practice with a friend or mentor.
- Use platforms like Pramp, Interviewing.io, or Gainlo for real-time mock interviews.
- Record yourself solving problems to identify areas for improvement.
Mock interviews help reduce nerves and make you more confident when facing actual interviewers.
2. Manage Time Effectively
Time management is critical during coding interviews. Here’s a simple approach:
- First 2 minutes – Read the problem carefully and clarify any doubts.
- Next 5 minutes – Plan your approach and discuss it with the interviewer.
- Next 15-20 minutes – Write the code while explaining your thought process.
- Final 5 minutes – Optimize, test, and debug your solution.
Avoid rushing straight into coding. Taking a few minutes to plan can save you time later.
Mock interviews and time management practice will help you perform better under pressure. Next, we’ll discuss how to research the company before your interview.
Researching the Company
Walking into an interview without knowing anything about the company is a huge mistake. Interviewers want to see that you’re genuinely interested in the role. A little research goes a long way.
1. Understand the Company’s Tech Stack
Check the job description and company website to see what technologies they use. If they work with Python and Django but you’ve mostly used Java, it’s worth brushing up on Python basics.
2. Read About the Company’s Culture and Values
Most companies list their mission and core values on their website. Understanding these can help you tailor your answers to behavioral questions. If collaboration is a big part of their culture, you might highlight a project where teamwork made a difference.
3. Follow the Company’s Recent Work
Check their blog, LinkedIn, or press releases to see what they’ve been working on. Bringing this up in the interview shows that you’ve done your homework.
Researching the company makes you appear prepared and interested. Next, let’s discuss the final steps before your interview.
Final Preparations & Day of the Interview
By now, you’ve put in the hard work—practicing coding problems, preparing for behavioral questions, and researching the company. The final step is making sure everything goes smoothly on interview day.
1. Set Up Your Environment (For virtual interviews)
If your interview is online, make sure you have:
- A quiet, well-lit space
A strong internet connection
A working microphone and webcam
Coding tools or an online editor ready to go
Test everything beforehand to avoid last-minute tech issues.
2. Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Cramming the night before won’t help. Your brain works best when well-rested, so prioritize sleep over last-minute studying.
3. Stay Calm and Confident
Interview jitters are normal. Take deep breaths, remind yourself that you’ve prepared, and focus on one question at a time. If you get stuck, don’t panic—talk through your thought process, and your interviewer may even guide you.
4. Have a Cheat Sheet (But Use It Wisely)
Jot down key algorithms, common behavioral question prompts, and company details. Don’t rely on it; it can help as a quick reference.
You’re ready. Trust yourself and give it your best shot. Now, let’s wrap things up with some final thoughts.
Conclusion
Preparing for your first tech interview can feel overwhelming, but with the right approach, you’ll walk in feeling confident and ready. Start by understanding the interview process so you know what to expect.
Build your technical skills with regular coding practice, but don’t neglect behavioral questions. Mock interviews will help you get comfortable under pressure, and researching the company will show that you’re genuinely interested.
Finally, on interview day, trust your preparation. Take a deep breath, stay calm, and focus on solving one problem at a time. Even if things don’t go perfectly, every interview is a learning experience.
Join Codar today to learn a tech skill so can familiarize yourself with the Nigerian tech space.
