7 Programmer Interview Questions and Answers
Whether you are
preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of
top Programmer interview questions and answers.
1.
What was the first programming
language that you learned?
The answer to this
question can tell you a lot about job applicant’s interest in programming.
People who start learning languages when they’re young usually know languages
like JavaScript, which is used for making interactive websites. Those who
learned languages like Java and C++ probably didn’t develop a sincere interest
in programming until they went to college.
What to look for in an
answer:
Learn about
applicant's experience
Discover languages
the applicant knows
Measure the
applicant's enthusiasm for programming
Example: “C++ was the first programming
language in an academic class. Before I went to college, though, I had picked
up a fair amount of JavaScript and Python. I remember making my first
math-based game with JavaScript. I still enjoy using those languages because
they’re flexible enough that you can use them in a lot of contexts.”
2.
What do you enjoy about programming?
How people answer
this question tells about their personalities and how they might fit into your
existing team of programmers. You may find a new team member who enjoys tasks
that your other employees dislike.
What to look for in an
answer:
The applicant's
interest in programming
Parts of programming
that interest the applicant most
Positions the
applicant may fill
Example: “I love looking through code so I
can find errors and fix them. In fact, I’ve always loved fixing things
methodically. When I was a kid, my dad and I fixed a 1967 Mustang. It took a
meticulous approach and a lot of patience. I feel the same way about reviewing
code.”
3.
What’s the hardest thing about
working as a computer programmer?
It’s natural for
computer programmers to hide their weaknesses. As an employer, though, you need
to find each person’s weaknesses and strengths. How someone answers this
question can give you insight into the person’s personality as well as what
parts of projects the applicant may not enjoy.
What to look for in an
answer:
The applicant's
strengths and weaknesses
What aspects of
programming excite the applicant
Projects that the
applicant is suited for
Example: “As much as I love sitting at my
computer and solving problems, I need regular breaks to maintain my focus.
After two hours staring at a screen, I need to take a short walk to clear my
head and get my body active.”
4.
What’s your favorite programming
language?
Every programmer has
a favorite language. If possible, it makes sense to pair people with languages
that they enjoy using. If you can match employees with their preferred programming
languages, you should see better productivity and work satisfaction.
What to look for in an
answer:
The applicant's
favorite language
Whether the applicant
enjoys languages used at the company
Projects the
applicant may enjoy working on
Example: “I love using JavaScript because
it’s such an elegant language with so many purposes. Like most coders, I
learned JS when I started building websites. JavaScript makes it easy for
websites and visitors to interact with each other.”
5.
Can you tell me about your favorite
programming project?
Learning about a
person’s favorite programming project can tell you what the applicant enjoys
about work. You may find that the person values creative thinking used to solve
complex issues, or you may discover that the interviewee prefers getting lost
in repetitive lines of code.
What to look for in an
answer:
Learn more about the
applicant's critical thinking skills
Whether the person
will work well within the company
How the applicant
approaches unknown problems
Example: “Early in college, I worked with a
group of librarians to preserve letters written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
They wanted to digitize each of the letters so students could access them
online instead of coming to the library. We took high-quality images of the
letters. I added XML tags to the images to make them easier to categorize and
search. It was a fun interdisciplinary project that I’m still proud of.”
6.
What’s the most recent language that
you learned?
New languages emerge
frequently. Knowing what an applicant has learned recently will tell you
whether that person has an interest in keeping up with newer languages. Some of
the programmers that you interview may only know older, established languages
like C++ and Python. Adventurous programmers who keep up with the latest
languages may know how to use Julia, Rust and Swift.
What to look for in an
answer:
How many programs the
applicant knows
Whether the applicant
keeps up with new languages
The person's
enthusiasm for new programming languages
Example: “I probably don’t keep up with as
many new languages as I should, but I’ve learned a lot since I graduated from
college. In school, I had to focus on C++. Outside of class, I spent time
experimenting with newer languages like Julia and Swift. Since graduating, I’ve
worked on some projects that require those languages.”
7.
What would your skills and
personality contribute to our team?
You need to know what
positive traits applicants will bring to your company. Asking this question
gives potential employees opportunities to talk about themselves and how they
foresee working for your company.
What to look for in an
answer:
How the person fits
into your team
What skills the
applicant brings to the company
Whether the
applicant's personality will fit with company culture
Example: “I enjoy solving difficult
problems. If other members of your team can’t find the right solution, then I
will search for it. At the same time, I’m a team player. I know that other
people contribute a lot of work to every project. Even when I find a solution
that eluded other people, I’m happy to share the success with everyone.”
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