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What are coding challenges and why are they important for interviewers and interviewees?
Coding challenges are designed to test an interviewees’ coding skills. They are great because they save time and money for both the interviewer and the interviewee by eliminating candidates who make it clear they cannot do what needs to be done. They also keep the integrity of the study by ensuring the candidate knows how to code audio on the computer.
In this article, I will focus on the challenges facing interviewers, the strategies for overcoming them, and the ones applicants should practice ahead of time.
Interviewers have to deal with nigh-on constant interruptions from candidates during interviews. As a result, it is very difficult to set up coding challenges that are not time-consuming or expensive for an interviewee. For example, if a candidate claims in an interview that he/she cannot read English well then you can try writing some dialogues in Chinese. The challenge will be to write things in such a way that the interviewee can read through it and still coding the audio.
Solutions include:
1. Constructing the interview around a coding exercise. One strategy is for an interviewer to ask questions about coding related issues on an isolated (low volume) phone line or at a separate desk in an interview room away from other candidates. This means you will need to set up a separate phone line so you can gain privacy, or hire an assistant if you are unsuccessful with getting one.
How can you best prepare for coding challenges during an interview process?
Coding challenges can be done in a number of ways. They can involve interviewees turning in a coding form after an interview, or they may involve the interviewer and interviewee sitting together while the candidate actually codes the audio. Make sure you know what the challenge will be ahead of time so that you can prepare. It’s also a good idea to have interviews scheduled in such a way that extra time is available in case of a coding challenge. If you have had experience doing coding challenges, make sure that information is conveyed to the interviewer.
Try to be as prepared as possible for whatever challenge may be put in front of you. If you have had hands-on experience with the transcription software used in these interviews try to get a demo of it and familiarize yourself with its functionality before your interview. If not, look at available documentation and online tutorials about the tool so that you know how to correctly utilize it when it comes time for your challenge.
What are some common coding challenge types that you might encounter during an interview process?
There are two main types of coding challenges that you will encounter. The first is a technique challenge, which involves the interviewer asking the candidate to complete a set of tasks, and then checking whether they were done correctly. This can include anything from identifying a tone in an interview (like laughter or crying), to setting up a coding form on the computer, to designing and presenting an outline of a script, or even setting up interview cuing in advance. The second type of challenge is a code test, which includes the candidate actually coding part of the interview. This can be useful for ensuring that the candidate knows how to do it on a computer, but it relies on having access to the recording during or after the interview.
The first thing that you need to do is figure out a method to record your interview. There are many options out there – look up “recording an interview” or “recording tests” on google and you’ll get some great results and a lot of options. Even if the challenge is a technique test, you’ll still want to use recording because the technique may be really hard to pick up on in the moment. Most importantly, though, if you don’t have recording capabilities, it is best to have your interviewer give you time to implement the challenge.
How do you go about solving a coding challenge during an interview if you’re not sure where to start or get stuck along the way?”
Once the interviewer has laid out the coding question, make sure you ask the interviewee what method they will use to get them to complete it. If they say that they will use keywords, then focus on getting them to cite those keywords. The goal is to make this a part of your own standard practice. Have them work on any parts of it that you didn’t do during the interview and then verify that everything works correctly. Having the candidate find their way and check the results themselves can make all of the difference.
While you’re working on a coding challenge, ask them to help you to come up with the best approach. This can also be done through some sort of test-driven development (TDD).
Don’t be put off if they ask for their environment or IDE to be changed, but instead start the solution within the context of your system and testing it there.
At this point, you should have your candidate try to solve the challenge on their own time and test the solution. If they have trouble testing their solution – or get stuck somewhere, then ask them for advice on how to proceed. Keep a list of questions related to their experience and knowledge in mind as you are talking through the solution. If a new question comes up that is not on your list, proceed with caution or ask them if they want to wait until later in the interview.
What are some tips for staying calm and confident during a coding challenge in an interview setting?”
Coding is a skill that takes time and practice to master. It can be a lot to ask of an interviewee, especially in the middle of an interview. If you feel stuck, simply tell the interviewee that you need a little more time and ask them to hold on for a second. Take time out of the session if you have any trouble or questions. You might also try breaking up coding into micro-coding sessions. Instead of doing a full code on the whiteboard, stop when you need to ask a question or take a break. Other interviewees who practice interview skills suggest practicing with friends or family members before stepping into an interview session.
Another tip for staying calm and confident during coding challenge is to be prepared for it. Many interviews will give some warning that you will have to do a coding challenge during your session. If you know in advance, practice with friends and family before you step into an interview room. If you are unable to practice, write out some ideas in order of priority. Be prepared to explain your reasoning for the code you write. If a candidate decides that the code is difficult, it might be helpful for them to see a code written quickly and then followed with a longer explanation and rationale.
