Make Software Engineering Interviews More Creative

This is a useful technique to keep interviews creative and interesting for all involved and some bonus tips for good measure.

Photo by Mapbox on Unsplash

If you want to grow through the ranks and build your career as a software engineer, you will only take on more responsibility over time. One consistent thing that happens for everyone is you start interviewing other software engineers.

This can be daunting at first and then easier over time as you gain skills in this particular area. You may find yourself in a position where you are helping other new interviewers learn how to interview people.

Over time you will look for tips and tricks on providing the people you interview a great experience. That’s why I’ve put a few tips together and am sharing a challenge I have used in my interviews lately.

Interviewer Tips

I’ve run a fair few interviews now; these are my general interviewer principles.

• Don’t be brash, rude or disrespectful — Treat people with compassion and kindness; it’s hard to put yourself out there.
• Listen to the interviewee — Don’t judge on buzzwords; hear what they are trying to say, even if it’s not what you expect.