From the course: Job Interview Tips for Software Engineers

How to approach this question

From the course: Job Interview Tips for Software Engineers

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How to approach this question

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- This is one of my favorite trick questions. A big part of engineering is being able to explain your solution, how it works, and why it works better than some other solution. Hands-on coding is absolutely critical, yes, but it is incomplete unless you can explain a technique to somebody else before you implement it. I also ask this question, since I want to know as a hiring manager, can you explain your ideas to somebody more senior than you, or less senior than you? And you know, I've often found that when you explain your ideas to somebody else, you question their effectiveness, and you ask yourself if they are indeed the best way to solve the problem. It makes you a better engineer and a better communicator. Here are some techniques I've used to answer this question. First, ask questions, so you can provide an informed answer. In the absence of clear and concise information, ask questions to make assumptions. Good engineering answers always start with why. Second, use examples, associate your new ideas to something from the real world people already understand. And third, ask for feedback. It is often easy to get lost in the deep technical concepts and the weeds, and lose sights of the needs of the customer. Keep your answer focused on the needs of the customer, and bring them with you. Most of us learn by first associating new concepts with things we already understand, and then using this new knowledge to take us to a place we desire to go to. You will want to structure your answer in a way that helps your ideas become visual and practical, and bring the listener along with you.

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