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Got an interview for a programming job next week

N

NTB

Diamond Member
I might actually get to put my CS degree to use 🙂 That said, this is the first interview I've had (took almost a year) for a programming-related position. Entry-level stuff is hard to come by around here...what can I say? Anyway, when I get there, I have to take a quiz on Java and OO programming in addition to the interview itself. Has anybody else had to do this? I was wondering exactly what I should expect. Any other *real* suggestions will be appreciated, too.

Nathan
 
Try to demonstrate that you know what you are doing. If asked about programming talk about the practical aspects of writing code in the modern world. Avoid waxing poetic on esoteric philosophy.
 
Originally posted by: ironwing
Avoid waxing poetic on esoteric philosophy.
Click to expand...

Not a problem 😛 The biggest issue I see is that I have hardly touched programming in the last year or so. I've tried, since I left school last December, but before that, my last 2 semesters of classes were mostly bookwork and theoretical stuff. I have no doubt that if I were to find a programming position and get it, I pick everything up again rather quickly; it's just the quiz and the initial interview I'm worried about.

Nate
 
Time to go back a take a look at the data-structures / Algo stuffs, maybe try coding one up real quick to see if you can do it.

I'm having the same problem. My current Job deals with managing the coding process, but not coding myself, and overseeing the testing and commissioning. I haven't touched programming for a while.

Let me know how it goes. 🙂
 
bump for the morning crowd 🙂

benliong - I've been going over some of my old programming stuff for a couple of days now, and I intend to keep doing that until the interview. I also actually found a little book about interviewing for a programming position that I'm going to go over - it is written more for the person *giving* the interview, I think, but it might help.

Nate
 
be prepared to answer LOGICAL related questions. At my company that is the main focus of our interviews...not what you know but how you think and how you perform operations. This has nothing to do with all the algorithms you know, more about the processess used to solve which algorithm to use. Also be prepared to answer the regular questions too, "whatsort of environment do you like to work in" "what are your strengths/weaknessess"
 
Just don't pull what someone did while interviewing for a Help desk position over here...

Us: So are you familiar with Active Directory?

Him: Yea... Active Directories, Sub Directories...

Us: 😕
 
I'm jealous that you can write Java and understand OO. I'm not jealous that you'll be a codemonkey for hours on end for the rest of your life. 😉

Good luck anyway.
 
Originally posted by: JRock
Just don't pull what someone did while interviewing for a Help desk position over here...

Us: So are you familiar with Active Directory?

Him: Yea... Active Directories, Sub Directories...

Us: 😕
Click to expand...

LOL selfpwnt
 
If they ask you to solve some problem in the interview, don't jump to answer. Repeat it back to them in your own words to make sure you understand it properly and be sure you understand what they want. Then think out your answer and try to give your solution in the best complexity possible that you can think of. I have had a lot of those type of problems where they expect an algorithm from you and they'd prefer to see a hash table over an array solution any day.

Also, be sure you understand the core concepts of java behind the scenes. Try to read up on the memory management in java such as the heap/stack allocations, interfaces/abstract, VM and byte code, and other low level things that might just show you really know the language.

Good luck.
 
Originally posted by: statik213
Originally posted by: JRock
Just don't pull what someone did while interviewing for a Help desk position over here...

Us: So are you familiar with Active Directory?

Him: Yea... Active Directories, Sub Directories...

Us: 😕
Click to expand...

lol
OP look here for some inspiration:
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=1746031&enterthread=y
Click to expand...


If the questions are like that, I might as well just throw in the towel now :Q

Nate
 
Well, after all was said and done, this one basically blew up in my face. Time to dig the books out and start over from scratch. I drew a complete blank today. 🙁

Nate
 
you probably just need to relax, the more stress and anxiety you're under the more likely you'll go blank when they ask you something. and i wouldn't be so sure about givign the most complex solution to a problem. but do make sure you ask questions about the problem if you really dont understand. the company doesnt want you to assume and speculate on what the problem is about.
 
Here's a good question, heard it from one of my buddies in CS that he got during an interview..

What's reflection used for?

--Mark
 
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