Essential interview toolkit for software engineers in 2023

The demand for highly skilled software engineers shows no signs of slowing down, making the job market highly competitive for candidates in 2023.

At Talent500, we work with some of the world’s best companies (Airbnb, Uber, Twitter, Nike, Walmart etc) to help them build and manage global teams. We have consolidated some of the most frequently asked questions from our customers to help you ace interviews in 2023.

Tech Skills – Related Topics & Questions

Here are some of the common interview topics and questions that focus in-demand tech skills in 2023. Take your time to thoroughly explore and understand each topic and question.

React Hooks

React Hooks are a new feature in React that allow developers to use state and other React features without writing a class component. React Hooks were introduced in React 16.8 and are designed to make it easier to reuse stateful logic between components.

Frequently asked questions

• How do React Hooks differ from traditional React components?
• Can you give an example of how you would use the useState hook in a React application?
• How do React Hooks help with code reuse and separation of concerns?
• Can you demonstrate how to test a custom React Hook?

GraphQL

GraphQL is a query language for your API that allows you to request specific data from a server and return only the data you need. It is designed to be flexible and efficient, making it a popular choice for modern, data-driven applications.

Frequently asked questions

• What is GraphQL and how does it differ from REST?
• How does GraphQL enable client-side flexibility in data fetching and manipulation?
• Can you give an example of a GraphQL query and its corresponding result?
• How do you handle security and authentication in a GraphQL API?
• Can you describe the role of resolvers in a GraphQL server?

SQL query

An SQL (Structured Query Language) query is a request for data from a database. An SQL query is written in a specific syntax that the database can understand and use to retrieve the requested data.

Frequently asked questions

• Can you explain the difference between a select and an update query in SQL?
• How do you use the WHERE clause in an SQL query to filter results?
• How do you use aggregate functions in an SQL query, such as AVG, SUM, and COUNT?
• Can you explain the difference between a primary key and a foreign key in a database table?

SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS)

SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) is a platform for building data integration and workflow solutions for the Microsoft SQL Server database. It is typically used to extract, transform, and load data from a variety of sources into a SQL Server database. SSIS includes a set of tools and services for building and managing integration solutions, including a visual design environment and a runtime engine for executing packages.

Frequently asked questions

• Can you describe the overall architecture of SSIS and how it fits into the Microsoft SQL Server ecosystem?
• How do you use the SSIS designer to build and deploy packages?
• Can you give an example of how you would use a Data Flow task in an SSIS package to extract, transform, and load data?
• How do you troubleshoot errors and performance issues in SSIS packages?
• Can you describe how you would use SSIS variables and expressions to dynamically control package execution?

Soft Skills – Related Questions

The following section focuses on common interview questions related to soft skills and how to effectively answer them. These questions are formulated to test your communication skills, capacity for teamwork, problem solving skills, etc.


Tell us about your profile
When talking about your profile, you should highlight your relevant technical skills and experiences, as well as any relevant education or certifications. You should also mention any projects you’ve worked on, whether they were part of your studies or on your own, as this will give the interviewer a sense of your capabilities and accomplishments.

Tell me about a time when you had to solve a complex problem. How did you go about it?
This question is designed to assess your problem-solving skills and how you approach challenges. When answering this question, it’s important to provide specific examples and detail the steps you took to find a solution. Be sure to also highlight any creative or outside-the-box thinking you used to come up with a solution.

What makes you interested in joining our company?
When discussing why you’re interested in the company, you should do some research beforehand and mention specific aspects of the company’s products, culture, or mission that appeal to you. You should also explain how your skills and experiences make you a good fit for the role and the company.

How do you communicate technical concepts to non-technical team members?
Effective communication is crucial in any job, but especially in software engineering where you may be working with people from a variety of different backgrounds. When answering this question, you should emphasize your ability to explain technical concepts in a way that is easy to understand for people who may not have a technical background. You might also want to talk about any tools or resources you use to help facilitate communication, such as diagrams or charts.

When working with a team to complete a project, how did you contribute to the team’s success?
Collaboration is an important skill in software engineering, as you will often be working on projects with other team members. This question is designed to assess your ability to work effectively with others. When answering, be sure to highlight specific actions you took to contribute to the team’s success. This could include things like taking on specific tasks, providing support to other team members, or coming up with creative solutions to problems.

Here are some additional resources to assist with your job search: our Million Dollar Advice series featuring useful tips and techniques from Vikram Ahuja, CEO, Talent500.

How To Get Noticed By Recruiters
How To Negotiate Your Salary Like A Pro
Top 3 Interview Questions and How To Answer Them

Conclusion

The ideal software engineer in 2023 is someone with strong communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and a collaborative work ethic. By continuing to build your skillset and referring to the questions and topics outlined in this article, you’ll be able to showcase both your technical and soft skills in the interview process as a top candidate for your dream job.