More failed interview
I recently found the perfect job, close to home, pays well and sounded cool. I was for a company doing video streaming looking for a JavaScript developer. I was invited for an interview and started out well then they mentioned C++.
After asking about how much i knew i was given a coding test. The first test in JavaScript was easy but forgot to increment due to nerves but was allowed to fix it. Then came a C++ question to manipulate a string, which i answered in mostly psuedo code as my C++ is super rusty. the answer was only partially correct. Then came the final question in JavaScript if two words were an anagram. this was around 5pm so i wasn't the most alert. combined with nerves my brain started to shutdown and i gave an answer to if it was a palidrome. I was given a second chance but it was too late and again gave an answer for a palidrome. it was humiliating to say the least.
Obviously i didn't get the role but that really made clear the importance of practicing coding tests. Ive debated in the past about projects versus coding tests. After this i realised that coding test should play a much bigger part in my prep.
Within a week later i had another coding test for another role. This time it was my arch nemisis Hacker Rank. I was ready to give up but gave it a go never the less. It turned out easier than i thought 3 questions each harder than the last. the first completed easily. However i made the mistake of trying to do it while working remote. I started early to allow time before my usual start time. But somehow i was given an urgent task that i had to do while the Hackerrank timer kept ticking. i eventually got back to the test and was doing ok. Take a list and return the list without duplicate numbers. I was getting so close but frustrated then the time ran out. Later i realised an easier solution but too late.
So the take away from this is NEVER underestimate the importance of practicing coding tests. Even if you know frameworks it wont be enough to pass a test. These tests are "usually" before any face to face interview so you may never get to talk about everything you know if you don't pass the test.
My current resolution is review data structures and algorithms then move onto more coding challenges to practice.
After asking about how much i knew i was given a coding test. The first test in JavaScript was easy but forgot to increment due to nerves but was allowed to fix it. Then came a C++ question to manipulate a string, which i answered in mostly psuedo code as my C++ is super rusty. the answer was only partially correct. Then came the final question in JavaScript if two words were an anagram. this was around 5pm so i wasn't the most alert. combined with nerves my brain started to shutdown and i gave an answer to if it was a palidrome. I was given a second chance but it was too late and again gave an answer for a palidrome. it was humiliating to say the least.
Obviously i didn't get the role but that really made clear the importance of practicing coding tests. Ive debated in the past about projects versus coding tests. After this i realised that coding test should play a much bigger part in my prep.
Within a week later i had another coding test for another role. This time it was my arch nemisis Hacker Rank. I was ready to give up but gave it a go never the less. It turned out easier than i thought 3 questions each harder than the last. the first completed easily. However i made the mistake of trying to do it while working remote. I started early to allow time before my usual start time. But somehow i was given an urgent task that i had to do while the Hackerrank timer kept ticking. i eventually got back to the test and was doing ok. Take a list and return the list without duplicate numbers. I was getting so close but frustrated then the time ran out. Later i realised an easier solution but too late.
So the take away from this is NEVER underestimate the importance of practicing coding tests. Even if you know frameworks it wont be enough to pass a test. These tests are "usually" before any face to face interview so you may never get to talk about everything you know if you don't pass the test.
My current resolution is review data structures and algorithms then move onto more coding challenges to practice.
Comments
Post a Comment