Why this matters:
All software engineering candidates should be in the habit of regularly reviewing their work to ensure its quality. If they spot a bug, they must know how to fix it without affecting the rest of their code. Attention to detail is critical in this role, since even the smallest errors can lead to major issues.
What to listen for:
- A wide breadth of knowledge and an understanding of what it takes to write quality code
- Precise attention to detail with a methodical approach to double-checking work
- References to test-driven development (TDD) techniques and debugging tools
Why this matters:
Users demand a lot from their applications. If an application is buggy, slow to load, or prone to crashing, there’s a good chance that they’ll give up on it and turn to one of your competitors’ apps instead. It’s essential for your software developments to take many attributes into account to ensure a happy user.
What to listen for:
- Prioritization of reliability, stability, performance, and integration
- Specific strategies for testing these attributes and experience using relevant tools
- Experience determining appropriate markers for success
Why this matters:
An effective workflow not only helps software engineers stay productive, but makes it easier for others to find the right piece of code when they need it. There’s no single right way of organizing code though, so as long as your new hire doesn’t leave all their code and assets in a hodgepodge, they will hopefully be adaptable to your team’s method of organizing code.
What to listen for:
- Methods like creating separate folders and naming them clearly and consistently
- Use of code refactoring, rather than templates, to organize code the way they like
- Experience developing and implementing forward-thinking organizational practices
Why this matters:
Software engineering is a highly collaborative career choice even though the bulk of the new hire’s daily duties will be done on their own. This career requires working with a number of teams and clients, all with different personalities and leadership styles, to identify, solve, and fix software issues.
What to listen for:
- Leadership qualities with a willingness to take charge and ensure key deadlines are met
- Focus on the candidate’s own experience in finding a solution to the problem
- Use of interpersonal and communication skills to connect with and motivate others
Why this matters:
No one is perfect, and not every project will be a walk in the park. The best software engineers are able to identify their shortcomings and take steps to overcome them. If they have a sense of humor about the challenges they’ve faced, they may also be better equipped to handle the stresses of the job.
What to listen for:
- Acknowledgement of weaknesses, rather than laying the blame solely on outside factors
- Signs that they apply the lessons they’ve learned to avoid similar problems in the future
- Experience goal setting and following a professional development plan
Why this matters:
It’s always frustrating when someone disagrees with you, especially in a field as specialized as software engineering. To handle these situations gracefully and steer projects toward success, it's important that a candidate knows how to be diplomatic. Candidates must also know when to confidently rely on their logic and analytical skills.
What to listen for:
- Active listening skills with consideration and care for the client’s perspective
- Ability to calmly, clearly, and persuasively express a point of view
- Experience performing analysis, making presentations, and/or solving problems
Why this matters:
This question can help you screen for both communication and teamwork skills. Would they identify the right people on the project and speak to them privately to share their ideas? Would they feel resentful if they didn’t get credit, or would they just be happy to help their coworkers succeed? You can also take this question a step further by asking what they would do if their idea was dismissed.
What to listen for:
- Confidence to speak up when their insight could benefit the company
- Interpersonal skills such as self-awareness, tact, and professionalism
- Interest in teamwork, building up coworkers, and sharing ideas
Why this matters:
You want to know whether your candidate will work well with the existing team and feel at home at your enterprise. Does the interviewee mention traits that support the work, like critical thinking, flexibility, and an eye for detail? Or are they more concerned about traits like empathy and strong interpersonal skills that can help a team get along?
What to listen for:
- Prioritization of core values similar to those reflected at the company
- A strong understanding of the value in being surrounded by many different personalities
- Expressed desire to learn, collaborate, and contribute to a dynamic team environment
Why this matters:
This question is an indirect way of asking whether the interviewee is actively pursuing professional development. Candidates may mention steps like attending conferences and boot camps, taking online courses, following specific message boards, and joining professional groups. To keep up with the rapidly developing field, the best software engineers have a continuous learning mindset.
What to listen for:
- Evidence the candidate is tapped into the trends of the industry at large
- Specific steps the candidate has taken and why they were beneficial
- Active, ongoing pursuit of enhancing technical knowledge and skill sets
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