What is actually assessed.
WHAT THE STAGES TYPICALLY ARE
A screening conversation A technical assessment One or more technical interviews A conversation about behaviour and fit Sometimes, a final discussion
WHAT THE SCREENING ASSESSES
Whether your background matches Whether you communicate clearly
Practical matters: availability, expectations
WHAT TECHNICAL INTERVIEWS ASSESS
Whether you can solve problems How you reason Whether you communicate while working How you handle not knowing
WHY THAT LAST POINT MATTERS MOST
It is the most common real situation.
WHAT TO DO WHEN STUCK
Say what you are thinking State what you would try Ask a clarifying question
WHAT NOT TO DO
Go silent Guess confidently Pretend to know
WHAT TO PREPARE
Fundamentals of your chosen area Explaining your own past work clearly Questions about the role
WHY EXPLAINING PAST WORK MATTERS
It is asked in almost every interview, and people describe it badly.
WHAT TO PRACTISE
Talking while solving a problem.
WHY
It is unnatural, and it is what is being assessed.
HOW TO PRACTISE
With another person, out loud.
WHAT TO ASK BEFORE THE PROCESS
What the stages are, and what each involves.
WHY
Preparation differs by format.
