Comprehensive Insights into Tech Job Interviews: A Developer’s Personal Experience and Practical Tips

Embarking on a career transition within the tech industry can be an intimidating journey, especially with the myriad of interview formats and questions that candidates encounter. Drawing from years of development experience and recent job applications in London, I want to share a detailed breakdown of the interview stages I went through, along with insights and lessons learned. My hope is that this overview helps fellow developers—whether you’re new to the sector or seeking your next challenge—prepare more effectively for upcoming interviews.

Understanding the Interview Stages

The hiring process I experienced generally consisted of four key phases:

1. Screening Calls
2. Initial Technical and Cultural Fit Interviews
3. Technical Assessments and Tests
4. Final Behavioral Interviews

Below, I outline what each stage entailed, common questions asked, and noteworthy observations.

Stage 1: Screening Calls – The Initial Gatekeeper

Most companies, especially larger ones, began with a brief call with an internal recruiter. This stage is primarily about quickly establishing your eligibility and fit. These calls are typically concise and not overly technical.

Common Questions:

• Can you tell me about your current role?
• What tech stack are you currently using?
• Do you have experience with [specific technology listed in the job description]?
• Are you interested in [non-technical skills like mentoring or design tasks]?
• What are your expectations for your next role?
• What is your notice period and salary expectations?
• Do you have any questions for us?

Key Takeaways:

This stage often serves as a checkbox exercise. Recruiters aim to confirm that your experience aligns with the role requirements before passing your profile to the technical team.

Stage 2: Initial Technical or Cultural Fit Interview

Once shortlisted, the next step usually involves a deeper dive, either through casual conversation or technical questioning. The complexity varies significantly depending on the interviewer and company.

Sample Questions:

• How does the deps array in React’s useEffect() work?
• Can you describe your experience managing stress at work?
• Explain a project where you took a leadership role.
• What are your thoughts on different CSS methodologies?
• Describe what a Linked List is and how to find its middle element.
• What does “idempotent” mean in function design?
• How has React evolved in version 16.8?
• Differentiate between unit,