Thought-Provoking Software Developer Interview Questions
In today’s era of ATS resume sorting, job seekers are desperate for their applications to stand out from the crowd. In response, more and more applicants have started embellishing their experience to make themselves appear more qualified for the position.
When you’re hiring for your software development team, how do you tell the difference between the perfect candidate and someone who only looks good on paper?
By asking the right types of questions.
Read on to find out some of the best questions to ask at a software developer interview.
Technical Questions
For someone to be successful in a software development position, they need to know their stuff. To make sure that they’ve been truthful on their resume, it’s important to include a number of detailed technical questions in your interview.
The exact questions will be determined by the needs of your company, but here are few ideas to start out with:
- Explain the meaning of an acronym that’s important to your company’s projects (IDE, GUID, JSON, MCSD, et cetera).
- Tell us about your experience working in a JavaScript (or another applicable programming language) environment.
- What are the pros and cons of software development in a cloud-based system?
- What language do you prefer for developing complex programs?
- How would you debug a program that’s already live without interrupting functionality for the users (or keeping it to a minimum)?
- Can you explain to us how you would use the agile methodology (or waterfall, hybrid) as a basis for development?
If you’re unfamiliar with the answers to these questions as a hiring manager, it’s worthwhile to have a member of the development team sit in on the interview to provide industry expertise. They may also have a better idea of what technical qualifications are most necessary for the new hire to have.
Non-Technical Questions for a Software Developer Interview
Even if a candidate has all the technical know-how in the world, they still have to be a good fit for your team or they won’t work out in the long run. That’s why it’s vital to go beyond the specifics and ask questions that evaluate their problem solving, response to stress, and relational skills.
Here are a few non-technical software development questions to ask:
- When was the last time a project of yours went south, why did it fail and how did you respond?
- What strategies do you use to improve perceived wait times for users?
- How do you handle tight deadlines and keep projects running on schedule?
- What is your documentation strategy while you’re working on projects?
- Do you have any passion projects you’re working on in your spare time?
- What do you love about software development?
The answers to these questions will give you a more well-rounded view of your candidates and can help you determine who is the best culture fit for your company.
Adding a Software Developer to Your Team
Finding the right person for the job is tough, even for non-technical roles. But if you ask these software developer interview questions before bringing a candidate onto the team, you’re more likely to find someone who’s a great fit.
If you need some support in finding a new software developer, PT Systems can help. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
