What do you do if your technical solutions and ideas are not getting across in an interview?

If technical solutions or ideas aren't getting across in an interview, try simplifying your explanations without sacrificing key details. Use analogies or real-world examples to illustrate complex concepts. Listen actively to the interviewer's questions and concerns, and adjust your responses accordingly. Practice active listening, ask clarifying questions, and engage in a dialogue to ensure mutual understanding. Focus on the problem-solving process rather than just the technical solution, demonstrating your thought process and reasoning behind your ideas. Finally, seek feedback from the interviewer to understand their perspective and improve your communication for future interviews.

Understanding the problem is crucial in technical interviews. It's akin to gathering requirements in software development; without clear requirements, developing a solution is futile. By asking clarifying questions, you demonstrate not only engagement but also a methodical approach to problem-solving. This mirrors real-world scenarios where ambiguity is common, and clear communication is key to successful project outcomes. Confirming your understanding helps align your solution with the interviewer's expectations, showcasing your analytical skills and attention to detail.

This is not unusual where you do not hear what you want to and then you are like... No no no... Let me rephrase the question for you. I have been in some of these unpleasant situations where I attempted to rephrase my responses to the interviewer!

Understanding the problem is crucial in technical interviews, as it guides the development of an appropriate solution. By asking clarifying questions, you demonstrate analytical skills and ensure you're addressing the right issue. Paraphrasing the question not only confirms your understanding but also shows active listening, a key soft skill in collaborative environments. This approach prevents misinterpretation and focuses your problem-solving efforts, saving time and showcasing your communication skills to the interviewer.

The main error in explaining is to jump directly into the problem-solving without defining the context. It’s pretty important to set the context and problem frame first. To be precise: what is your expected main problem cause, what and who is affected, and what are the occurring events. Maybe it could make sense to define further (borderline/extended) conditions. Now you can start to explain your thinking on how you would proceed to solve the problem. Due to the first context description, your opponent could much better follow your thinking process and solution strategy and why it seems so promising for you.

In technical discussions, augment your explanations with examples and visuals for greater clarity and persuasion. Utilize tables, graphs, or diagrams to illustrate algorithmic processes or system architectures effectively. Present test cases, edge scenarios, or counterexamples to underscore solution correctness, efficiency, or robustness. By integrating examples and visuals, you provide tangible, compelling evidence that enhances understanding and reinforces the credibility of your ideas.

Topic: Seeking Feedback: Demonstrating Openness to Learning and Improvement Following the presentation of your solution, it's essential to actively seek feedback from the interviewer. This demonstrates your commitment to continual growth and improvement, while also signaling your receptiveness to constructive criticism. Engage the interviewer by asking targeted questions such as, "Is this what you were looking for?" This invites clarification and ensures alignment with the interviewer's expectations. Additionally, inquire about potential issues or drawbacks with your solution, prompting the identification of any overlooked flaws or challenges.

In interviews, balance confidence and humility when presenting technical solutions. Confidence showcases your expertise and clarity in explaining solutions, while humility acknowledges your limitations and openness to learning from others. This balance fosters rapport, credibility, and demonstrates your suitability for the team and company culture.

Interviewer is not making or breaking your career, it is just one of the jobs you applied for. Give the interviewer best possible response to imagine the situation you were and how hard was it to break through the issue - quite possible this might not be the response he is looking for. If that does not help take the conversation move ahead, take it as sign for you to take the call already!