How can you showcase your problem-solving skills in an algorithm assessment?

Make sure to discuss potential edge cases with the interviewer! For example, if you are asked to solve an array-based problem, check with whoever is interviewing you whether the array can be empty.

Continuously communicating your thoughts can make a big difference during an interview. This is especially true since this helps the interviewer identify the obstacles that might prevent you from converging to a solution. In this way, if you find yourself at an impasse, a well-informed interviewer, aware of your thought process, can provide targeted guidance to steer you toward the correct solution.

In my industry experience, I have witnessed numerous approaches, but you can differentiate yourself really well on how practical your approach is. Yes, all of the valid ones can lead to the solution, but what is the cost? Is it the least time and resource-consuming? Is it the simplest possible algorithm/approach that is manageable and future-proof? Have you considered the feasibility of this approach based on the problem you have understood? You need to differentiate yourself from machines, you need to give your reasoning as to why this approach is best from your perspective. Having researched the company's business will also lead you to what solution may best fit for them. Doing this is why you will be hired by a good company.

This involves using descriptive names for the variables. In addition, if you find yourself repeating yourself in the implementation, create supporting methods for handling the repeated tasks. This promotes code reusability and simplifies future modifications to the code.

Tests are usually much larger and take much more effort than the developed code. This is why it is imperative that you understand the word "testable" does not mean "it can be tested" but actually means "it is simple to test" without taking much testing code. This is why very simple but very effective software code, by its nature, is the best code to be developed. Code with unnecessary complexity will definitely be harder to test. Also, leverage all the testing automation as possible, as testing the integrity of code is highly repetitive and should never be done manually anymore except for some exceptional reasons. The level of your consideration for testing shows what level of code quality you want to produce.

If I see any form of arrogance, then that already tells me the level of immaturity. The best software developers are generally arrogant, but the most successful software developers understand the meaning of teamwork and getting along with the company well. The only reason some arrogant developers become successful is that people tolerate them because of what's in their heads. But would you want them to throw you first under the bus when they don't need you anymore, or would you want them to protect you and keep you because of how good you are as a teammate? They will never forget you for how well you work as a teammate even if you do not work with them anymore. Remember the pillars of Agile.

Do the right thing. Find and do what is best for your team and your company. Think of the company you will work with as your own business. Treat your clients as your customers, regardless if that client is internal or external. Get their feedback and discern what will be beneficial for your improvement. You are not an employee; you are in business, and you need to make sure that your business is worthy of value to your customers. Don't waste their time during interviews, and don't waste your life, so have a feel of your interviewers too. Would you want to work with these kinds of potential peers? Interviews always work both ways.