You're trying to hire a software engineer. How do you know if they have good problem-solving skills?

3 Give them a coding challenge

A coding challenge is a common and effective way to test the problem-solving skills of a software engineer in a realistic scenario. You can give them a specific problem to solve, either online or offline, and observe how they approach it, code it, and test it. You can also ask them to explain their solution, and how they would improve it or handle edge cases. The coding challenge should be relevant to the role and the skills you are looking for, and not too easy or too hard.

4 Evaluate their collaboration skills

Problem-solving is not only an individual skill, but also a collaborative one. Software engineers often work in teams, and need to communicate, coordinate, and cooperate with others to solve problems effectively. You can evaluate their collaboration skills by asking them how they work with others, what role they play in a team, and how they handle conflicts or disagreements. You can also involve other team members or stakeholders in the interview process, and see how they interact with them.

5 Assess their learning skills

Problem-solving is also a learning skill, as software engineers need to constantly update their knowledge and skills to keep up with the changing technologies and requirements. You can assess their learning skills by asking them how they learn new things, what sources they use, and how they apply their learning to their work. You can also ask them about their current or future learning goals, and how they plan to achieve them. The ideal software engineer is someone who is curious, motivated, and adaptable to learn and solve problems.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?