Beating the Whiteboard: A Sith's Guide to Coding Interviews

So, you're on the hunt for your dream software engineering job. You've been polishing your resume, reaching out to your network, and sending out applications like there's no tomorrow. And then it happens...you get a call back for an interview.

But it's not just any interview. It's the dreaded coding interview. The one where you have to solve a problem on a whiteboard while an interviewer watches you sweat bullets. It's enough to make even the most confident developer feel like a novice.

But fear not, my friends! I've got a framework that will help you crush those coding interviews like a pro.

Competence triggers

First things first, we need to talk about competence triggers. These are the little things that make interviewers sit up and take notice. They're the moments where you demonstrate your skills and knowledge, and they can make all the difference in whether or not you get the job.

After years of doing these interviews myself and coaching others, I've identified a few key competence triggers that can make a big impact:

• Asking good questions to clarify requirements
• Writing tests and looking for edge cases
• Thinking comprehensive before diving into the details

Now that we know what we're aiming for, let's dive into the framework.

8 step framework

Step 1: Ask questions and restate the goal in your own words

When the interviewer gives you the problem statement, take a deep breath and ask a few clarifying questions. This will not only help you understand the problem better, but it will also demonstrate to the interviewer that you know what you're doing.

Pro tip: try to restate the problem in your own words. Not only will this show that you've understood the problem, but it will also give you a chance to catch any misunderstandings early on.

Step 2: Scaffold the solution with pseudocode

Don't just dive right into the code. Instead, take a step back and think about the problem as a whole. Use comments and pseudocode to outline your general approach. This will help you think holistically about the problem, and it will also give you a chance to catch any potential issues early on.

Step 3: Ask for feedback

At this early stage in the interview, it's a good idea to ask for feedback. Literally say, "Does that seem reasonable? Am I on the right track?" This will give the interviewer a chance to point you in a different direction if necessary. And who knows, you might even get some free hints at the solution!

Step 4: Write some of the implementation, do the easy bits

Okay, now it's time to get our hands dirty and start writing some actual code. Don't dive headfirst into the hard parts yet - start with the easy bits that you can knock out quickly. This will help build momentum and get the creative juices flowing.

And don't worry if your code isn't perfect yet - that's what the next steps are for. Just get something down on paper (or screen, I guess) and start playing around with it.

Step 5: Write happy path test cases & a test runner

Now we're really cooking with gas! Writing test cases up front is a huge competence trigger. Not only does it show that you're thinking ahead and anticipating potential issues, but it also gives you a solid foundation to build on.

So take a few minutes to write some happy path test cases and a simple test runner. This will allow you to quickly and easily test your code as you iterate on it.

Step 6: Iterate on the code until it solves the happy path test cases

Here's where the real work starts. Use your scaffolding and pseudocode to guide you, and start chipping away at the problem. It may take a few tries, but keep at it until you've got the happy path test cases working.

And remember, it's okay to ask for help or clarification if you're stuck. The interviewer is there to guide you and help you succeed.

Step 7: Look for optimizations & outright ask, "Could this be more performant?"

Once you've got the basic functionality working, it's time to start looking for ways to optimize your solution. This is another huge competence trigger, as it shows that you're not just satisfied with getting something working - you want to make it as good as it can be.

So work together with your interviewer to look for potential optimizations and discuss runtime tradeoffs. Don't be afraid to ask questions or bounce ideas off each other. Collaboration is key!

Step 8: Test the corner cases

Last but not least, it's time to test the edge cases and handle errors. This is another big competence trigger, as it shows that you're thinking about potential issues that may not be immediately obvious.

So take a few minutes to brainstorm some edge cases and test them out. Make sure your code can handle unexpected inputs and doesn't break under stress. And if you do encounter errors or bugs, don't panic - just take a deep breath and work through them one by one.

Conclusion

So there you have it - my framework for how to answer coding interview questions. I know interviews can be stressful and intimidating, but with a little bit of practice and preparation, you can ace them like a pro.

Remember to focus on the competence triggers, take your time, and don't be afraid to ask for help. And most importantly, try to have fun with it! Interviews are a great opportunity to showcase your skills and meet new people in the industry.

So go forth and crush those coding interviews! And if all else fails, just remember: there's always a career in underwater basket weaving.