Top 20 interview questions for software engineers

An interview is the most crucial part of the selection process for a dream job role. For technical roles, such as those of a software engineer, these questions hold even more prominence. They can range anywhere from assessing the candidate’s technical proficiency to determining their behavioral and problem-solving abilities. To help you prepare well for your upcoming interview, this blog details a comprehensive list of the top software engineer interview questions that most employers commonly ask prospective candidates. For ease of convenience, we have also provided possible answers to each question (which you may tweak to suit your requirements).

Top 20 Software Engineer interview questions with answers

Detailed below is a list of the 20 most commonly asked interview questions for software engineers applying for varied technical roles. The corresponding answers are also provided for your reference. These software engineer interview questions are a must-know for any prospective software engineering candidate appearing for an interview:

1. Can you explain the concept of database normalization?

This is one of the most common software job technical interview questions asked of many candidates. Database normalization refers to the process of organizing data within a relational database. The purpose of this activity is to improve data integrity and reduce redundancies, if any. The process also includes breaking down large data tables into smaller ones, which are relatively more structured. 

2. How do you optimize the performance of a software application?

The process of optimizing the performance of a software application involves a step-by-step approach. We begin by determining the glitches in the app’s smooth performance and then improving the efficiency of the code. We then move on to optimizing the performance of the database and enhancing both the frontend and backend performance. Regular monitoring of the app is crucial over time for identifying bugs earlier and working on fixing them.

3. How do you handle debugging in your code?

This is one of the commonly asked software job technical interview questions. The interviewer seeks to evaluate the candidate’s ability to remove bugs in the code. You could define a structured approach to identify and fix the issue efficiently, including the following:

• Consistently recreate the bug to understand the reason why it occurs. In the case of an intermittent bug, edge cases, and logs can be checked
• Evaluate error messages and logs using debugging tools and logging frameworks to identify the source of the error
• Test the fix to ensure that it does not recur and validate it for subsequent use in varied situations

4. Describe your experience with unit testing and test-driven development.           

This is a subjective question to understand the specific experience that the candidate may have had in the mentioned area. You can talk about your experience with writing unit tests to validate the individual components of an application. Also, talk about the Test-Driven Development (TDD) approach at the time of writing tests before executing functionality.

5. Can you explain the concept of design patterns with examples?

  Among the many software job technical interview questions, this one is a must-know for all prospective candidates. Start by defining design patterns as a reusable solution to address common challenges in software design. Go on to explain the three main types of design patterns – Structural patterns, Creational patterns, and Behavioral patterns. Cite specific examples using the Java framework.

6.   What programming languages are you proficient in?

This is one of the most common coding interview questions. It assesses your knowledge of the relevant languages and your ability to write effective code in multiple programming languages. State the languages that you hold proficiency in.

7. How do you handle memory management in your code?

Yet another of the common coding interview questions explains why effective handling of memory management is critical for writing software code that is both scalable and efficient. List out the general best practices followed in this regard. These include efficient handling of data, debugging and profiling, and optimization of scope. 

8. How do you handle code reviews and feedback from peers?

While answering the common coding interview questions, be prepared for some tricky ones like feedback and review handling. Present a constructive approach to handling feedback and your effort at contributing to a positive review work culture. Focus on reviews being a part of process improvement that fosters better code quality and professional growth. Also, highlight an open mindset and growth objective as crucial to handling feedback and client reviews. 

9. Have you ever faced a challenging problem during a project? How did you solve it?

This question is to assess your challenge-facing ability and your creativity in finding solutions amidst those challenges. Cite a noteworthy challenge that you may have faced and how you went about resolving it. 

10. Why did you choose to become a software engineer?

One of the top software engineer interview preparation tips is to be ready to answer this commonly asked question at nearly all interviews. The interviewer(s) would like to know your specific reasons for choosing software engineering as a career path. This is your chance to provide a creative response to a generic question. Talk about the scope in the field for building something important from scratch – a game, an app, or a tool. 

11. Have you worked in a team environment? How did you contribute to the team’s success?

Answer this question in the affirmative to prove your teamwork capability. Also, mention how you proved this ability in a previous role, highlighting your specific contributions to problem-solving, collaboration, debugging, effective communication, and knowledge-sharing.

12. How do you stay updated with the latest trends and technologies in software development? 

Upskilling yourself before appearing for the next interview is one of the key software engineer interview preparation tips. Showcase your proactiveness to continual learning and quick adaptability. Highlight the names of a few courses that you may have pursued on online learning platforms. 

13. Have you ever completed a project with tight deadlines? How did you manage it?

This is a test of your ability to work under pressure and complete deadlines despite time constraints. Structure your response carefully, citing some specific instances where you used skills like team collaboration, focused implementation, and effective planning and prioritization to achieve goals. 

14. How familiar are you with conversational AI technologies like ChatGPT?

This is one of the most popular software engineer interview preparation tips. In the current wake of the popular use of AI-related technologies such as ChatGPT, you can expect this question from most interviewers. Demonstrate your familiarity and proficiency in using ChatGPT for your specific work profile, highlighting how the application is useful in enhancing efficiency and improving overall user experience.

15. How would you handle a disagreement with a colleague?

Besides technical proficiency, interviewers are also keen on assessing the overall attitude and mental framework of a candidate for the specified job. Hence, this is one of the most commonly asked software engineer behavioral questions in interviews. The answer requires innovation, and you can present varying ideas, demonstrating your ability to make your co-workers feel valued and comfortable despite the disagreement.

16. Do you think setting goals is important? 

This question requires you to showcase your ability to set ambitious but realistic career goals for yourself. This would help present you as someone committed to growth and excellence. Also, make sure to define a specific instance where you set a particular goal for yourself or your team. Elaborate on how you were able to achieve it, contributing to overall organizational growth. 

17. Describe a situation when you had a lot on your to-do list but limited time. How did you manage?

This is one of the most popular software engineer behavioral questions posed to candidates to assess their time-management skills. As a software engineer, you may be required to work on multiple projects in parallel. With a short time duration in hand, it may be difficult to manage overlapping priorities. This is where your time-management skills come in handy and need to be put to the test. Talk about the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) and how you used it in the past to effectively manage time and achieve the desired results.

18. How did you respond to negative feedback on the job?

This is a demonstration of a growth mindset, showcasing your ability to take constructive criticism. A potential hiring manager may ask this question to test this ability in you. Answer the question by sharing an example of how you handled criticism in the past and how it helped improve your performance and efficiency at work. 

19. Tell me about a time when you had to learn a new technology quickly. How did you do that?

Give a specific instance, as this is your chance to highlight your adaptability while answering one of the key software engineer behavioral questions. Focus more on your strengths, in this case, managing time effectively amidst your hectic work schedule for upskilling. Also, focus on the importance of hands-on practice and structured learning for adapting to a new technology. 

20.  How do you handle mistakes at work?  

Mistakes are a reflection that we are only human. Even skilled professionals with the desired technical proficiency and soft skills are bound to make mistakes. However, do focus on how you admitted the mistake and worked on fixing it. Also, highlight the importance of double-checking processes to prevent similar mistakes in the future. 

Pursue an online MCA from Sikkim Manipal University

This blog highlighted the top 20 questions that software engineers can expect at job interviews. While these questions do present a fair idea of what to expect, it’s essential to have the core academic credentials to become a software engineer.

An MCA (Master of Computer Applications) degree can help you earn that knowledge and industry-relevant skills. Sikkim Manipal University offers an online MCA to aspiring learners on the Online Manipal platform. The course is designed to enable both students and working professionals to assume the required knowledge, technical proficiency, and soft skills to become successful software engineers.

Conclusion 

The career path of a software engineer is rather lucrative, with promising prospects – both monetarily and personally gratifying. Getting a fair understanding of the top questions asked in these job interviews can be quite helpful in gaining a rewarding job opportunity. Upskilling is equally important here, as it helps equip you with the latest skills, tools, and technologies that the industry needs. Professional courses such as online MCA from Sikkim Manipal University can help you learn all these and much more to help prepare you to face the next job interview with confidence and ease.