10 Software Engineer Interview Questions + Example Answers

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

Learn some of the most common software engineer questions and how to answer them.

[Featured Image] An applicant meets with an interviewer, smiling and feeling confident after reviewing common software engineer interview questions to prepare.

You submitted your CV for a software engineer position, and the company is inviting you to an interview. It’s an exciting opportunity, but you know how competitive software engineering jobs can be, so you want to make sure that you make the best possible impression. 

This article is for you. Whilst software engineer interviews have many similarities with traditional interviews, they also have some distinct differences, including whiteboard and coding tests, that make interviews in this field unique. 

Explore some of the standard software engineer interview questions you may encounter during your interview and learn some strategies for answering them. In the end, you’ll explore courses that can help you improve your interviewing and job-relevant skills today. 

Whiteboard and coding interview questions 

As a software engineer, you’ll be tasked with solving a wide range of programming problems in a professional work environment. Many employers want to make sure that you have the skills needed to be a good fit for the position, so they use whiteboard and coding tests to see these skills in action. Here’s what you can expect from each type of test. 

Whiteboard test 

As its name suggests, a whiteboard test is a test given to a job applicant during an interview in which they must demonstrate their technical skills by designing a solution to a software problem on a whiteboard or a piece of paper. Versions of the whiteboard test have been a part of software engineer interviews for decades and are often critical to demonstrating that you have the skills to handle the job. 

During the test, you will be given a problem and then asked to solve it on a whiteboard as the interviewer or interviewers ask questions about your problem-solving process. Rather than asking you to do something tricky, the test will simply ask you to solve a problem that requires you to use the exact skills you might use in your day-to-day job as a software engineer. So long as you have the required skill set, you should be able to solve the problem. 

The exact problem you must solve will vary from one interview to another. Tests may ask you to do everything from designing algorithms that identify palindromes or draw circles to partaking in the FizzBuzz challenge, which asks that participants create a program that can print the numbers 1 to 100 with all multiples of ‘3’ replaced with “fizz” and all multiples of ‘5’ replaced with “buzz.”

During the test, make sure to explain your methodology for solving the problem and succinctly answer any of the interviewer’s questions.

Coding test 

Coding tests, like whiteboard tests, ask that you solve a problem during the interview process. However, unlike whiteboard tests, coding tests are usually administered over the internet via a link that takes you to a platform to solve a coding problem within a set amount of time. Given how employers administer this assessment, you will do the test independently rather than in front of an interviewer. 

Coding tests can take many forms, such as asking you to use a particular programming language or relying on a specific framework. Whilst some employers may be simply interested in seeing that you solved the problem effectively, others might be more interested in the way that you solve it. In effect, it’s best to explain all your work on the test so that the reviewer can get a sense of your thought process. 

To prepare for the coding exam, brush up on your programming and problem-solving skills in advance. 

Technical software engineer interview questions

Technical interview questions ask you to describe your technical skill set and to demonstrate your knowledge of technical concepts. These questions ask you to prove that you thoroughly understand the concepts you’ll be using every day as a software engineer. 

1. What programming languages are you familiar with? 

This is a straightforward question that asks you to detail the programming languages that you know. Some of the standard programming languages include Python, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, and HTML. 

You can prepare for this question by looking at the position’s job requirements and identifying the programming languages they list. You may also find additional programming languages in the “desirable qualifications” section. 

If you don’t know one of the required programming languages, emphasise your competency in the languages you do know instead and simply state that you’re confident you can learn other languages quickly. 

2. What is the software development process? 

The software development process, or software development life cycle, refers to the method used to create new software. Typically, the process includes six to seven steps: (1) brainstorming, (2) defining requirements, (3) prototyping, (4) coding, (5) testing and validation, (6) launching the product, and (7) ongoing product maintenance. 

While the precise formulation of the development process varies from one organisation to another, these primary steps required to take a product from concept to commercialisation are common among employers. 

3. Describe the Agile methodology and its benefits. 

Agile methodology is a project management approach that uses incremental, iterative steps paired with continuous feedback to complete a project relatively quickly. Many software development teams use Agile because it allows them to complete projects faster than traditional project management processes, which usually progress very linearly and take a significant amount of time to finish. 

When answering this question, provide a clear description of the process and use examples to illustrate how you’ve used an Agile methodology in former positions or school projects. 

4. What are the characteristics of these data structures?

This question asks you to describe the characteristics of different data structures, such as arrays, stacks, trees, and graphs. 

Hiring managers ask that you analyse data structure characteristics because they want to see that you have a firm grasp of the topic. As a result, when answering the question, identify all the unique characteristics within the data structure that make it unique. You can make your answer even stronger by noting how the data structure’s characteristics make it different or similar to other types of data. 

5. What are the differences between SQL and NoSQL databases?

If you work with data, you’ll need to have a strong grasp of both Structured Query Language (SQL) and Non-Structured Query Language (NoSQL). 

SQL is a query language that allows users to query and manipulate data within a relational database, which organises data in columns and rows in a table. NoSQL, meanwhile, is a non-relational database capable of storing and managing large amounts of structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data. 

When answering this question, focus on distinguishing between the two databases using examples of scenarios in which you might use each. 

General software engineering interview questions

General interview questions encompass both behavioural and situational questions that ask you to reflect on how you work, what you’ve accomplished in the past, and how you might face future challenges. 

The following offers some questions you may encounter during your software engineer interview. 

1. Why do you want to work here? 

Hiring managers ask this question to hear why you’re interested in working for them specifically rather than just obtaining the job. To answer this question, research the kind of projects the company works on, the opportunities it provides, and the company culture they embody. 

You can find this information on the company’s official website, social media channels, and even on websites like Glassdoor. Keep your answer positive and note some ways you feel you’ll contribute to the company’s mission and culture. 

2. Describe a problem you’ve encountered in software development and how you solved it. 

This question is all about problem-solving. Interviewers love to ask questions like this because they give them insight into your methodology for solving problems and how you may collaborate with your team. 

Questions like this are prevalent during job interviews, so it's best to prepare a specific answer in advance. Focus on a concrete software challenge you’ve experienced in the past and describe your exact process for solving it, emphasising the impact you had and its outcome. 

3. How do you handle conflicts or disagreements within a team?

Teamwork is critical to successful software development. As a result, many employers want to get a better idea of how you work with other team members during the development process, especially when difficult circumstances arise.

When answering this question, focus on the positive steps you’ve taken in the past to resolve disputes within teams. Your answer does not necessarily have to focus on your experience working in software development. For instance, you may discuss personal challenges you encountered in the past and then describe how you’ve brought the same attitude to your professional workplace. 

4. What would you do if you were assigned a project with a technology you're not familiar with?

Technology is constantly evolving. In your interview, consequently, the hiring manager might ask you what you do to learn a technology you have yet to familiarise yourself with to better understand how you meet this common demand when you’re under pressure. 

When answering this question, discuss the different ways you learn about new technologies, including by reading about them in publications, taking continuing education courses, and reaching out to others in your network for support. Consider including an example of when you encountered precisely this scenario in the past and what you did to overcome it. 

5. How do you stay updated on the latest industry trends and technologies?

Much like the previous question, this one is asking what you do to explain what you do to stay up-to-date with industry knowledge. You have various options to keep yourself informed. Still, some standard methods include reading trade publications, attending conferences, networking with other professionals, and continuing your education by obtaining or updating relevant certifications.

Get interview-ready with Coursera

A career as a software engineer can be as fulfilling as it is challenging. If you’re looking for an entry-level software engineer role or a new position, consider honing your job-relevant skills by taking a cost-effective course or getting a Professional Certificate on Coursera. 

In the University of Maryland’s Advanced Interviewing Techniques course, you’ll learn detailed strategies for handling tough competency-based or behavioural interviews to communicate the knowledge, skills, and abilities you have and that employers demand. In the IBM DevOps and Software Engineering Professional Certificate, meanwhile, you’ll gain hands-on experience and build a strong foundation for your future career by learning about Python language, REST APIs, and microservices, as well as automation tools and Agile and Scrum methodologies.

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