Thoughts on Interviewing - Don't Fail Yourself
So many times I’ve seen it: part of the way through an interview, shoulders slumped, disposition completely changed, and the all-too-familiar look of dejection on their face. A candidate who thinks they said something incorrect, didn’t provide the answer they maybe should have, or got cut off due to running out of time. And then the entirety of the remainder of the interview is like speaking to someone who has lost all passion and is just counting the seconds until they can leave. But did they actually "fail" to begin with?
Unless you’re applying for a job that requires very specific knowledge or uncompromising requirements there’s rarely a one-strike question that will immediately end a candidacy (speaking mostly about skills and competencies). This is of course a sliding scale with respect to seniority and experience levels, as well as what the job application lists as its requirements versus preferences. A principal engineering candidate will need to demonstrate mastery of the requirements, whereas a fresh college graduate need only demonstrate general competencies.
But more than that, your interviewer is not looking to apply a binary pass/fail to the candidates passing through their interviews. Every question and answer is a small piece of a bigger puzzle that paints a picture of the candidate and how they'll function as a member of a team over the long run. The solution to a coding problem is only a fraction of what is being assessed during a code screen; the interviewer is looking at problem solving skills, collaboration, adaptability, agility, drive, and so many other variables. A candidate with very strong soft skills may get a hire decision even if they do not provide a perfect block of code.
I have had candidates get stuck on a dead-end path, but where with a little nudging, figure out where they went wrong and begin reworking the solution. Even though I had to cut them off due to time, I could tell by the way they explained where their solution failed and how to correct it that they were on a path to success and would produce a working solution given a little more time. It was their learning mindset and attitude to keep driving forward even in adversity that ultimately led me to a positive hiring decision.
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Every new hire has to be trained in one way or another, whether it be in the tech stack or in a growth area. No one shows up on day one, perfect - everyone has opportunities to grow throughout and in every stage of their career. One of the main questions your interviewer is asking themselves is, "are this candidate’s weaknesses coachable, or are they more fundamental?" Having strengths and weaknesses is not only acceptable, but also expected! It is how you express those capabilities and keep an open mind to growing that ultimately matters.
You never know what specific skills your interviewer is assessing you on, but you can be assured that putting forth a defeated demeanor is almost a guaranteed way to diminish chances of a positive hiring outcome. Even during an interview, keep a positive, learning attitude and show your interviewer how you rebound, learn, and grow - these are the skills that are ultimately more meaningful in the long run than "the right answer on the first try." If you make a mistake during the interview, recognize it, own it, correct it, and move on!
