How to Talk to the Interviewer
Interview Communication 101
The most important soft skill for a coding interview is communication. Effective communication is essential not just to impress the interviewer—which is still important—but also to eliminate confusion and ensure the interview progresses smoothly.
To excel in communication during your interview, you don't have to be an extrovert or pretend to be overly friendly. There are two key components to effective communication during interviews:
Keep the interviewer informed.
Listen to and acknowledge interviewer feedback.
Keep the Interviewer Informed
At any moment, the interviewer should know what you're doing. You don't have to talk constantly unless you want to. What's important is to tell the interviewer what you plan to do next, especially during transitions—moments when you start doing something new.
Here is a list of common transitions with example phrases you could use:
1. After the Interviewer Presents You the Problem
"Alright, let me reread the problem description to see if I have any questions."
2. After You Fully Understand the Problem and Need Time to Think
"I think I understand the problem now. Let me think about possible approaches."
3. After You Have Explained Your Approach
"Does this sound reasonable to you?"
4. Before Starting Implementation
"I'd like to start implementing this unless you'd like me to explore further optimizations."
5. During Major Sections of Coding
For every significant section of code, briefly explain what you're doing. There's no need to comment on every line—you can keep quiet while you're coding.
"First, I'll count the occurrences of these words in the text."
"Here, I'm going to implement a helper function to check if the state is valid."
6. If You Get Stuck at Any Point
If you're unsure about something, express your thoughts aloud.
"I'm thinking about whether there's a better way to implement this function."
"Perhaps it would be easier to use a hash set here instead of a hash table."
7. After Finishing Coding—Don't Just Say "I'm Done"
Testing is crucial. Begin with a quick code review.
"Alright, let me quickly walk through the code to make sure I haven't missed anything."
8. Testing the Code with a Real Example
After the quick check and fixing any obvious bugs, test your code with an actual input.
"Now, let me test the code with this input to make sure it works as intended."
9. While Running the Input
Narrate the key steps your code is performing. Focus on important variables and state changes, not every single line. Don’t forget — you are testing this for yourself, not for the interviewer.
"Here, the array is initialized with zeroes."
"Because the condition is satisfied, we'll exit the loop and return the result."
10. After Thoroughly Checking Your Code
"I think this code should work."
If you keep quiet, the interviewer might feel that you're struggling. If they do, they may provide unnecessary help, which could negatively affect your interview assessment. To avoid confusion, communicate with the interviewer when it's important to do so.
Listen for Feedback
There may be moments when the interviewer notices you're heading down the wrong path. They might tell you directly or indirectly, while you're explaining your approach or implementing your solution. In these moments, don't dismiss the interviewer's feedback. Take the time to understand their concern and then either:
1. Politely Acknowledge if You Already Had a Plan to Address It
"Ah, I see your point. I'll address that separately."
2. Admit and Fix the Issue
"Thanks for the pointer! Let me think about how I can fix this..."
Interviewers rarely interrupt unless there's a real issue in your approach or code. Show the interviewer that you can receive feedback and resolve potential issues sooner rather than later.
Final Thoughts
Effective communication during a coding interview doesn't mean you have to be overly talkative or extroverted. By keeping the interviewer informed and actively listening to their feedback, you demonstrate professionalism, confidence, and the ability to collaborate—qualities highly valued in a software engineer.
Remember, the goal is to make the interview a smooth experience for both you and the interviewer. Clear communication helps prevent misunderstandings and showcases your problem-solving process, increasing your chances of success.
Stay curious and happy coding!
Nurbo
I'm Accepting New Mentees!
Are you looking for a mentor to guide you and keep you accountable on your tech interview preparation journey? I'm here to help.
I'm opening up a few spots for motivated individuals who would benefit from weekly one-on-one mentorship sessions. Together, we'll:
Develop a personalized study plan
Master problem-solving techniques
Build confidence for your interviews
Ready to take your preparation to the next level? Book a free introductory session with me here.