Rising from the Embers: Programming interview preparation

8/29/20232 min read

Regret is a constant companion, whether we've taken the leap into a new job or stayed put. The apprehension of being undervalued or the worry that sticking with one company for an extended period might lead to stagnation lingers in our thoughts. There's also the concern that we might fall behind on the latest technologies the market craves. Amidst these uncertainties, the question arises: where is the optimal starting point for a comprehensive self-assessment as a professional? The answer lies in going back to the beginning.

There are various types of assessing programming knowledge: through a project, a series of tasks, HR interviews, technical interviews, live coding sessions, gamification, etc. After all these assessments, it usually comes down to... the individual. So, don't underestimate the skill of conducting a conversation with a live person. Learn the fundamental programming concepts, practice their presentation, and ace the conversation with confidence.

A raise managed to bypass 77% of the employees in Croatia in the year 2023. A person is hanging a magnet on the fridge. On the magnet, there's the blue color of the sea, the sun, and a small map of a seaside village. The last grains of sand fall from flip-flops placed on top of a towel which are laid out in a suitcase. The beach pants also hold a receipt from dinner. Family pizza, a few drinks, and dessert. All inflated by a 12% inflation rate. Amidst the mixed buzz of people, music, and clinking dinner plates, the information got lost that 44% of people contemplate quitting during their vacation.

Just a brief glance at an endless stream of emails, a notice that people should return to the office, and a Google Maps report that the summer mode of public transportation is still in effect in the city, and we have our statistical winner... 1 out of 5 individuals who returned from vacation is currently drafting a resignation letter.

The allmighty fear
The Swiss Army Knife for interviews

Over the span of 7 years, I've had multiple interviews, each offering its unique experiences – some more challenging, others more enjoyable. Through this journey, I've come to realize the importance of being well-versed in certain topics before stepping into an interview room. I firmly believe that a foundational understanding, followed by a deeper dive and eventual mastery, is key. To make this process smoother for fellow junior and mid-level programmers, I've put together a guide within my small C# project. This gift is tailored to help individuals preparing for job interviews, offering insights and recognition-level knowledge on crucial topics. It's not just a tool for candidates; it also serves as a valuable resource for employers, providing a glimpse into what the competition is focusing on in the world of programming. Happy interviewing!

Project can be found here: https://github.com/StackSagaCom/The-Swiss-Army-Knife-of-OOP

Interesting topics to consider in 2023

Questions that I had in interviews and questions that my friends had:

  1. When do you use a StringBuilder, and when do you use a string?

  2. Factory Pattern

  3. SOLID Principles

  4. Service Lifetimes (Scoped, Transient, Singleton)

  5. Compile-Time and Runtime Polymorphism

  6. Difference between const and readonly

  7. String Interpolation

  8. Extension Method

  9. Class Types in C#

  10. Built-in Middleware Components in ASP.NET Core

  11. IDisposable Interface

  12. Clustered vs Non-Clustered Index

  13. Multicast Delegate in C#

  14. Three Techniques for Method Overloading in C#

  15. Instance Method

  16. Types of Design Patterns

  17. Dependency Injection

  18. When to Use static

  19. Sorted List vs Dictionary

  20. Reflection in C#

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