Coinbase is very proud of our products and the people who develop them. In your opinion, what distinguishes a great software engineer from an average one?
When an interviewer asks this type of question, they seek to understand what your perception of excellence in this role is. When answering the question, you should align your response with the job requirements, as defined in the job posting. You can also incorporate your past performance to demonstrate that you are aware of what excellence is and that you strive to achieve it.
"I believe the trait which distinguishes a great software engineer from an average one is the ability to balance excellence and performance. While I strive to write perfect code, I recognize that the project has a deadline and needs to be accomplished on time and under budget. If I have to compromise the quality of my code, it is done in such a way that it will not impact the final performance of the product."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
I think a great software engineer thinks about the product requirements and the customer that will use this software. So it will create the best possible version of the software that serves the purpose of its user while keeping the deadlines we agreed upon and the quality of the software Coinbase needs.
Stephanie's Feedback
This is a great start, but I suggest personalizing your response to show which camp you fall into. You hopefully consider yourself to be a great software engineer, instead of an average one. What sets you apart? What makes you great?
