How would you explain firmware to someone at Tesla who doesn’t have a technical background?
This is a general or opening question which the Tesla interviewer will ask to begin the conversation, learn more about you, and uncover information that they can use throughout the interview. This provides a great opportunity to direct the conversation toward subject areas that you are familiar with and can easily discuss. When answering this question, be sure to use simple, easy-to-understand, and non-technical language and keep your answer brief and to the point.
"For anyone that doesn't have a technical background, I would explain firmware as being just another piece of software much like the programs that are being used at Tesla every day. However, one of the differences being is that it is placed in hardware that contains permanent or non-volatile memory. The purpose of firmware is to provide a set of instructions used by an electronic device such as a computer, phone, or just about any other modern appliance. Without firmware, you and I or other software programs could not interact with the device, nor would it function properly."
