Computer Science Mock Interview
Master 25 Computer Science interview questions covering algorithms, data structures, and system design.
Question 10 of 25
Have you come across a problem that you could not solve? How did you handle the problem?
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William Swansen has worked in the employment assistance realm since 2007. He is an author, job search strategist, and career advisor who helps individuals worldwide and in various professions to find their ideal careers.
Your initial reaction to this question might be to state that you have never come across a problem you couldn't solve. However, this would make you unbelievably unique. Everyone has encountered a situation they couldn't resolve, at least by themselves. Being able to describe a problem, including how you came to solve it, will demonstrate humility, honesty, and innovation. This is the type of question you should anticipate, so have an example ready.
William Swansen has worked in the employment assistance realm since 2007. He is an author, job search strategist, and career advisor who helps individuals worldwide and in various professions to find their ideal careers.
"It is rare, but I do occasionally come across a problem that I can't solve by myself. A good example of this was a recent project in which we were updating our network infrastructure. One router within the network wasn't responding, and my team and I could not identify it. We sought assistance from the network support team that had an analytics tool we were not familiar with. In a matter of minutes, they had identified and repaired the misbehaving router. When I encounter difficult situations, I don't hesitate to seek outside assistance from people who are better qualified to handle a specific issue than I am."
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I have definitely come across problems that I can't solve. When I am struggling with a problem or have an unknown error in my code, I like to close my computer and come back to it in 10 or 15 minutes, or work on a different problem within that assignment. Therefore I can come back to the problem with fresh eyes and maybe see an error or bug that I didn't before. Additionally, I like to consult either my professor or peers, because oftentimes when I am explaining my code to them line by line, I can logically find where I am going wrong and how to fix my work.
Stephanie's Feedback
This is a well-rounded response that shows excellent problem-solving skills, while also giving your interviewer a glimpse into how your working style. Good work!
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