Computer Science Mock Interview

Master 25 Computer Science interview questions covering algorithms, data structures, and system design.

Question 18 of 25

Please describe the difference between C and C++ and in which language you prefer to code.

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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.

This is a hybrid technical and operational question. It starts by asking you to discuss two types of programming languages and then asks which one you use in your work. Interviewers can create any type of question they want to while attempting to collect the information they need to make a hiring decision. There are no hard and fast rules for interview questions. However, identifying the types of questions will help you understand what the interviewer is seeking to learn and how you can format your response to their question.

William Swansen

"C is based on a very structured programming protocol, while C is an object-oriented programming language. Since C is easier to use and more flexible, I prefer programming in this language. Fortunately, code written in C can be recompiled to work with C programs."

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Anonymous Answer

Although I don't have much experience using C, I know that the language is compiled into machine code, which only allows it to be used on the platform it was compiled on. C is more accessible, as it is compiled into byte code, so it can be compiled on other devices. I have more experience coding in C and it is more accessible, so I prefer to code in C.

Stephanie's Feedback

You do a great job of sharing the specific reasons why coding in C is your preference, and you acknowledge that your experience in C is limited. However, since using C may be a requirement of this role at times, I suggest adding in a sentence about what you're doing to extend your knowledge in this area (even though you're currently not an expert at C ), what are you doing to learn?

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25Computer Science Interview Questions & Answers

1.Why do you want to work for our software company?

2.What do you know about us?

3.Tell us about a time when you were particularly effective in prioritizing tasks and completing a project on schedule.

Computer Science Mock Interview

Please describe the difference between C and C++ and in which language you prefer to code.

25Computer Science Interview Questions & Answers

1.Why do you want to work for our software company?

2.What do you know about us?

3.Tell us about a time when you were particularly effective in prioritizing tasks and completing a project on schedule.

4.Give me an example of when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty to get a job done.

5.When is the last time you had a disagreement with a peer? How did you resolve the situation?

6.Tell me about a situation in which attention to detail was particularly important when accomplishing an assigned task.

7.Tell me about a time when you did something completely different from the plan. Why did you go that route?

8.How do you stay current on new programming updates and techniques?

9.Who has been the greatest influence on you thus far in your career as a computer scientist?

10.Have you come across a problem that you could not solve? How did you handle the problem?

11.Tell me about something you are proud of regarding creating a new function or model in your coding.

12.What would your goals be as a computer scientist working for our company?

13.What has been the biggest mistake you have made when delegating work? The biggest success?

14.What do you do when your schedule is suddenly interrupted? Give an example.

15.What programming languages do you prefer to work with? Why?

16.Can you describe what a class and a super-class are and how they differ?

17.Please discuss default constructors and conversion constructors.

18.Please describe the difference between C and C++ and in which language you prefer to code.

19.What is multiple inheritance? Can you discuss its advantages and disadvantages?

20.What are the differences between primary and secondary memory?

21.What are the most commonly used processors in modern computers?

22.What is an interface in the context of its use in Java?

23.Describe what a chipset is.

24.What are the most popular operating systems, and how experienced are you at working with them?

25.What is a process and a thread, and how are they used in your profession?