MockQuestions

Software Engineer Mock Interview

30 Questions Created By

To help you prepare for your Software Engineer interview, here are 30 interview questions and answer examples.

First Question

30 Software Engineer Interview Questions

15 Interview Questions With Sample Answers

1.   Can you describe how you would implement linear search in JavaScript?

How to Answer

This question asks you to detail the process you use to perform a specific operation within a software programming language. During an interview, you should listen carefully to each question the interviewer asks. Always make sure that the interviewer completes the question before you begin to formulate your answer. This will ensure that you respond to the right question and provide the interviewer with the information they are seeking.

Written by William Swansen on October 25th, 2021

Answer Example

"The easiest way to implement a linear search within JavaScript is to create an algorithm that examines each element in the list and determines whether it matches the value I have defined. Once I've created the algorithm, I can repurpose it by simply redefining the value and/or the list I am using."

Written by William Swansen on October 25th, 2021

2.   What methodologies do you use to ensure that your program will scale?

How to Answer

Creating programs that scale is a critical skill in today's fast-changing business environment. Businesses need appropriate applications for their current size and activity level but can grow as the business grows. Developing scalable programs saves the business money during the initial development cycle. Also, it prevents them from reprograming the applications or adopting new ones when the business activity increases beyond the capability of the current program. Your answer to this question should discuss the specific techniques and methodologies you use to accomplish this objective.

Written by William Swansen on October 25th, 2021

Answer Example

"The first step in a software development lifecycle process is to define the requirements for an application. During this phase, I inquire about the possibility of the operation related to the program expanding or growing and the need for the program to scale. Once I confirm this need, I'd then go about developing a program with scalable features. The methodologies I use to accomplish this include using microservices instead of a monolithic architecture, assigning the appropriate caching, queues, databases, and selecting the appropriate development language and deployment platform. Languages I prefer for scalable programs include Ruby and Django if it is a web application. I'm also more inclined to develop the application to run on a cloud platform which provides the greatest flexibility and scaling."

Written by William Swansen on October 25th, 2021

3.   Can you describe what you know about object-oriented programming?

How to Answer

This is a technical question asking you about one of the types of programming disciplines. The other is Functional Programming. Knowing the differences between these two approaches and their benefits is critical for an experienced software developer. This is a technical question meant to probe your knowledge, experience, and qualifications for this position. Technical questions are easily answered by first defining the term you are being asked about and then discussing its features and benefits. You can also provide an example of how it is used to illustrate your answer.

Written by William Swansen on October 25th, 2021

Answer Example

"I use Object-Oriented Programming, also known as OOP, quite a bit. My definition of this is that it is the type of programming in which you define the data structure and also define the types of operations that can be applied to the data. The benefit of this approach is that it helps you logically organize code around a specific parameter. It also makes code easier to be maintained and documented. Another advantage is that objects can be inherited and extended, thereby facilitating the software development life cycle."

Written by William Swansen on October 25th, 2021

4.   Which design patterns do you use, and in what situations do you use them?

How to Answer

This is an operational question. Interviewers ask operational questions to determine how you go about completing the tasks required by this role. Operational questions are best responded to succinctly and directly, with little embellishment. Additionally, you should always expect follow-up questions when an interviewer is asking about a specific task.

Written by William Swansen on October 25th, 2021

Answer Example

"During my software development career, I've tried many different design patterns. These include Singleton, MVC, and Template. However, the one I prefer and use most often is Iterator. This helps me code in an organized fashion and reduces the amount of time to develop the software. It also results in fewer errors and less debugging."

Written by William Swansen on October 25th, 2021

5.   In your opinion, what is the difference between computer software and a computer program?

How to Answer

An interviewer will ask this type of question to explore your knowledge, skills, experience, and qualifications for this job. Knowing the distinction between these two standard terms is not that difficult but will indicate that you are a viable candidate and convince the interviewer to proceed with the interview.

Written by William Swansen on October 25th, 2021

Answer Example

"Many people confuse these two terms. I define them as a computer program that is a set of code that executes specific tasks. Computer Software, on the other hand, is an application that performs a function for the end-user. Computer Software contains computer programs. Computer Software is more user-centric, whereas computer programs are more machine-centric."

Written by William Swansen on October 25th, 2021

6.   How would you go about explaining cloud computing to someone that doesn't have a technical background?

How to Answer

The purpose of this question is to gain an understanding of your communication skills. Throughout the interview, the hiring manager will seek to understand some of the soft skills you have pertaining to this job. These include communication, teamwork, conflict resolution, and others. Every time you answer a question, you are being evaluated for both your experience and skills, as well as your ability to communicate. This question relates directly to this objective.

Written by William Swansen on October 25th, 2021

Answer Example

"The easiest way to understand the cloud is that it is just another computer, phone, or storage device which is located remotely. It is similar to your hard drive or USB drive, except you access it via the Internet instead of directly on your computer. The cloud can also host applications and execute them remotely. Again, this is similar to your computer, cell phone, or any other device you may use. Whenever you make a phone call, ask Google for information, or order something on Amazon, you are using the cloud."

Written by William Swansen on October 25th, 2021

7.   What personal software development projects have you worked on outside of work?

How to Answer

In addition to seeking candidates who have the skills and experience necessary to perform the job, hiring managers want to make sure the individual will fit into their organization. This is why they are likely to ask you about activities outside of the workspace and personal interests you may have. Your ability to contribute to the corporate culture is equally as important as your ability to do the job. You should have some stories about your personal life prepared just in case the interviewer asks about this.

Written by William Swansen on October 25th, 2021

Answer Example

"As odd as it sounds, I do enjoy programming and creating applications outside of work. I enjoy this because it allows me to test my skills and utilize new methods on applications I find interesting without the pressure of meeting a deadline or end-user requirements. I recently created a program that allows me to control several different Wi-Fi LTE devices in my home from my phone. The app has features similar to Amazon Alexa or Google, but with a customized interface and more efficient code."

Written by William Swansen on October 25th, 2021

8.   Can you describe a tough software development problem you encountered in your last job and discuss how you solved it?

How to Answer

This is an experience-based question. Experience-based questions ask about a specific situation and seek to understand how you resolved it. This provides the interviewer with information about your background and your ability to do the job. When responding to this type of question, keep your answer simple using plain language the interviewer will likely understand.

Written by William Swansen on October 25th, 2021

Answer Example

"When creating an internal application to help our company's employees track their expenses, there was a bug in the program which impacted the rounding of percentages. After hours of examining the application and attempting to fix the problem, I could not identify the bug. I asked one of my peers to look at my code, and they quickly found the issue. This helped me realize that sometimes I'm too familiar with the code I write, and a fresh set of eyes can be helpful."

Written by William Swansen on October 25th, 2021

9.   Which do you prefer - a micro-service approach or a monolithic app?

How to Answer

When asking about a preference, the interviewer is seeking to understand how you approach your work. Your response to this question is based on two factors. One is your experience and skill set in this job. The second is the research you have done on the organization and your understanding of their preferences for the type of operations they perform. Your answer can either align with their processes or conflict with them. If you choose to conflict with them, you should rationalize your answer based on your experience.

Written by William Swansen on October 25th, 2021

Answer Example

"While I'm aware that your organization prefers monolithic applications, I use a micro-service approach. I like to do this because it allows me to create different services that operate independently and, therefore, more robustly. While this approach results in better performance and more efficient code, it also creates multiple failure points. Extensive testing before putting the application into production can usually mitigate this."

Written by William Swansen on October 25th, 2021

10.   How would you accelerate the response time of a website you created?

How to Answer

When conducting an interview, hiring managers are interested in one of three things - how you can help their organization make money, save money, or save time. The questions they asked will be specific to these objectives. You can prepare for the interview by understanding the organization's mission, the role of the job you are interviewing for, and how you can help them achieve one of these three objectives. In this case, the interviewer is seeking to understand how you can save time.

Written by William Swansen on October 25th, 2021

Answer Example

"There are several ways you can accelerate the response time of a website. These include using adaptive images, employing a cache, minimizing the number of plugins you use, compressing the content, and enabling HTTP to keep-alive response headers. The methods I use depend on the specific application and how the users interact with it."

Written by William Swansen on October 25th, 2021

11.   Can you define black box testing and white box testing and discuss the differences between them?

How to Answer

During an interview, you are often asked to define two terms used in the job and contrast them. This is an example of that type of question. When practicing interview questions, you'll note that your response is typically structured in a specific way. This makes responding to questions during the interview easier because you don't have to think about how to structure your answer. In this case, you want first to define each term and then describe the differences between them. You may also want to provide an example of how the concepts are used and your work.

Written by William Swansen on October 25th, 2021

Answer Example

"There are two major types of software testing. These include black box and white box. Black box testing is done without the tester knowing anything about how the application was created. On the other hand, white box testing is done by somebody intimately familiar with the structure and content of the application. White box testing allows the tester to examine the code and modify it to fix any discovered issues. Black box testing is typically used to simulate how the user views and interacts with the application."

Written by William Swansen on October 25th, 2021

12.   Walk me through the steps to build a single page application with multiple sections using the programming framework in which you typically work.

How to Answer

You can often identify the type of question you're being asked by how the interviewer asks it. When you hear a phrase such as 'walk me through the steps...,' you know that this is an operational question. The best way to respond to this sort of question is to break down the process into individual steps and briefly describe each one. The interviewer will likely ask you a follow-up question so they can better understand your methodology, so come prepared with a few examples.

Written by William Swansen on October 25th, 2021

Answer Example

"I generally work in Ruby, so the first thing I do when building a single page application is diagram it based on the functional and non-functional requirements. I then search my libraries to see if I have code that I can apply to the application. Then, I write the code that I need to create the application according to the user specs. Finally, I test, debug, and finalize the application before publishing it. I create documentation throughout the process so other programmers can follow my steps and modify the application."

Written by William Swansen on October 25th, 2021

13.   How do you go about organizing CSS files, and why do you prefer this approach?

How to Answer

This is an example of an operational question that has technical aspects to it. The interviewer is interested in learning more about how you go about doing your job related to this specific topic. No two interviewers are the same, so the questions you will be asked may vary from interview to interview. The best way to prepare for this is to research the company, review your resume, and spend some time reviewing the operations you perform and the technologies with which you work.

Written by William Swansen on October 25th, 2021

Answer Example

"The method I use to organize my CSS files is based on the file's style type. Categories I use include reset, layouts, list, carousel, tables, and several others. This enables me to quickly locate the specific style I'm looking to incorporate into the front end of my program."

Written by William Swansen on October 25th, 2021

14.   What are the functions of web workers in HTML5?

How to Answer

When interviewing for a software engineering position, the interviewer will ask various types of technical questions. These can range from very simple to very complex. Typically, the interviewer will start with simpler questions and progress to more complex ones. This indicates that they are gaining confidence in your ability to do the job and are willing to explore your background in more detail. Regardless of their complexity, technical questions should always be answered briefly and to the point. You should anticipate follow-up questions any time you provide an answer to the interviewer.

Written by William Swansen on October 25th, 2021

Answer Example

"While JavaScript is widely used when creating websites, it has its limitations. The language is single-threaded; therefore, concurrent or simultaneous operations are difficult to program. Web workers in HTML5 allow programmers to create scripts that run in the background and are invisible to the users. This is a workaround to executing multi-threaded application operations within JavaScript."

Written by William Swansen on October 25th, 2021

15.   What are the differences between blocking and non-blocking calls in the context of Node.js?

How to Answer

During an interview as a software engineer, you can anticipate that most questions will be technical or operational. The best way to prepare for this type of interview is to research the company to understand the type of programming they do and the products they produce. Next, you should carefully review the processes you use as a software engineer to develop programs. Having a clear understanding of these will help you respond to any question the interviewer may ask.

Written by William Swansen on October 25th, 2021

Answer Example

"Blocking calls require that the program waits until a non-JavaScript operation is completed before additional JavaScript commands can be executed. Non-blocking calls can execute commands asynchronously at any time. This characteristic results in non-blocking calls having a performance advantage. Node.js uses both of these types of calls."

Written by William Swansen on October 25th, 2021

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