Some people may not find tech job interviews scary, but for most of us (even those with degrees in IT or computer science), they are the stuff that stress dreams are made of.
Many people have been through tech job interviews and know what kinds of questions are common. These include behavioral questions, questions about your technical skills and certifications, and questions about your knowledge of project management systems and the development process. However, tech interviews are notoriously hard to predict. Hello, nonsensical curveball questions. .
But there’s no reason to panic. Recruiters, tech companies, and other interested parties are mostly interested in how well you can communicate and solve problems, sometimes more than how well you can code.
And their questions are meant to show how you think and solve problems, not to stump you or make you feel bad.
For this post, we compiled some of the top questions you can expect in technical interviews. To help take the mystery out of the process, we talked to people who work in hiring and got some key tech interview questions and tips on how to answer them, even for questions that no one expects.
First, we’ll talk about the general kinds of questions that CEOs and other managers usually ask when they’re hiring people for technical jobs. Then we cover more technical questions — the kind meant to test your actual coding know-how.
Job interviews can be stressful. You want to make a good impression and demonstrate you have the skills for the role. But it’s hard to know exactly what questions you’ll be asked.
When interviewing with TTX, there are some common questions that come up frequently. In this article, we’ll look at 15 of the most common TTX interview questions along with examples of strong responses.
Understanding what is likely to be asked in a TTX interview and preparing answers ahead of time will set you up for success Read on for the top questions to expect and how to effectively respond
1. “Tell Me About Yourself”
This open-ended question is very common at the beginning of interviews. TTX hiring managers want to get a high-level sense of your background and qualifications.
Structure your response starting with an overview of your current role or most recent position. Then provide a brief summary of your qualifications and experience relevant to the open position. Share a couple specific examples that demonstrate skills or knowledge needed for the job. Finally, explain why you’re interested in this role and company.
Here’s an example:
“Currently, I work as a Business Analyst at ABC Company, where I’m responsible for gathering requirements and supporting development teams. I have over 5 years of experience in business analysis and hold a PMP certification. In my recent projects, I led cross-functional workshops to create user stories for a new customer portal. I’m excited for this Business Systems Analyst role at TTX because I’m looking to transition into a position with more technical analysis and solution design.”
This provides the interviewer with a high-level overview of your background tailored to the job you’re applying for.
2. “Why Do You Want to Work at TTX?”
With this question, interviewers want to understand what makes you interested in the company and role. They are looking for candidates truly excited about TTX.
In your response, touch on:
- Specific aspects of the company that appeal to you (e.g. industry, culture, products/services, reputation)
- Ways you can see yourself contributing value in the role
- Alignment between your career goals/interests and what the job entails
Here’s an example:
“TTX’s focus on logistics and your global reach really appeal to me. I’ve always been interested in operations and supply chain management, so TTX’s leadership in this space makes me excited to contribute. I also really admire your commitment to sustainability based on the solar panels at distribution centers. The Business Systems Analyst role is also a great next step for me because I can leverage my technical skills in inventory management and routing. I’m passionate about streamlining processes and providing reporting that helps leadership make informed, data-driven decisions.”
3. “What Are Your Salary Expectations?”
It’s very common for TTX interviewers to ask about your salary requirements or expectations. The key is to avoid providing a direct number. Instead, reframe the discussion to focus on the overall value you can provide in the role. Here are a few ways to respond:
- “Currently, I’m making $X which is market rate for my experience level and background. I’m confident we can agree on a competitive salary based on the value I would bring to the Business Systems Analyst role.”
- “I do have salary expectations/requirements, but I want to learn more about the responsibilities and opportunities in this role before discussing specifics. What is the salary range TTX has budgeted for this position?”
- “I am flexible on salary and open to discussing what you think is appropriate compensation for this role. My priority is finding the right company and position that allows me to contribute my skills and experience.”
The interviewer may press you for a number. If you need to provide something specific, give a range based on your research into average compensation for this type of job. The key is keeping the focus on your value add rather than just dollar amounts.
4. “What Are Your Greatest Strengths?”
This question allows you to highlight skills that
“What kind of tech projects do you work on in your spare time?”
As you may have guessed, passion is important in tech. Almost everyone I talked to for this article said that at some point.
Kevin Hayen, CTO of Let’s Be Chefs, thinks that self-directed creative work is an important way to judge both new and experienced applicants. Heyen can tell “what in tech they are really passionate about or if they even are passionate about tech” from the way a person answers these kinds of questions.
It doesn’t matter what your hobby is: Talk it up with all the genuine enthusiasm you have. Kevin isn’t interested in the answer itself, like in a lot of these questions. He says it doesn’t matter if the answer is open source, do it yourself, or even just play around.
Hayen says this question also helps him figure out “how the candidate might fit into a certain team and what ‘bonus’ skills they might bring to the company.” These are the skills you didn’t think to put on your resume but will make you a better candidate overall.
“How much does a first class one-way ticket from New York to Abu Dhabi cost on Etihad?”
ShipMonk CEO Jan Bednar doesn’t really expect anyone to know the answer—it’s the infamous curveball question. “Frankly,” he says, “we’d be a bit surprised if they did. ” Then why ask it?.
“Whether they guess $3,000 or $80,000 is functionally immaterial,” Bednar says. Instead, it’s all about the process. Bednar asks, “What steps do they take to solve the problem? Do they use past experiences, guesses, or general knowledge? These are the skills we want to see.”
How to Answer Behavioral Interview Questions Sample Answers
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