Ready, set, code. Your guide to technical interview success
By: Mary Lynne Bartlett (she/her)
Imagine you have a technical interview coming up for a role you're genuinely excited about but don't have a sense of what to expect. For many students, this scenario is all too real. Employers use technical interviews to assess problem-solving and coding skills. However, many students don’t know what to expect in these technical interviews or how to prepare for them.
Desire to Learn (D2L), based in Kitchener, Ontario, is a learning technology company that builds tools for online and blended education. D2L, in partnership with the Centre for Career Development (CCD), will host “Cracking the code: Tips for technical interview success” on Wednesday, January 14. The workshop will bring recruiters and software developers directly to campus to share insider knowledge with students, giving them practical experience in preparing for technical interviews.
At the workshop, students will hear tips from an expert panel featuring a D2L early talent recruiter, a senior software developer and two upper-year computer engineering and computer science students. Following the panel discussion, D2L experts will lead a live demo to walk students through real interview scenarios.
Supporting your success
The world of work is constantly evolving, and so are the needs of students and employers. Waterloo students are increasingly asking career advisors for more information to help them effectively prepare for technical interviews. In response, career advisors are putting additional focus on technical interviews and résumés this term.
We recognize that technical interview preparation is a big gap for students. We had students asking for support with technical interview simulations, and so we’re prioritizing this to help students succeed.
A long-time employer of Waterloo co-op students, D2L is partnering with CCD on this workshop to help boost success for both students and advisors while creating a training space for career advisors.
“D2L is a leader in the learning technology space and a longstanding co-op employer. Their support and interest in the development of Waterloo talent demonstrates their continued forward thinking in a rapidly evolving technological landscape,” says Kate Baker, an employer experience manager in Waterloo’s Co-operative and Experiential Education department.
Your competitive edge starts here
Beyond existing interview prep workshops from CCD, during this technical interview workshop, students will:
- See a live technical interview demo from a D2L software developer.
- Hear directly from recruiters about what they look for beyond coding skills.
- Learn from upper-year students who’ve been through technical interviews.
- Ask questions in real time about how to prepare for technical interviews and what employers expect.
And yes, there will be pizza! But, the real takeaway is confidence: understanding the process, practicing communication and knowing how to showcase your skills.
Your time to shine
Technical interviews aren’t going away. Whether you’re aiming for software development, data science or engineering roles, being prepared can make the difference between landing the job or missing out. This workshop is a unique opportunity to learn from the people who conduct these interviews and to start building the skills that will set you apart.
