How to Build Confidence for Tech Interviews

One of the worst feelings in a technical interview is when you know the answer but can’t explain it properly and get rejected. It stings even more because you’ve given your best, stayed up late nights preparing, and worked hard for this moment. In a technical interview, knowing the solution is only half the battle. Explaining it clearly and confidently is just as important. Here’s a simple approach to help you improve: ► Start by practicing how you explain your solutions. - Practice talking through your thought process while coding. Get used to speaking your logic out loud. - Try mock interviews with friends or platforms. These simulate the real thing and help you build confidence. ► One trick that worked for me is simulating the interview environment on your own: - Set a timer for 45 minutes, just like an actual coding round. - Use LeetCode’s “Pick One” feature to get a random question, similar to what you might face in an interview. - Solve the problem while explaining your logic and code out loud in English. It might feel awkward at first, but it’s the best way to practice. ► Once you’ve done that, take it up a notch: - Record your screen and yourself while solving the problem. Use any screen recording tool to capture everything. - Later, watch your recording and evaluate yourself critically. Notice where you struggled to explain or where your logic wasn’t clear. ► As you review, note down two key things: - Areas where your technical understanding needs improvement. - Areas where your communication could be better. Then, work on those points before trying again. If you do this consistently for 10–15 days, you’ll notice big improvements in how you solve problems and explain them. And you know when the best time to start is? Today. Remember, explaining your solution is just as important as knowing the solution itself. Start practicing now, and you’ll be ready to give your best by the time your next interview comes.

If you have MAJOR Interview Anxiety, the following tips will help you: During my job search, even after giving 40 interviews, I was still anxious as to what would happen in the next one. If you face something similar, believe me, you are not alone. After struggling with Interview Anxiety for a long time, I was able to come up with a solid set of techniques that highly boosted my confidence in the interviews I gave towards the end of my job search process. The following tips will not just help you survive but thrive in your next interview. Here it goes: 1. Research the company: For an interviewer, one of the biggest pet peeves is candidates who don't know anything about the job or the company. You must know the role inside out and understand their culture. This knowledge will not only boost your confidence but also show the interviewer that you're serious about joining their team! 2. STAR Method: This is the secret sauce of acing job interviews. The STAR method is a structured approach for answering behavioral interview questions. It involves describing a Situation, Task, Action, and Result to showcase your skills and experiences effectively, providing a clear and concise response. 3. Mock Interviews: Practice makes perfect! Grab a friend, or a mentor, or even talk to yourself in front of a mirror. Practice common questions, refine your answers, and get comfortable expressing your achievements and experiences. This will help you live the interview in advance and be your biggest confidence booster. 4. Don't be afraid to admit you don't know the answer: Interviewers don't expect candidates to know the answer to every question. If you don't know, say you don't, but also ask the interviewer to explain the solution and write it down. This shows you are earnest and willing to learn when needed. 5. Relax: This is always easier said than done but do your best. Take a moment to breathe, smile, and exude confidence. Remember, the interviewer wants you to succeed. Embrace the excitement and let your authentic self shine through! You've got this! Lastly, I know that the market is terrible and the lay-offs are at a peak high, yet you are not alone. There are thousands more going through the same emotions as you. Believe me, if you are looking for a job right now, the right job is looking for you too. It is only a matter of time before striking the right opportunity. Trust in your preparation, showcase your unique value and soon you’ll be on your way to landing your dream job. May your next interview be the stepping stone to an incredible new chapter! P.S: If you find the above techniques useful, check out my other articles for proven tips to succeed in your job search process!

Interviews are not an easy thing to handle. Especially when your future is on the line. That feeling when your mind goes blank in an interview? Every great engineer has been there. Including me. After coaching hundreds of senior engineers through tech interviews, I've found that even the most brilliant minds freeze under pressure. The solution isn't memorizing more algorithms. It's having a framework that works under stress. Here's the system that transforms interview performance: Prepare for the silence. When faced with a challenging question, don't rush to answer. Say: "That's an interesting problem. Let me think about it for a moment." This gives your brain the space it needs. Externalize your thinking. Use the whiteboard or paper not just for code, but for your actual thought process. This reduces cognitive load and shows interviewers how you approach problems. Start with what you know. Begin with the simplest solution, even if it's inefficient. Say: "Let me start with a basic approach we can optimize." This builds momentum and confidence. Remember, The 1% engineers aren't those who never get nervous. They're the ones who know how to perform despite it.

I bombed three interviews before landing my dream role at Google. That's what one of my candidates, told me last week. But here's the thing, after implementing a structured prep system, she crushed her 4th interview and got the offer. I created this step-by-step infographic to help you: ✅ Build confidence before the interview ✅ Answer tough questions like a pro ✅ Make a lasting impression after it's over It breaks down: 🔸 What to do before, during, and after the interview 🔸 The exact questions you should be ready for 🔸 How to use the STAR technique (Example: Instead of saying "I'm good at problem-solving," share how you "Faced a 30% customer churn rate, Took ownership of customer feedback, Analyzed pain points for 2 weeks, and Reduced churn to 5% in 3 months") Whether you're actively job hunting or want to sharpen your interview game, this guide is gold. What's your #1 interview game-changer? Mine was preparing stories for every key competency - share yours in the comments below! 📌 Save this guide (seriously, you'll thank me later) 🔁 Share it with someone prepping for interviews

This is how I passed every behavioral and phone interview I’ve ever done. I do a 3 step process that’s really easy, it just takes time and effort. Here it is: I make a Google Doc and write out all the questions I expect to be asked and answer them ahead of time. For example: "Tell me about yourself?" "Why this company?" "What experience do you have related to this role?" "Tell me about some projects you have made?" Then I google the most common behavioral questions and I list those out in my document and answer them. For example: "What is your greatest weakness?"  "What is your greatest accomplishment?" "Tell me about a time you had a conflict at work?" I then search the company name and role on Glassdoor to find questions people have already been asked at that company, and list all of those down and answer them too. Once you have all the questions you want to practice answered, I suggest doing a mock interview with a friend where they will ask the questions out loud. You will stumble and forget your answers from time to time, and that's the important part. In a real interview you probably won't remember most of your answers due to nerves, so the answers aren't actually there for memorization, but to give guidance on topics you can talk about and some foundation for anything you can be asked. After doing this preparation many times for interviews I don't feel pressure anymore, and I always go into the interviews confident that no question will throw me off because I've already prepared for each scenario. I hope this helped!  And if you’re a student trying to break into tech, follow for more tips.