Last-Minute Programming Interview Tips! When there's no time to prepare

Preparing for a job interview is an art of its own - it requires reading theory books, practicing whiteboard coding, and reviewing programming interview tips. While you should ideally invest time preparing for each interview, life doesn't always work out that way.

Sometimes you have only 3 hours or less before the interview to prepare yourself. This article provides a quick checklist of what to do in these three hours to maximize your chances of success.

This post is NOT about sharpening your coding skills moments before the interview - it's about the other 80% that will make or break your interview!

Are you having this interview remotely? here are tips for online interview preparation.

Top 5 Things to Do to Prepare for a Job Interview (10 minutes each)

1. Read the Company's Homepage

Surprisingly, many candidates, especially those in an interview streak like university graduates, don't bother to gather information about the company.

Here's a common way to start an interview:

Interviewer: "Thanks for coming here to PinkPanda's offices. Before we start, I'd like to tell you a bit about the company. You know what, maybe you'll start and say what you already know about us, and I'll answer your questions."

Too many candidates answer that they have no idea, or worse – try to guess. Obviously, this doesn't leave a very good impression on the interviewer.

Be in the better 10% - READ THE HOMEPAGE! Hack, you can even do it while waiting for the interviewer at reception.

2. Use the Web to Find Common Interview Questions

How do you prepare for a last-minute interview? Try to look for the questions you might be asked. Here are the three most helpful resources:

Glassdoor.com - Holds a great collection of interview questions per workplace
LinkedIn.com - Look for people in your network who work or worked at that company
Search Groups - Look for "{company} {role} job interviews" in Google or Facebook groups

3. Make Sure You'll Arrive on Time

Make yourself a favor and arrive 15 minutes early. This:

Shows seriousness
Gives you time to freshen up
Helps you feel more comfortable

For companies with offices across different areas of a building, it may take time to find the specific office. Check Google Maps or Waze to ensure you arrive on time, and give a call if you're running late.

Small things like that can make your interviewer angry about not respecting his time, and harm your first impression which is critical.

Me, looking for the CTO's office in a big building

4. Review Your Own Resume

Remember the resume you sent to this company? You're going to be asked about it. Common scenarios to prepare for:

Did you write you know SQL, but actually only ran one query five years ago?
Is there a gap in your employment history that needs explaining?
Do you have different versions of your resume?

True story: I once sat in an interview and saw that the interviewer had a version of my CV that was 2 year old, and didn’t include my latest job. I gently handed the new version over.

Pro tip: Bring a printed copy of your latest resume to the interview.

Take time to review your own resume thoroughly

5. Prepare to Discuss Your Latest Project

One non-code related question that 90% of interviewers ask is "tell me about your latest project.". That’s why we dedicated an entire post about it, describing good and bad ways to do it.

Be ready to:

Explain the project's purpose
Describe your role and contributions
Discuss challenges and how you overcame them
Share what you learned

Conclusion

Don't panic if you only have a few hours before the interview. You can still be better prepared than 90% of other candidates by focusing on these non-code related actions. These programming interview tips come from experience on both sides of the interviewing table.

Remember:

Research the company
Find common interview questions
Plan your arrival
Review your resume
Prepare your project discussion

Good luck with your interview! 💪