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How to Answer the Interview Question: “Tell Me About Yourself”

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How to Answer the Interview Question: “Tell Me About Yourself”

It sounds like the easiest question you can get in an interview, but it’s often the hardest to answer: “Tell me about yourself.” It can be overwhelming to summarize your entire life in a few sentences, but luckily that’s not what you actually need to do. We’ve gathered perspectives from a recruiter and hiring managers so you can confidently introduce yourself in a job interview.  

What are they really asking? 

This interview question is usually one of the first, and while it’s just an icebreaker on the surface, “the fact that it’s such a broad question is actually a test in itself,” says Jean du Plessis, Senior Engineering Manager at cloud platform Upbound. “They will be looking to see how you respond to an open-ended question and if you can be articulate.”  

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Interviewers are also likely to be assessing how well you understand the industry, role, and company you’re applying to, based on what skills, experience, or anecdotes you choose to highlight in your answer. This is your chance to surface anything that you feel aligns your profile to the opportunity, says Lucy Jones, Headhunter and Director of the Executive Search firm Lawson Brooke. “Number one, before you join the interview: Do your research.” 

By the time you meet with a hiring manager, you will have seen a job description and may even have had an initial screening call with someone from the company. “So, you’ve already got a load of intel to help decide which key things from your experience to surface when asked that question,” says Lucy. 

Be succinct and curate your story 

Remember: You don’t need to regurgitate what’s on your resume — the interviewer might even have your resume on-hand to reference during your conversation. “You can set the expectation with the interviewer around what you’re going to constrain your answer to,” Jean says.  

For example, you might choose to focus on roles or aspects of your experience that are transferrable to the position or the type of customer the company serves. “The interviewer can always ask follow-up questions, but having a clear point of view of what you want to share about helps you keep your answer brief and easy to follow,” Jean says. 

Curating the story you want to tell about your career ahead of time helps you start the interview on the right foot. You don’t want to go into the rest of the interview feeling flustered because you rambled. Giving a concise, confident answer is like giving a firm handshake, says Jean. “This is the virtual equivalent.”

How to answer “Tell me about yourself” if you’re changing careers 

If your background isn’t an obvious fit for the role, this question gives you an opportunity to explain what led you to this point. “I like to see that there’s a narrative thread throughout your work,” says Lisa Tagliaferri, Senior Director of Developer Enablement at the cybersecurity company Chainguard. In addition to her full-time role, Lisa is an interdisciplinary researcher across the humanities and technology and has interviewed many candidates making career changes. 

“Think about your personal mission or the themes of your work that have stayed consistent from previous roles,” Lisa says. “You can go through multiple career shifts throughout your life, but there’s usually a common thread you can bring to light.” 

For instance, transitioning from teaching to software development might stem from a shared desire to help people, Lisa says. (Codecademy learner Pj Metz was a high school English teacher when he landed a developer relations job focusing on students and teachers at GitLab.)  

Highlighting your passion for teamwork and mentoring or showcasing technology-focused creative projects can add depth to your story, Lisa suggests. “Giving that color and showing your broader interests is a positive thing,” she says. 

Sample answer for a career changer

“My name is Adriana, and I currently work as an English teacher. My professional background has primarily been in education, but I’ve always had an interest in technology and its potential to transform learning experiences. I’ve actively incorporated technology educational software and online platforms into my teaching methods to boost student engagement. 

Through my experience in education, I’ve developed strong communication skills, a knack for problem-solving, and a passion for continuous learning — qualities I believe are highly transferable to the technology field. Recently, I’ve been exploring coding through online courses and have completed several projects that my students and I use in the classroom. 

I’m drawn to the technology field because of its dynamic nature and its potential to drive innovation and change. I’m particularly excited about the opportunity to leverage my skills and experiences in a new context and to contribute to technological advancements that positively impact society.”

How to answer “Tell me about yourself” if you’re early in your career 

You might be light on work experience, but have a wealth of relevant life experience to draw from, Lisa says. “Before you go on the job market, there are ways to do meaningful development projects that showcase your work — from a technical perspective but also from a mission-driven perspective,” she says. 

Lisa worked with Computer Science undergraduate students at MIT who were doing Python projects for the digital humanities, ranging from literature and history to music. Some students conducted data analysis on online public archives. “Those students could talk about how history [for example] was important to them in the context of a group development project,” says Lisa. “Those examples are great signal to interviewers that you see how the software you make can be useful in different contexts, and you’re excited about the application of what you build.” 

Contributing to open-source code or documentation, or even participating in communities related to your areas of interest are also good examples to highlight. That time spent interacting with your course mates in the Codecademy Forums and contributing to Docs will be worth it! 

Sample answer for an entry-level job seeker

“I’m Amrit, a visual art student passionate about leveraging creativity in functional design. While my background is in visual arts, I’ve honed skills in UI/UX design through personal projects. I’ve explored design principles, prototyping, and user research, aiming to create intuitive and visually appealing digital experiences. Last semester I volunteered to re-design a mobile app for our local food co-op. I’m eager to apply my artistic sensibility and design expertise to make digital interfaces more accessible.”

Be authentic and show your personality 

You already made it to the interview, which is a strong signal that you meet the minimum hard skills requirements. Now you get to show them what you’re like to work with as a human and set the tone for the rest of your interview.  

“The best interviewees, the ones that leave a lasting impression, are the ones that I enjoyed a conversation with,” Jean says. It’s normal to feel nervous, but use that energy to showcase yourself authentically.  

Be yourself and inject personal anecdotes to paint a fuller picture of who you are. “This is your one opportunity to make an impression outside of the role-specific requirements, so make an effort to share something interesting about you,” Jean says. And while you do want to be prepared, avoid sounding rehearsed by preparing some bullet points of what you want to share.  

Want to practice introducing yourself in an interview? Try out our new beta Interview Simulator: Build a mock interview based on the job title, level, type of interview and company and your own experience, then practice giving written or spoken responses. The AI interviewer is trained to ask intelligent follow-up questions like a recruiter and will provide you with feedback after the session. 

What Author Would You Most Like to Meet?

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What Author Would You Most Like to Meet?

Has a book ever made such a big impression on you that you felt a deep connection with the author? Perhaps you found it to be extremely moving, or you thought it spoke directly to your experiences in life.

Have you ever wished you could meet that writer and talk about that book and its significance to you?

In “A Bronx Teacher Asked. Tommy Orange Answered.,” Elisabeth Egan writes about how a high school English class recently had that wish granted:

Tommy Orange sat at the front of a classroom in the Bronx, listening as a group of high school students discussed his novel “There There.”

A boy wearing blue glasses raised his hand. “All the characters have some form of disconnection, even trauma,” Michael Almanzar, 19, said. “That’s the world we live in. That’s all around us. It’s not like it’s in some faraway land. That’s literally your next-door neighbor.”

The class broke into a round of finger snaps, as if we were at an old-school poetry slam on the Lower East Side and not in an English class at Millennium Art Academy, on the corner of Lafayette and Pugsley Avenues.

Orange took it all in with a mixture of gratitude and humility — the semicircle of earnest, engaged teenagers; the bulletin board decorated with words describing “There There” (“hope,” “struggle,” “mourning,” “discovery”); the shelf of well-thumbed copies wearing dust jackets in various stages of disintegration.

His eyebrows shot up when a student wearing a sweatshirt that said “I Am My Ancestors’ Wildest Dreams” compared the book to “The Road,” by Cormac McCarthy. When three consecutive students spoke about how they related to Orange’s work because of their own mental health struggles, he was on the verge of tears.

“That’s what drew me to reading in the first place,” Orange said, “The feeling of not being as alone as you thought you were.”

It’s not often that an author walks into a room full of readers, let alone teenagers, who talk about characters born in his imagination as if they’re living, breathing human beings. And it’s equally rare for students to spend time with an author whose fictional world feels like a refuge. Of all the classroom visits he’s made since “There There” came out in 2018, the one at Millennium Art Academy earlier this month was, Orange said later, “the most intense connection I’ve ever experienced.”

The article recounts how the classroom visit came to be. It was thanks to Rick Ouimet, an energetic, pony-tailed English teacher who took a chance and reached out to the author:

Last month, Ouimet learned that Orange, who lives in Oakland, was going to be in New York promoting his second novel, “Wandering Stars.” An idea started to percolate. Ouimet had never invited an author to his classroom before; such visits can be pricey and, as he pointed out, Shakespeare and Zora Neale Hurston aren’t available.

Ouimet composed a message in his head for over a week, he said, and on Monday, March 4, just after midnight, he fired it off to the Penguin Random House Speakers Bureau.

“The email felt like a raw rough draft, but I didn’t agonize,” he said. “It was my midlife college essay.”

The 827-word missive was written in the go-for-broke style Ouimet encourages in his students’ work, full of personality, texture and detail, without the corporate-speak that infiltrates so much Important Professional Correspondence.

Ouimet wrote: “In our 12th-grade English classroom, in our diverse corner of the South Bronx, in an under-resourced but vibrant urban neighborhood not unlike the Fruitvale, you’re our rock star. Our more than rock star. You’re our MF Doom, our Eminem, our Earl Sweatshirt, our Tribe Called Red, our Beethoven, our Bobby Big Medicine, our email to Manny, our ethnically ambiguous woman in the next stall, our camera pointing into a tunnel of darkness.”

Orange, he added, was a hero to these kids: “You’ve changed lives.” There was Tahqari Koonce, 17, who drew a parallel between the Oakland Coliseum and the Roman Colosseum; and Natalia Melendez, also 17, who noted that a white gun symbolized oppression of Native tribes. And then there was Dalvyn Urena, 18, who “said he’d never read an entire book until ‘There There,’” and was now comparing it to a Shakespearean sonnet.

He ended with: “Well, it was worth a shot. Thanks for taking the time to read this — if it ever finds its way to you. In appreciation (and awe), Rick Ouimet.”

“I took a chance,” Ouimet said. And why not? “My students take a chance every time they open a new book. There’s groaning, and they open the page. To see what they gave this book? The love was palpable.”

The article concludes:

Eventually the bell sounded. The students pushed back from their desks and lined up to have their books signed by Orange, who took a moment to chat with each one.

Over the din, to anyone who was still listening, Ouimet called: “If you love a book, talk about it! If you love a story, let other people know!”

Students, read the entire article and then tell us:

  • What author would you most like to meet — and why? What would you say to that person about how his or her writing has moved and affected you? What questions would you ask?

  • During Tommy Orange’s visit to the Bronx, many students told him that his novel “There There” spoke directly to them. Have you ever read a book that felt as if it was describing your life and the world you live in?

  • The article says that the author found a way to work a visit to the high school into a packed, 24-city tour for his new book, “Wandering Stars.” Why do you think he made such an effort to visit a high school in the Bronx? What do you think he gained from the experience?

  • What is your reaction to Rick Ouimet’s passion for teaching and the power of the written word? Have you ever had a teacher who made books and their authors come alive in the classroom? Did anyone ever invite an author to visit your class?

  • Inspired by the story? It’s your turn to take a chance writing a letter to invite an author to visit your class — in person or via Zoom. (You can reach out to the book publisher for contact information.) Be sure to include your personal connection to that writer’s books and be persuasive as you extend your invitation. Use the Bronx teacher’s passionate letter — “full of personality, texture and detail” — as a model. Good luck!

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.

Find more Student Opinion questions here. Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate these prompts into your classroom.

Walking Away

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Walking Away

Use your imagination to write the opening of a short story or poem inspired by this illustration or, describe a memory from your own life that this image makes you think of.

Tell us in the comments, then read the related Opinion essay to learn more.

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.

Find more Picture Prompts here.

Word of the Day: baffled

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Word of the Day: baffled

The word baffled has appeared in 154 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on Feb. 29 in “‘Spaceman’ Review: What Happened Here?” by Alissa Wilkinson:

When was the last time you looked at the exquisite list of synonyms for the word “baffled”? They may be among the best in the English language: puzzled, nonplused, discombobulated, flummoxed, stumped, fogged, wildered, buffaloed. They’re delicious, delightful, full of consonants, evocative of a very particular feeling: you’re presented with something that seems as though it should be clear, but you can’t make it make sense.

The occasion for my bout of word nerdery is the Adam Sandler movie “Spaceman,” and for that I thank the film. It is not a particularly confusing movie on its own, in part because we’ve seen its likes before: a spaceman, alone in the inky blackness, goes a little nuts, and also gains clarity on his life back on earth. What’s flummoxing about “Spaceman” isn’t what it is, but why it is.

Can you correctly use the word baffled in a sentence?

Based on the definition and example provided, write a sentence using today’s Word of the Day and share it as a comment on this article. It is most important that your sentence makes sense and demonstrates that you understand the word’s definition, but we also encourage you to be creative and have fun.

If you want a better idea of how baffled can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com. You can also visit this guide to learn how to use IPA symbols to show how different words are pronounced.

If you enjoy this daily challenge, try our vocabulary quizzes.

Students ages 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, can comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff.

The Word of the Day is provided by Vocabulary.com. Learn more and see usage examples across a range of subjects in the Vocabulary.com Dictionary. See every Word of the Day in this column.

10 Interview Tips That Helped Codecademy Learners Land Tech Jobs

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10 Interview Tips That Helped Codecademy Learners Land Tech Jobs

Some job interview tips are reliable across every position or industry — like show up early, familiarize yourself with the company, and know the name of your interviewer. Job interviews for technical roles, however, tend to be a little more nuanced, with multiple behavioral interviews and a technical coding assessment. 

There’s a lot you have to prepare for and think about ahead of a tech job interview. A typical tech job interview might include these distinct rounds:

  1. A screening call with a recruiter or hiring manager 
  2. An initial interview to evaluate your soft skills
  3. A take-home or live coding assessment 
  4. A final interview to meet other team members

If it’s your first time applying for a technical role, all of this might sound intimidating — but you’re probably more prepared than you think. We recently launched a new Interview Simulator (currently in beta) that walks you through different interview scenarios, including a phone screener, technical and behavioral interviews, plus a final round.  

Once you build your interview and provide details about your experience, the AI-powered chatbot will generate unique interview questions about front-end, back-end, and full-stack development. You can speak or type your responses (just like an actual interview), and we’ll provide feedback. With practice, you’ll feel primed for anything that comes at you in a job interview. Learn more about how to use the Interview Simulator here. 

To help you crush your next job interview, here are tips straight from other Codecademy learners who launched new careers after learning how to code.  

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Talk up your own projects 

Going into his first tech interview, Byron Jenkins “did something very nontraditional that was kind of bold,” he says. He brought an iPad with a rough sketch of his app idea to show the interviewers how he was planning to go through the process of designing and releasing it.  

By bringing a visual representation of his app idea to the interview, Byron not only demonstrated his technical skills but also his ability to conceptualize and execute projects independently. If you don’t have extensive professional experience, find ways to leverage personal projects or initiatives to demonstrate relevant skills and problem-solving abilities. 

“A lot of interview questions are geared towards experience, and I didn’t really have much experience besides that eight-week internship,” Byron says. “Being able to talk about building my mobile app helped me answer situation questions like, Name a time where you struggled.”  

Stay open to all opportunities 

Despite not being selected for the first cybersecurity position he applied for, Mario Roman’s proactive approach on LinkedIn led him to a team member who was hiring for a different role within the company. Being adaptable and receptive to opportunities can lead to unexpected career advancements and success. 

Whether it’s a hiring manager, talent specialist, or potential teammate interviewing you, be sure to build relationships and leverage platforms like LinkedIn to network. “The way that they handled my recruitment process was great,” Mario says. “The recruiter was very nice, which is an underrated thing, and they kept me in the loop. I could tell they cared for the other person on the other end of the interview process.”  

Be honest about knowledge gaps 

Openly acknowledging that you don’t know something can go a long way in an interview. Of course, you should make sure that you meet most of the requirements for a role before you apply (our job-readiness checker can help you do that in a pinch), but don’t sell yourself short when talking about your experience and skills. 

Even if you’re grappling with intense feelings of impostor syndrome, you have to go into an interview with a confident attitude, according to Santiago Caraballo, a Data Engineer in Argentina. “You have to show that you could learn almost anything if you needed and that you are motivated,” he says. The interviewer will appreciate your humility and can-do attitude, which are essential traits in developer roles. 

Talk to the recruiter

It often feels like the recruiter or hiring manager is your adversary in a job interview, but (most of the time) they want to help you succeed. (It’s literally their job to find someone for the role.) Don’t hesitate to ask the person organizing the interview questions ahead of time, like how to find the office or how many interview rounds you can expect.

In some cases, recruiters might be able to give you valuable pointers and feedback throughout the process. When Michael Wiltfong was between interview rounds for a Software Engineer position, the recruiter helped prepare him for the subsequent interview. “The recruiter believed in me — I don’t know why, but she did,” he says. “She told me, ‘They agree that you need more experience. Between now and the next interview, work on these things.’” He was able to brush up on the specific suggestions the recruiter gave, and he landed the role.

Relearn concepts and revisit courses

The beauty of self-guided learning on Codecademy is that you can stop and start a course or path at any time, like before an interview. We have lots of courses and paths that will drill you on industry standard interview questions. For example, in the course Technical Interview Practice with JavaScript, you’ll get to practice algorithmic problem-solving; and in Technical Interview Practice with Python, you’ll make your way through lists and dynamic programming. 

If a concept comes up that you’re not familiar with, you might have to go back and do some supplemental learning. For example, between the first and second rounds of job interviews, Michael reviewed some “heady” JavaScript concepts, like testing frameworks and data structures. “I’d been reading and trying to find ways to supplement my learning and testing at this point, and by chance I read a random article on Datadog that helped me get past the third interview,” he says. 

With Codecademy Pro, you get access to lots of additional interview prep resources, including code challenges that are based on real-world interview questions, as well as career services that will help you network and find opportunities. 

Let your personality shine

Your energy, personality, and overall enthusiasm for the position and work can go a long way. For example, you’ll want to demonstrate your soft skills like communication, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving. For Implementation Engineer Petko Georgiev, “the most important thing [in the job interview] was a positive attitude,” he says. 

Professional developers are constantly learning at every stage of their careers, so you’ll want to express your eagerness to learn. “Even if they ask something you don’t know, you’ve got to show a positive attitude and a willingness to learn,” Petko says. Better yet, you can talk about courses you’re currently taking or the topics and concepts you’d like to learn next. 

Don’t stress if you’re asked to do something new

On the off-chance that you have to code something in a programming language that’s brand new to you for a technical interview — don’t panic. When Angelo Ćurčić was applying for his first job as a Front-End Developer, he was asked in a technical interview to recreate a webpage in C#, which he had never used before. “That was pretty daunting, and they gave me about a week to do it,” he says. 

So, Angelo headed to Codecademy and crammed a bunch of C# courses. At a certain point, he realized that the assignment wasn’t meant to test his knowledge of specific C# syntax, but rather “the point was to see how quickly I could teach myself and learn,” he says. Even if you can’t become an instant expert on a new language, hiring managers want to see your approach and process. 

Serena Isone, a Codecademy learner who got hired as a Front-End Engineer at Adidas, recalls feeling a lot of nerves before her technical interview. Reminding herself that it’s okay to not know all of the answers helped reassure her: “I thought, Even if I cannot solve the challenge, I want them to know how I structured my way of solving it,” she says. 

Have a backup language

When you’re going into your technical interview, whether it’s a live coding assessment or a take-home project, you should clarify ahead of time whether it’s “language agnostic,” meaning you can pick any programming language, or if you’ll be asked to code in a specific language. 

For a language agnostic interview, you should choose the language that you feel confident and comfortable coding in, and is relevant to the type of work you’d be doing in the position. Michael’s technical interview was language agnostic, so he chose JavaScript — but he also had Python as his backup language. 

We have a few courses that are designed to prepare you for technical interviews in a few go-to programming languages: Pass the Technical Interview with JavaScript; Pass the Technical Interview with Java; and Pass the Technical Interview with Python. 

Avoid post-interview rumination 

During the waiting period after a job interview, it’s very easy to get caught up imagining worst-case scenarios — that’s how humans tend to cope with uncertainty. However, it’s important to remember that the hiring process can take time. Juan Paredes had to wait 10 days after submitting a code challenge for a Full-Stack Engineer position to get a response. “I thought I didn’t get the position,” he recalls. 

It’s totally reasonable to send a follow-up email to the person who interviewed you asking for an update or a timeline. Not only will it help quell some of your anxiety, but it also shows that you take initiative and are interested. (BTW, when Juan eventually heard from HR he was set up for an interview with the CEO of the company. “I was pretty excited — I wasn’t expecting that honestly,” he says.)

Know how to answer situational questions

When Jacinta Hayward interviewed for a Software Support Technician job, the questions were not as technical as she expected. “I thought I’d be asked about specific coding scenarios or IT troubleshooting, but it was a lot more about how you can find out things for yourself,” she says. 

Situational questions gauge how you’d handle certain scenarios. Using the STAR method — which stands for: situation, task, action, and result — is an easy way to make sure you give a detailed answer that illustrates your capabilities. Remember: The point isn’t to stump you with a trick question. Recruiters and hiring managers want to see your “ability to think on the spot, find your own answers, or ask other people for answers,” Jacinta says. 

Curious what steps Codecademy learners took to land a job interview after learning to code? Be sure to read the rest of our learner stories here or share your own story and tips here.

This blog was originally published in March 2023 and has been updated to include more tips and details about new job-readiness features.  

Guyana Launches National Training Initiative with Coursera to Empower Every Guyanese Citizen and Public Sector Employee with In-Demand Skills

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Guyana Launches National Training Initiative with Coursera to Empower Every Guyanese Citizen and Public Sector Employee with In-Demand Skills

By: Jeff Maggioncalda, CEO of Coursera

We’re excited to announce a groundbreaking program under the leadership of Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali where ministries across the country have partnered with Coursera to launch the Guyana-Coursera National Training Initiative. This innovative program offers every Guyanese citizen and public sector employee free education and skill training on Coursera. The program will be delivered through various ministries across the country, which will customize Coursera learning programs to each sector to diversify and transform the country’s economy and boost workforce productivity.

The initiative will enable Guyana to:

  • Provide unprecedented access to high-quality education for citizens and civil servants
  • Equip every citizen with the professional skills and credentials necessary to advance their career and unlock new employment opportunities 
  • Tackle skill gaps in the workforce to support economic growth
  • Grow the country’s reputation among investors as a destination for top talent in an increasingly globalized economy 

Several ministries are already making significant strides under this partnership: 

  • The Office of the Prime Minister has equipped hundreds of public servants with skills in digital media, communication, and journalism through Coursera. 
  • The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security and the Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute collaborated with Coursera to launch The Women’s Investment and Innovation Network (WIIN) program, training over 4,000 women in entrepreneurship, digital, finance, and resilience skills. 
  • The Ministry of Health is using Coursera to take its Nursing School program online in an effort to increase the number of trained nurses in the country while enabling faculty to save time and update course content efficiently with Course Builder, Coursera’s AI-assisted content authoring tool. 
  • The Ministry of Tourism, Industry & Commerce (MINTIC) is working with Coursera to enhance the skills of tourism staff, managers, and tour operators in areas like digital marketing, communication, and data analytics for hospitality and travel. Additionally, it prepares entrepreneurs, business professionals, and regional chambers of commerce with digital literacy, problem-solving, adaptability, and resource management skills required to compete in a global market. 

Through this initiative, every citizen and public sector employee will gain access to over 10,000 courses, credentials, and hands-on projects from leading universities and companies worldwide. It will also include over 50 Professional Certificates from industry leaders, designed to prepare people with no degree or prior work experience for various entry-level jobs and digital careers.

“It is okay to dream, but your dream can remain unrealized if the system does not support you in achieving it,” said the President of Guyana, Irfaan Ali. “Today in Guyana,  every citizen can dream of a second chance, every citizen can dream of being educated because of the government’s policies.”

“The historic launch of the Guyana-Coursera Platform, utilizing the most cutting-edge technology, enables every Guyanese to access thousands of training courses online directly from their home,” said the Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, Dr. Ashni K. Singh.

“Guyana is transforming right before our eyes, and in order to sustain this trajectory of growth and development while ensuring inclusion, it is critical that every Guyanese citizen is equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to take part in this incredible success story,” said the U.S. Ambassador to Guyana Nicole D. Theriot. “Education has always been the cornerstone of progress and development in any society and is the key that unlocks doors to opportunity and empowers people to pursue their dreams.”

To learn more about Coursera for Government, visit coursera.org/government

20 Front-End Developer Interview Questions to Practice

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20 Front-End Developer Interview Questions to Practice

You’ve put in the time to learn the programming languages you need to become a Front-End Developer. You’ve completed projects in your courses and built a few websites of your own to practice your skills. Your next hurdle is applying for your new job as a Front-End Developer and preparing to ace your interview. 

The interview process can be nerve-wracking, but if you know what to expect and prepare ahead of time, you’ll exude confidence and competence to your interviewer. Our new AI-powered Interview Simulator (currently in beta) is designed to give you practice answering common interview questions for Front-End, Back-End, and Full-Stack Developer positions. You can type or speak your responses, and we’ll give you useful feedback about what you did well and identify areas for improvement.  

Codecademy Pro members can start using the interview simulator today. Don’t have Pro? Upgrade your account today to take advantage of all of our job search features, like the job-readiness checker, portfolio projects, and more.  

Ahead, we’ll go over what you can expect during your Front-End Developer interview, examples of the kind of questions you’ll face, and how to prepare beforehand. 

What to expect when you interview for a job as a Front-End Developer

Some organizations will have you take a programming test before you’re selected for an interview, so don’t be caught off-guard if you’re asked to complete one. You’ve got all the skills you need to succeed after taking online courses and practicing your development skills by building websites. 

Learn something new for free

Other organizations will ask technical questions during the interview. Or, you may be asked to complete a short skills test or debugging exercise for your technical interview. 

During your interview, you’ll face two different kinds of questions — technical and behavioral. 

Behavioral interview questions

Behavioral interview questions are focused on who you are as a developer, as a teammate, and as an individual. They’ll help them determine if you’ll be a good fit for their team and if you share some of the same values that the company looks for. Behavioral interview questions are more about your personality and your soft skills that aren’t related to coding. 

Technical interview questions

On the other hand, technical interview questions get into the weeds of the code you’ll work with day-in and day-out. Interviewers ask these questions to determine if you have the programming skills to hit the ground running. Some of the questions will ask you to define programming concepts, and others will ask how you apply your programming skills to solve a specific problem. 

What behavioral interview questions should Front-End Developers prepare for?

We’ve compiled a list of behavioral interview questions that a Front-End Developer is likely to face. Some are general tried-and-true interview questions, while others are focused on high-level development concepts but that give the interviewer insight into how you work and collaborate.  

You want to answer truthfully, but convey your strengths.  

20 behavioral Front-End Developer interview questions:

  1. Why are you interested in working specifically as a Front-End Developer at our company? 
  2. Aside from work, what are your hobbies? Do you participate in any front-end development communities, open-source projects, or personal projects that contribute to your growth as a front-end developer? 
  3. Do you have a preference for collaborating remotely or in-person with your team? What communication tools or strategies do you find most effective for remote collaboration? 
  4. Can you describe a time when you had to quickly learn a new technology or framework to meet a project deadline? How did you approach it? 
  5. How do you stay updated with the latest trends and best practices in front-end development? Can you give an example of how you applied something you learned recently? 
  6. Describe a time when you had to troubleshoot and debug a complex front-end issue. How did you approach the problem-solving process? 
  7. Tell us about a time when you had to present your work or ideas to non-technical stakeholders. How did you tailor your communication to ensure understanding? 
  8. Front-end development often involves managing multiple tasks and deadlines. Can you provide an example of a time when you felt overwhelmed with front-end responsibilities? How did you prioritize tasks and communicate effectively to ensure successful completion of the project? 
  9. Can you share an experience where you had a disagreement with your team leader about a front-end-related decision? How did you navigate this disagreement while maintaining a positive working relationship and achieving project goals? 
  10. Can you describe a situation where a team member failed to contribute effectively to front-end development tasks? How did you address this situation while ensuring the timely completion of front-end deliverables?  
  11. In your most recent front-end project, what were some technical challenges you encountered? How did you overcome these challenges, and what did you learn from the experience?  
  12. Describe a situation where you had to handle a critical production issue. How did you troubleshoot the issue and ensure minimal downtime? 
  13. How would you describe “great” code in the context of front-end development? What criteria you consider when evaluating the quality of front-end code? 
  14. Describe a situation where you had to convince stakeholders or team members to adopt a new technology or approach. How did you build consensus and overcome resistance? 
  15. How do your technical skills and experiences align with the specific needs and objectives of our company’s front-end development projects?  
  16. What is your current favorite mobile app? What aspects of the front-end design and user experience do you find particularly impressive or inspiring? How do you think these elements contribute to the app’s usability, engagement, and overall success? 
  17. Can you tell us about a project that you were particularly passionate about from your past experience? What aspects of the project ignited your enthusiasm, and how did your passion contribute to the project’s success? 
  18. How do you approach decision-making when introducing new features or technologies into front-end development projects? How do you mitigate risks and ensure that innovative solutions do not compromise the reliability and maintainability of the codebase? 
  19. What’s your favorite website from a UI perspective? How do you think these design choices align with the website’s purpose and target audience? 
  20. Based on your observations, what are some areas for improvement on our company website? How would you approach addressing these areas for improvement while aligning with our company’s objectives and branding guidelines? 

What technical skills and knowledge will be covered in the interview?

Your developer resume will give the interviewer a good place to start with their questions, so be sure that it highlights your front-end development skills. (If you’re questioning whether you have what it takes to apply for a position, review your resume against the job descripting using our job-readiness checker.) They’ll be looking for competency in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, user interface skills, and possibly other programming languages and libraries included in their tech stack. 

Be sure to read the job description carefully and flag any specific languages or frameworks that are listed. For example, if you’re going to be using Kotlin for mobile development, you’ll want to practice questions around that language.  

Don’t forget there are even courses and skill paths that will help you prepare for your technical interview, like Pass the Technical Interview with JavaScript or Pass the Technical Interview with Swift. 

How to prepare for your Front-End Developer interview

Now that you know what types of questions you’ll face in your interview, you can begin to practice your answers. The best way to prepare is to simulate the interview conditions, so you’ll want to practice giving answers verbally.  

With our AI-powered Interview Simulator, you can practice answering interview questions out loud and in writing for Front-End, Back-End, and Full-Stack roles. This tool is designed to help you improve your interviewing skills and boost your confidence. 

If you’re thrown a curveball during the interview, you’ll need to think on your feet — but that’s part of being a professional developer.  

When you work on projects, you’ll have to solve problems, debug, and research possible methods to assist you. All these skills will help you explain to the interviewer how you’d solve problems, even if you don’t know the “right” answer offhand.  

This blog was originally published in July 2021 and has been updated to include additional questions and interview prep features.   

You Landed a Job Interview — 8 Ways to Get Ready Now

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You Landed a Job Interview — 8 Ways to Get Ready Now

Scoring a job interview is an accomplishment on its own — you should feel proud that your skills and experience got you in the door and one step closer to landing your dream role. So how do you respond when the opportunity for a job interview comes knocking? Ahead we’ll break down how to accept an interview offer and gear up for your next job interview. Use these steps as a guide to make sure you’ve covered all your bases. 

Be sure to check out our Career Center for more tools that can help your job search, including the new Interview Simulator in beta. This AI-powered feature simulates a job interview so you can get experience answering common interview questions on your own. The Interview Simulator is game changer when it comes to navigating the competitive job market today, and you can start using it now for free (Pro members can use the Interview Simulator up to five times a day).  

How to respond to an interview request 

In your response to an interview request, there are a few key points you want to hit: 

  • Express your excitement and gratitude 
  • Lock in the date, time, and location of the interview 
  • Confirm the format of the interview (in-person or virtual)  
  • Offer to send additional documents or details

Here’s an example email response for an interview request. Let’s pretend this is a person named Nayra applying for a job as a Junior System Engineer position at a startup company called Nosh Mish Mosh (you might recognize this fake company from one of our projects):  

Subject: Re: Interview Request for Junior System Engineer Position 

Dear Amelia, 

I hope this email finds you well. Thank you very much for reaching out to me regarding the Junior System Engineer position. I’m thrilled about the opportunity to interview for the role and to potentially contribute to the Nosh Mish Mosh team. 

I’m pleased to confirm I’m available for the Zoom interview scheduled for April 2nd at 3:00 pm ET. I look forward to our conversation and the opportunity to learn more about the role and discuss my qualifications. 

If there are any additional details or preparations needed from my end, please feel free to inform me. Thank you once again for considering my application. 

Warm regards, 

Nayra 

How to prepare for your job interview 

Research the company…  

Before stepping into your interview, take some time to delve into the company’s mission, leadership structure, product or service lineup, and its place against competitors in the market. Scour the latest news updates to catch wind of any recent developments or emerging trends in the industry that could be conversation fodder. For example, maybe the founder spoke on a tech panel recently, or a new product feature got some social media buzz.  

…and your interviewers 

Take some time to confirm the names and job titles of the people interviewing you (it’s okay to ask the recruiter for these details!). Sometimes a recruiter or hiring manager will coordinate interviews for other team members, so you’re not necessarily going to meet the person you correspond with about the position. 

Explore their LinkedIn profile to gain insights into their professional journey and background. Maybe your interviewer entered the field in an unconventional way and can talk about how they switched careers? Check how long they’ve worked there — if they’re a founding member who’s been there since the start, they’ll have different insight about the company than, say, a newbie who’s building out a new team. Both are valuable perspectives that can inform the type of questions you ask the interviewer (BTW, you should totally ask your own questions!).   

See if the interviewer has anything on their public-facing social media accounts or GitHub profile that you could ask about in an organic way. You don’t have to be creepy about it — the point of this kind of internet sleuthing is to find common ground so you can build rapport with your interviewer.  

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Re-read the job description  

Go over the job description with a fine-tooth comb until you’ve internalized the expectations of the role. Review the must-have and desired technical skills and be ready to honestly talk about your experience with them. If you haven’t already, you can run your resume through our job-readiness checker to identify any knowledge gaps or blind spots. (Good to know: You can also use this tool before you even apply to a job).   

Let’s say they’re asking for C++ knowledge; they’re basically saying, “We need someone who can code this language fluently.” And if they mention JavaScript or another language as “desired,” they’re saying, “It would be awesome if you knew these too because we’ve got stuff written in them already, and it’ll be handy if you can jump in and help out.” Feeling rusty in a particular area? You might want to re-take one of our courses to brush up on a specific language or function.  

In the job description, you can also find clues about who you’d report to in this role and which team you’d be on. Imagine yourself in the position and taking on the day-to-day tasks — what roadblocks could you face? What additional skills do you have that aren’t on the job description, but could be a selling point? 

Try our Interview Simulator  

Skim common interview questions for the position so you know what to expect and can start thinking about your answers. On the blog we have lots of lists of common interview questions for specific roles and programming languages. When you’re ready, take our Interview Simulator for a spin and practice answering personalized, AI-powered interview questions. 

Practice answering interview questions using our Interview Simulator in beta.

With the Interview Simulator, you can tailor your interview scenario based on the job you’re pursuing, your level, and the type of company. After you provide details about your experience, the AI will present customized questions that mimic a real interview, and you can respond verbally or in writing. We’ll give you individualized feedback that pinpoints your strengths and areas for development. All you need to start using the Interview Simulator is a free Codecademy account. If you want full access to the Interview Simulator so you can use it up to five times a day, upgrade to a Pro or Plus plan.   

Make a list of your questions 

Your interviewer is going to be doing most of the questioning, but this is also an opportunity for you to ask questions about the job that may not be laid out in the job description. Bringing your own questions shows that you’re enthusiastic about the opportunity and have done your homework. If you get to the end of the interview and you’ve covered everything, a good open-ended question to ask a recruiter or hiring manager is: “What’s something you’re working on now that you’re excited about?” Here’s a list of more thoughtful questions you can ask an interviewer to learn more about the company and role. 

Do some introspection  

As you’re doing all this research about other people and organizations, don’t forget to reflect about your story and experience. One of the first things you’ll have to do in an interview is introduce yourself, so spend time thinking about how you’d frame your life and experience up until now. When you use the Interview Simulator, you’ll be asked an open-ended icebreaker question where you can introduce yourself and explain why you’re interested in the position. You can find more tips on how to answer the interview question “Tell me about yourself” on the blog.  

Think about why you want this job specifically compared to all the other ones you’re considering. What is it about the organization’s mission that resonates with you personally? How does your lived and professional experience make you uniquely qualified for the role?  

Get organized 

Print out copies of your resume to have on hand for reference, and make sure to bring along something to take notes with, so you can jot down any important points or questions that come up during the conversation. If you’re opting for a virtual interview, double-check your Zoom background to ensure it’s professional and distraction-free. If you’re job searching while currently employed, strategize how you’re going to carve out time for the interview — consider what explanation you might give your team leader if they ask for one.  

Lastly, do whatever helps you manage nerves — whether it’s practicing deep breathing exercises, hugging your cat, blasting Beyoncé, or simply taking a moment to center yourself. We’d recommend running through a mock interview with our Interview Simulator one more time and reading these inspirational quotes about coding.  

Everything You Need to Prepare for Your Next Job Interview

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Everything You Need to Prepare for Your Next Job Interview

You scored an interview for your dream technical job — get excited! As you imagine what your future could look like and how you’ll give notice at your current job, your mind might also be spinning a tapestry of worst-case scenarios. You sleep through your alarm. Show up to the interview with no pants on. Realize you had a goofy filter on for the whole video call.  

These situations sound outlandish, but when stakes and nerves are high, you want to feel completely prepared. Now with our Interview Simulator, you can practice what you’d actually do or say in the moment.  

This AI-powered tool generates questions that a recruiter or hiring manager would ask for Front-End, Back-End, and Full-Stack Developer job interviews. You can personalize it based on the type of company you want to work for, your level, and the interview stage (like a phone screener, and soon, a technical interview and final round).  

With mock interviews under your belt, you can feel confident that you’ve got this interview under control — well, so long as you remember to set your alarm. Read on to learn how mock interviews work, what to prepare, and how to start using our Interview Simulator tool that’s currently in beta.  

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What is a mock interview 

A mock interview is essentially a practice session that simulates a real job interview experience. The point of a mock interview is to prepare for an actual job interview by rehearsing responses to common interview questions, getting feedback on your performance, and improving your interviewing skills.  

Before generative AI, you might do a mock interview IRL and have a friend, trusted colleague, mentor, or career counselor play the part of “interviewer.” We built our new Interview Simulator so you can practice mock interviews on your own. If you’re switching careers and have never interviewed for technical roles, the Interview Simulator can introduce you to the content and format of a tech job interview. Or if you find yourself back in the job market unexpectedly, mock interviews can help you strengthen your interview muscle and refine the story you want to tell about your career.   

How to prepare for a mock interview 

You can start using the Interview Simulator in beta now, and we’ll explain how to do it in the next section. Here are a few things you should do to prepare for this type of mock interview: 

Research the company and position: Familiarize yourself with the company’s mission, leadership, offerings, and competitors. Do a quick search to see if there’s any recent news about the organization or industry trends that you can mention during the interview. Also re-read the job description to make sure you understand the requirements and come prepared with your own questions to ask. 

Review common interview questions: Come to the mock interview with an understanding of the types of interview questions you might be asked. On the blog, we have tons of lists of common interview questions (and answers) for popular technical roles and programming languages, like this list of Front-End Developer questions, DevOps interview questions, and Angular interview questions. Read up, that way you’ll be even more prepared to ace your mock interview. 

Take it seriously: Treat this mock interview like it’s real. Put yourself in a professional mindset, reflect on what you want to convey, sit at your desk, and maybe even choose an outfit that you would wear for an interview (no one can see you in our Interview Simulator, but dressing the part can help you get in the zone). Update your resume with your latest achievements and refresh your LinkedIn and GitHub profiles. 

How to use our AI-powered Interview Simulator 

All you need to start using the Interview Simulator is a free Codecademy account. If you want full access to the Interview Simulator so you can use it up to five times a day, upgrade to a Pro or Plus plan.  

You can find the Interview Simulator on three career paths: Front-End Engineer, Back-End Engineer, and Full-Stack Engineer. Just click “Try out interviewing” to get to the Interview Simulator. You can also access the Interview Simulator and explore more job-search tools in our Career Center.

Where to find the Interview Simulator in select career paths.

Your first step is to build out an interview by selecting the job title, level, company type, and scenario. For example, say it’s a phone screening for an entry-level Front-End Developer role at a startup.  

Before entering your work experience, select the job title, level, interview scenario, and company type.

Next, feed the Interview Simulator some details about your work and volunteer experience. This can include past jobs that are unrelated to tech where you learned transferrable skills, open-source projects you’re involved with, hackathons you participated in, and Codecademy chapters you joined. We know how hard it is to gauge if you have “enough” relevant experience for a job, so don’t sell yourself short.  

Now you’ll get set up with the AI-powered “recruiter” that will start to ask you questions just like a real interview. The AI might ask you an icebreaker question, like introduce yourself or share a bit about why you’re interested in this position, before jumping into more specific questions tailored to your experience.   

It’s your turn to type or speak your responses using the microphone icon next to the chatbot and see where things go! At the end, we’ll give you useful feedback about what you did well and identify areas where you could improve. 

This AI-powered chatbot acts like a recruiter during a mock interview. You can type or speak your responses and instantly get personalized feedback.

Good to know: Pro members are currently limited to five interview simulations per day. The questions you get won’t always be the same, but you can return to your saved interviews so you can re-read what you said during a specific round.  

5 more tools to help you land a job  

Did you know we have lots of other tools like this that can help you with all aspects of the job search? Read more on the blog, and upgrade to Codecademy Pro to get full access to the features listed below. 

Job-readiness checker: Add a LinkedIn or ZipRecruiter job listing and the job-readiness checker will analyze your resume and learning progress to come up with a compatibility score. Keep in mind, it’s just an estimate and doesn’t consider things like your stellar soft skills or networking connections. 

Career paths: Start from the beginning and learn the skills and languages you need to get a tech job, like Front-End Engineer, iOS Developer, Data Scientist, and more. You’ll also gain useful experience working on projects that you can include in a professional portfolio.  

Professional certifications: You can earn professional certifications when you pass all the exams in select career paths. These certificates are proof that you’ve mastered all the information in a specific domain — display them proudly on your LinkedIn, portfolio site, or in your office. 

With Codecademy Pro, you can earn professional certifications that show you’ve mastered a career domain and are ready to get hired.

Interview prep courses: There are specific courses and skill paths that get you ready for the technical portion of a job interview. Browse the options to find one that fits your goals, like Pass the Technical Interview with Python or Cybersecurity Analyst Interview Prep.  

Code challenges: Brush up on your coding skills with one-off code challenges. They’re based on actual technical interview questions at top tech companies, but you can also just do them for fun to practice.  

Tips for Transitioning Into the Tech Industry

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Tips for Transitioning Into the Tech Industry

Making a career transition can be daunting, but it can also be an exciting time! If you’re considering entering the tech industry, we’ve got you covered. In this blog post, tech blogger Austin Chia will discuss 5 tips to help make your transition to tech easier and more successful. Keep reading for advice on networking, learning new skills, and more!

5 Steps to Kickstart Your Tech Career

Tip #1:  Networking for Tech Jobs

One of the best ways to enter a new industry is by networking. This is especially true for tech jobs. Word-of-mouth recommendations can help you stand out among other job applicants in such a competitive industry. To get started, consider attending tech events and conferences, joining tech-focused meetups, and using social media networks like LinkedIn to connect with potential mentors, employers, and people in positions you aspire to be in.

Photo by Product School on Unsplash

Some common online platforms to network for tech jobs include:

  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Quora
  • StackOverflow

Not only will this help you build real relationships with people (that can lead to a job), but it will also give you valuable insight into the industry and teach you new skills.

Tip #2: Work on Industry-Relevant Projects

Photo by Myriam Jessier on Unsplash

Having a portfolio of industry-relevant projects is essential for making your transition into tech. Not only will it signify that you’re serious about getting into the field, but it will also show potential employers that you already have some experience in the area. Before you work on any of these projects, analyse the type of companies you intend to apply for. Look at what value you can provide to their business and determine what would catch a hiring manager’s eye.

For example, if you’re planning to be a web developer in healthcare, you can create a website project with the design and elements suited to the needs of a healthcare business. Or, if you’re looking to be a marketing data analyst, you can work on a data analytics project that analyses the web traffic of a business and presents it in an eye-catching dashboard.

Tip #3: Build an Impressive Portfolio

To showcase your projects in a professional manner, you’ll need to create an outstanding portfolio site. You can do this online with a variety of tools like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace. Your portfolio should contain samples of your previous work, links to projects you’ve worked on and/or written about, and any articles or blog posts you have published. Additionally, include any awards or certificates that prove relevant skills in the tech industry.

Many hiring managers have a look at your portfolio for relevant experience, so a portfolio is essential for all tech jobs. Ensure that your portfolio is up-to-date and showcases your best skills!

Tip #4: Consider Joining a Tech Startup

Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

Tech startup experience can be an amazing way to gain a foothold in the industry. Not only will you have access to the latest technologies, but you will get many chances to learn a broad base of skills. For example, if you’re going to work as a software engineer, you’ll have the opportunity to work on the full stack of software development, from back-end programming to front-end design. Additionally, you can take part in marketing and business decisions, giving you a more holistic view of how tech businesses succeed.

In a startup environment, you may also be able to start your own projects or create entire products from scratch. Plus, you’ll get the opportunity to work with like-minded people and learn about the business side of tech companies. Instead of transitioning into big tech companies, joining a startup can be a good stepping stone for gaining experience and building a reputation in the industry.

Tip #5: Use Online Resources for Learning Tech Skills

Photo by Mimi Thian on Unsplash

Aside from networking and working on your own projects, there are plenty of online resources to help you make the transition into tech. For example, YouTube has a wealth of tutorials covering almost every aspect of tech – from coding languages to design tools.

Additionally, Alison offers many free online tutorials in technology-related topics such as app development, data science, and cloud computing. There are many reasons to learn from such online courses, but where the true value of such courses comes in is through the flexible learning environment they provide. With the guidance of video tutorials and practical exercises, you can learn step-by-step and ensure that you’re on track with the right skills.

Final Thoughts

Making the transition into tech is no easy task. It requires time, dedication, hard work, and industry knowledge. But, with the right strategy and resources, you can start your career in this ever-evolving field. Take full advantage of online platforms such as LinkedIn and Reddit to network, create a portfolio of industry-relevant projects, join a tech startup, and take advantage of online tutorials for the skill development required. With enough determination and effort, you can make your transition into tech successful!

About the Author:

Austin Chia is a tech blogger at AnyInstructor.com, where he writes about tech, data, and software. With his years of experience in data, he seeks to help others learn more about data science and analytics through content. He has previously worked as a data scientist at a healthcare research institute and a data analyst at a health-tech startup.

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