Why it pays off to be "almost" ready for interviews
In this market, I recommend staying 2 weeks away from total interview readiness at all times. Here's how to get there.
Tech layoffs have unfortunately become the new normal. I've seen the most talented developers be impacted (and I sincerely hope you're not one of them).
Despite this lull in tech, I've been steadfast on the sentiment that tech will make a comeback. I've just seen too many of these ups and downs over my tenure in tech to believe otherwise.
Apple's latest announcement is our first, faintest hint of that comeback.
With a new facility underway, Apple plans to create 20,000 new jobs, primarily in research and development (sidenote: many of these jobs will have an emphasis on AI skills). With limited developer jobs today, we've been long overdue for some positive news like this — and there will be more to come.
But we're not out of the dark yet. Layoffs and tight budgets are still trending, and they may remain that way for a few more years.
Whether you'll be competing in a hiring boom or bouncing back from a layoff, we don't know what will happen tomorrow. In any case, you should always be "almost ready" for interviews.
Why?
You never want a layoff to catch you off guard.
Hiring WILL pick up — and you want to be competitive when it does.
Today, I'll cover what being "almost ready" means, and share 5 strategies to help you get there.
Why you need to be "almost ready"
Being "almost ready" means you're so brushed up on interview prep that you can confidently walk into an interview in, say, two weeks.
As a former hiring manager at Meta and Microsoft, I can tell you that even the most skilled developers lose job opportunities if they're underprepared.
Being a great developer is different from being a great interviewer. Interviewing is a skill in and of itself.
We should never underestimate how long it takes to refine the interviewing game — especially in such a competitive job market.
If you haven't interviewed in over 5 years, I promise that the expectations on soft skills are higher than ever before. Tech savvy simply doesn't cut it when there are 20 other candidates with the same know-how as you.
Think of being "almost ready" as an emergency preparedness kit: You hope you won’t need it, but if you do, you’ll be glad you prepared.
5 ways to get “almost ready” for interviews
1. Brush up on your technical fundamentals
There's a lot to brush up on when it comes to the interview process — start with the fundamentals.
To that end:
Streamline coding interview prep by learning coding patterns, rather than drilling endless LeetCode problems (I’d try a course like Grokking Coding Interview Patterns instead).
Look at real-world case studies for System Design or API/Product Design.
Budget at least 20 minutes a day to practice common interview problems.
Focus on your weakest areas first.
2. Keep your portfolio and resume up to date
If a recruiter reached out right now, would your resume be ready? If not, you may miss an opportunity.
Be sure that:
Your GitHub and LinkedIn reflect your latest work.
Your personal projects demonstrate any skills your job experience doesn't reflect.
You have AI-related skills in your portfolio (AI skills are your ticket to future-proofing your career).
3. Do a mock interview twice a month
It's not easy to answer complex questions eloquently when the timer is ticking, but mock interviews will get you there.
To practice your real-time communication:
Set a timer for 30 minutes and think through a problem out loud.
If possible, ask a friend or mentor to do a mock interview for you.
Try AI mock interviews if you haven't already. AI can help you refine your performance and get feedback. If this appeals to you, check out Educative's AI Mock Interviews tool.
4. Stay connected with your network
In a market saturated with online applications, your best leads will come from people, not job boards.
Be sure to:
Keep in touch with past colleagues, mentors, or recruiters.
Try to expand your network with in-person networking opportunities.
5. Have a game plan for layoffs (just in case)
Layoffs are disorienting, and it can be hard to act fast when our minds are bogged down with stress.
If layoffs happened tomorrow, what would be your first three steps?
For example:
File for unemployment
Reach out to your network
List some dream companies to apply for
Once you hash out a high-level plan, write it down so you don't forget it.
Hit the ground running with this free interview prep roadmap
If I were to invite you for an interview in 2 weeks, would you be prepared?
You never know when an opportunity will knock, so you should get started toward "almost ready" as soon as possible.
To help take the guesswork out of your prep, check out Educative’s free interview prep resources below — including an 8-week Roadmap to Ace Your Software Engineer Interview HERE.
Good luck out there! If you have any requests for topics related to interview prep and the tech job market, I'd love to hear them, just reply and let me know.
Happy interviewing!