An Interview with a Software Engineer
What qualities do you need to be a successful software developer?
You must be disciplined, patient and have an attention to detail (a misspelt entry can create a whole lot of trouble for nothing). You must have good communication skills and the ability to work in a team. A good software developer needs to be creative so that he can think of smarter ways to approach the same problem. Mainly, you must have a passion for coding. This is the most important quality that anybody would need to excel in any field.
How do you prepare yourself for a project?
I spend quite some time before I commence coding, preparing for the job. This step is very important because it determines the total time this project will take as well as the goal & quality of the project.
Step 1: Be aware of the requirements
Requirement gathering is an important part of this entire process. One can be a freelancer or part of a company where you may not be in direct contact with the client. In any case, it is important that you have a clear idea as to what the client actually needs before you begin with the project development. NEVER start coding as soon as you get the project brief. If you are in direct contact with the client, then it is important to LISTEN to them. Do not hesitate to suggest ideas, maybe together you can create something special. If you have a colleague from the B2B team as a contact point with the client, do explain your process to them so that they can collect all the relevant information that you need.
When you are in the requirement gathering phase, you will definitely have to go back and forth to get a better understanding of the total requirements. It is essential that this process is well documented via email or any other means. This will prevent any miscommunication as well as all the team members will be aware of any new developments.
Step 2: Research before you react
Before you enter the product development stage you must research about and compare technologies, modules, frameworks and libraries. This will help you optimise your product quality.
How do you adapt to changing technologies?
A person will adapt to changing technologies only if they are aware of the changing technologies. For this, I read regularly about topics that I find interesting. I follow various forums, read books, blogs etc. Social media can be a great tool to stay updated with new trends.
Once I find something interesting, after overcoming the initial inertia that everybody experiences when thinking of learning new things, I start with beginner tutorials and search the web for answers to the problems that I encounter along the way. I strive to update myself constantly. I keep reminding myself this, “If your knowledge is obsolete, then your need in the ever advancing technology industry is also obsolete.”
What advice would you give to fresh talent?
- Ask questions! You will save yourself from a whole lot of refactoring if you just knew better.
- Create a timeline. Break down your entire task into smaller tasks and assign a deadline to them. This will help you and your lead to keep track of your progress against the final deadline. Do not forget to include sufficient time for testing and debugging.
- And finally, Read! Explore! Practise! Repeat!
Do you feel that you have what it takes to be a good software developer? Then send us your CV at career@inventrom.com. We can meet over a cup of coffee and discuss your opportunities at Inventrom.
