Can you demonstrate seniority in your coding interviews?

In coding interviews, whether you're a recent graduate or a seasoned engineer with decades of experience, you will face the same Leetcode-style medium-difficulty questions. It might seem unfair, but while the questions remain constant, the expectations vary significantly. Your performance doesn't just assess your coding ability—it signals your level of expertise and can determine your placement within a company.

So, how can you demonstrate seniority in your coding interviews? Here are four key signals to focus on:

About myself: I'm an ex-FAANG Senior Software Engineer who conducted hundreds of coding interviews, currently on sabbatical. You can get free daily coding interview tips from me straight to your inbox by subscribing to my newsletter called Faangshui here: blog.faangshui.com. Let's also connect on Linkedin! Now let's get back to the signals...

Here are four key signals to focus on:

1. Lead the Interview

You might wonder, isn't it the interviewer's job to lead? Actually, showcasing leadership is a key indicator of seniority. As your interviewer presents a problem—the destination—you're in the driver's seat. It's your job to chart the course and navigate us there.

For example, after hearing the problem, take a moment to outline your understanding. Explain your intended approach and why you believe it's effective. Don't wait for the interviewer to prompt you at every step. Instead, proactively guide the discussion, making decisions and moving forward confidently.

Actionable Tips:

• Communicate your thought process clearly.
• Make decisions independently without constantly seeking validation.
• Take initiative to test and optimize your solution without being prompted.

Note: It's important to recognize that coding interviews are not the sole indicators of an engineer's seniority. Behavioral and system design interviews often play a larger role in determining your level within a company. However, even if you're not yet a senior engineer—for example, if you've just graduated from college—performing like one during your coding interview can greatly improve your chances of getting hired.

2. Navigate Roadblocks Independently

Senior engineers are great at overcoming obstacles with minimal assistance. If you hit a roadblock, rather than waiting for hints, analyze the problem from different angles. The amount of help you need to reach a solution can indicate your level of experience.

For instance, if your initial approach isn't working, consider alternative algorithms or data structures that might be more effective. Show resilience and resourcefulness in finding solutions.

Actionable Tips:

• Develop a systematic approach to troubleshooting.
• Reflect on similar problems you've solved in the past.
• Stay calm and don't let setbacks derail your progress.

3. Write Clean Code

The quality of your code speaks volumes about your professionalism. This includes how you organize your code, the clarity of your variable and function names, and adherence to coding best practices.

Instead of naming a helper function helper() or dfs(), opt for a descriptive name like calculateAverage() or exploreMaze(). Such attention to detail makes your code more readable and maintainable.

Actionable Tips:

• Use meaningful names for variables and functions.
• Follow consistent coding conventions and style guidelines.
• Structure your code into logical sections or modules.

4. ???

The fourth signal is probably the most important one. You can read it on my blog here: https://blog.faangshui.com/p/four-signs-of-a-senior-engineer

To Sum Up

Don't treat your coding interview lightly—it's more than just solving or not solving a puzzle. By leading the interview, navigating challenges independently, writing clean code, and demonstrating strong debugging skills, you'll position yourself as a senior engineer ready for the next level.

Think back to your last interview. Did you take charge, or were you waiting for direction? Were you proactive in testing your code, or did you wait for the interviewer to prompt you? Reflecting on these questions can help you identify areas for improvement.