The Soft Skills Edge
Mastering Coding Interviews Beyond the Code
Many talented candidates don’t get offers, even when they technically “pass” the coding interview. Why? Because in today’s market, just solving the problem and avoiding mistakes isn’t enough—you need to impress. Think about it: we’re moved by singers who convey emotion, not just those who hit the right notes. There are countless people who can sing on key, but only a few become stars. Coding interviews are no different.
You’re not just solving problems; you’re showcasing who you are as a problem solver. How you think, communicate, and engage under pressure can set you apart from other technically competent candidates.
If this feels overwhelming, don’t worry—soft skills are like any other skill. With practice, you can master them and learn to deliver standout performances. In this article, I’ll guide you through a mock interview to show how you can go beyond meeting the bar and truly impress.
1. Start with Confidence
Interviewer:
“Thanks for the intro. Let’s get into the coding question.”
Candidate:
“Sure, let me open CoderPad. I’ll use Python since I’m most comfortable with it.”
Take a moment to settle in:
“Let me bump up the font size so it’s easier for both of us to see.”
“I’ll switch to dark mode—it helps me focus better.”
“Just to confirm, are we working on one problem or multiple ones?”
(Clarifying expectations subtly signals preparedness.)
These little actions help you settle into the session and leave a good impression without being overly stiff.
2. Understand the Problem
Interviewer:
“Here’s the problem. Take your time.”
Candidate:
“This problem looks interesting—let me dive in!”
Or
“Got it. The problem seems dense/long. Let me read it carefully.”
After reading:
“Just to clarify a couple of things:
Is the input always valid?
Does the array only contain positive integers?
Is the array already sorted?
Could the string have uppercase letters or spaces?
Does the string only contain ASCII characters?
Is the tree binary or n-ary?
Can there be duplicate elements in the input?
Am I allowed to modify the input in place?
Are there any constraints on the size of the input?
Should I optimize for time or memory usage?"
Don’t assume anything—always clarify. The quality of your clarifying questions reflects your problem-solving ability.
3. Start Simple
Candidate:
“I’ll start with a basic approach to make sure I’ve understood the problem correctly.”
(Manages expectations while easing into the problem.)
Explain your thinking:
“I have a brute-force solution in mind. Here’s how it works: [brief explanation]. The time complexity for this would be O(n²) because [brief explanation]. Let me know if you have any thoughts so far.”
This keeps things collaborative and shows you’re open to feedback, but make sure you sound confident, not unsure. Instead of asking, “Am I right?” say, “Does this approach make sense so far?”
4. Improve the Solution
Once the brute-force solution is laid out, transition naturally:
“The brute-force approach is inefficient because… Let me think of how to optimize it.” (Pause briefly to reflect.)
Talk through your thought process:
“The input seems partially sorted, so a binary search could speed things up. Let me work through this idea and see if it fits.”
Pro Tip: Avoid asking for hints unless necessary. If the interviewer offers one, adapt quickly and pivot your approach accordingly:
“That’s a great point—let me adjust my approach to include that.”
Never resist or dismiss hints.
5. Write Clear Code
While coding, explain as you go:
“I’ll loop through the array and extract the maximum value for each step…”
Use meaningful function or variable names, like sumOfPowers instead of vague ones like s. You can even mention:
“Normally, I’d shorten the names, but I’ll keep them more descriptive for now so it’s easier to follow.”
Pro Tip: Avoid confusing names like l or o, which can look like 1 or 0. Little things like this make a difference.
6. Test and Debug
Before saying you’re done:
Acknowledge there could be issues:
“Here’s the first version of the code—it may have a few issues. Let’s test it against the examples provided.”Test edge cases:
“The examples pass. Now, I’ll try some interesting edge cases to see if anything breaks or to make sure the code is robust.”
Remember: You’re not expected to write bug-free code immediately, but you are expected to catch and fix bugs independently.
7. Wrap Up Strong
Candidate:
“The tests look good. Does anything stand out to you, or is there anything else you’d like me to try?”
(Asking for feedback shows humility and that you’re open to improving, which leaves a good final impression.)
Interviewer:
“You did great! Let’s use the rest of the time to answer any questions you have about the role or the company.”
Setting Yourself Apart from the Crowd
Coding interviews aren’t just about solving problems—they’re about showing critical thinking, clear communication, and collaboration. Blending technical skills with strong soft skills is what sets top candidates apart.
This can feel overwhelming: solving the problem, explaining your thought process, and engaging with the interviewer—all under pressure. But with so much competition, mastering these skills is essential.
Like problem-solving, communication improves with practice. If you’d like mock interviews or personalized tips, DM me on LinkedIn!
Feeling refreshed reading this at the start of 2025. Love it.