What I Wish I Knew Before My First Tech Interview

“I had practiced for weeks. But nobody told me how I’d feel the moment they said, ‘Let’s begin.’”

The first time I sat for a tech interview, I thought I was ready.

I had memorized sorting algorithms, practiced 50 LeetCode questions, brushed up on DBMS concepts, and even rehearsed my self-introduction in front of the mirror. But when the call started, and the interviewer asked, “Can you walk me through your approach?” — I blanked.

Not because I didn’t know the answer, but because I didn’t know how to talk like a developer.

Looking back, that experience taught me more than any book or bootcamp. So if you’re preparing for your first tech interview, here’s what I wish someone had told me.

1. It's Not Just About the Right Answer—It's About Your Thinking

I thought interviews were tests. You either solve the problem, or you don’t.

But what interviewers really want is to hear you think out loud:

How do you break a problem down?
Do you consider edge cases?
Can you explain trade-offs?
How do you handle ambiguity?

I wish I had practiced saying things like:

“I’ll start with a brute-force approach, then optimize.”
“Here’s one way to solve it, but I see an O(n log n) path too.”

Speaking your thought process isn’t showing off—it’s showing you’re a thoughtful engineer.

2. Interviews Are Not Always Fair—And That’s Okay

I used to believe interviews were objective. But the truth? They’re imperfect.

Some interviewers are friendly. Others are cold. Some give hints. Others wait in silence.
Some days your Wi-Fi lags. Your brain stutters. You misunderstand the question.

I wish I had known that failing a round doesn’t mean you’re not good enough. It might just mean:

You were nervous.
It wasn’t the right interviewer.
The question didn’t match your strengths.

And sometimes… you can do everything right and still not get the offer. That’s not failure. That’s experience.

3. Soft Skills Matter More Than You Think

I spent all my prep time on code. I thought behavioral questions were “fluff.”
Big mistake.

When the manager asked, “Tell me about a time you faced conflict on a team,” I stammered through a vague story with no structure.

I wish I had practiced:

The STAR format (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
Talking about mistakes I made—and what I learned
Stories that showed growth, teamwork, and resilience

Technical skills get you shortlisted. Soft skills get you selected.

4. It’s Okay to Say “I Don’t Know”—Just Don’t Stop There

I was terrified of admitting I didn’t know something. So I’d stall or bluff.

Now I know: interviewers respect honesty with curiosity more than fake confidence.

What I should’ve said:

“I haven’t worked with Redis directly, but I’d love to learn. Could I share how I’d approach caching in general?”
“I’m not sure off the top of my head, but I’d look into the time complexity by tracing the recursion tree.”

They’re not testing your memory. They’re testing your problem-solving mindset.

5. Rejection Isn’t the End. It’s the Beginning of Something Smarter.

I didn’t get the first job. Or the second. Or the third.

I cried. I questioned myself. I almost gave up.

But now, I look back and smile. Because with each interview, I grew:

I spoke with more clarity.
I asked better questions.
I stopped performing and started connecting.

Eventually, I landed offers—not because I became a genius, but because I learned to present myself with confidence and humility.

6. Your Worth Is Not Defined by a 60-Minute Call

Read that again.

You are more than your debugging speed. More than your ability to balance a binary tree under pressure. More than the interviewer’s notes.

What matters is:

Your willingness to learn.
Your ability to collaborate.
Your hunger to build meaningful things.

Interviews may open doors—but you define your path.

Final Thoughts: If I Could Talk to My Past Self…

I’d tell her:

You’re better than you think.
Prepare hard, but hold it lightly.
Interviews are a two-way conversation—you’re evaluating them too.
Keep growing. Keep building. Keep showing up.

Because that first interview? It wasn’t your make-or-break moment.
It was just the first step of a much bigger journey.

Mavya Arya

Thursday, May 29, 2025