A realistic, non-overwhelming plan for coding interviews — what they actually test, how to practise so it transfers, and why explaining your thinking out loud matters as much as the answer.
Coding interviews are the gatekeeper for most software roles, and most advice amounts to "grind 500 problems" — both intimidating and inefficient. What works is understanding what these interviews test and practising in a way that transfers, which is far less soul-crushing and more effective.
What coding interviews really assess, a realistic practice plan that doesn't require hundreds of problems, and why how you solve a problem matters as much as whether you solve it.
Most students assume interviews test whether you produce a correct answer. They partly do — but what they really assess is your problem-solving process: can you break down an unfamiliar problem, reason about approaches, discuss trade-offs, and communicate clearly? A candidate who talks through a sensible approach but doesn't fully finish often beats one who silently produces a correct answer.
Don't jump straight to code. Restate the problem, talk through your approach before writing, and think out loud. If stuck, say what you're stuck on — interviewers often nudge you, and how you handle being stuck is part of the assessment.
Interviews are one half; strong materials are the other — see Portfolio Projects That Actually Impress and How to Find Your First Internship. In final year these scale up in Placement Season: A Survival Playbook.
Part of: Third Year