The job market for software
development is as competitive as it is rewarding. However, there are many
barriers to entry for those who want to break into software development.
Besides going through training and certifications for required technical
skills, coding challenges during
technical interviews also make entry into the software development job market
difficult for many hopefuls.
Coding challenges are a crucial part
of software development recruitment, especially for positions that require code
writing. When applying for vacancies that require software writing, it is only
natural for interviewers to make you write software, hence the widespread use
of online coding challenges, which help recruiters narrow down their pool of
candidates to absolutely qualified and skilled talents. When you are up for a
programming assessment test, here are tips to help you excel:
1. Read the instructions carefully. A typical
coding challenge comes with written instructions. Take your time to read
through what is being asked of you to make sure that you understand what the
challenge entails. It would be a shame and a huge waste of an opportunity to
write a flawless code that solves the wrong challenge or misses out on a key
requirement only because you failed to read the instructions through.
2. Plan out your actions. Sketch a plan before
jumping in with both feet to tackle a coding challenge. The best way to fail at
online
coding challenges is to make stuff up as you go. If you plan out
your coding strategy, it will be easier to create a code that works and not one
that will back you into a corner or a dead end.
3. Make a list of technical decisions you will
likely have to make. This will help you look at the development from a wider,
big-picture perspective, hence enabling you to make critical coding decisions
faster.
4. Opt for test-driven development. Your unit
testing skills can very well make or break your chances at progressing into
higher levels of the recruiting process. While failure to write test may not
necessarily disqualify you from the running toward a particular position,
including testing in your coding strategy is going to be a huge advantage as
reviewers favor a holistic approach to coding.
5. Make your code readable. Remember that your solution
is going to be read and assessed by a software developer. It is for this reason
that you should make your code legible and easy to follow
Most coding challenges include stages including parsing and
processing input and presenting output—critical code writing stages that you
should prepare for if you want to ace a coding challenge.
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