How to Excel in a Data Interview Coding Test

In the world of data, the interview process often includes a crucial step: the coding test. This stage serves as a litmus test of your practical skills, problem-solving abilities, and overall approach to programming. Navigating this phase effectively can significantly enhance your chances of landing your dream data job. So, how can you perfect the take-home test stage of a data interview? Let's delve into some key strategies and tips.

Understand

Coding tests are rarely supplemented with large banks of information or instruction and, as brave as it may be to dive in head-first, taking the time to understand the requirements and expectations beforehand can make a world of difference. Recruiters don’t just add value in preparation for full interviews; we can provide insight into the expectations and standards of a coding test, too! Through running countless test feedback sessions, recruiters learn what their client is really looking for: are they purely interested in a high score, or is seeing how a candidate approaches the task more significant? Whilst we cannot give you the test answers, understanding the benchmark, expectations and the client’s preferences are big steps forward in progressing through to the next stage.

Practice

The pressure of timed conditions can do funny things, and coding tests do have habit of catching candidates off-guard or inducing a full-on panic-mode. The best insurance against this is practice, and the power of training/practice websites like Leetcode and HackerRank should never be underestimated. Of course, such programs are at their most useful when the client has provided you with specific coding subjects ahead of time, but they can still prove to be invaluable warm-up tools or general refreshers to ensure you are firing on all cylinders before starting your test, particularly if you are interviewing for a role in a new data field. Recruiters will always recommend that you allocate some time to practice first, and with good reason – we can see the marked difference in results between those that prep and those who do not!

Pace

It is essential to remember that how you approach a task can tell the client just as much as your final score. Finishing a test as fast as possible should never be the objective; it is far more important to complete a test to the best of your ability and clients will be far more impressed with optimised and elegant code than a quick submission time. These tests act as a client’s first look at how you work: is this candidate a diligent programmer? Are they checking against edge cases? How efficient is their code? How will this candidate’s style apply to our real-life projects? Clearly, rushing to a poorly written finish is not the answer. Take your time to understand the needs of each question. Most tests allow you to move in between questions as you please, so use this to your benefit!

Feedback

Not all clients will offer feedback on preliminary coding tests, but no matter the result, it never hurts to ask. Once again, using your recruiter for this is optimal – we manage the relationships with the client and can ask the difficult questions for you! Understanding where you succeeded is crucial to maximising your performance in potential later stages, and embracing constructive criticism as an opportunity for growth and learning will only strengthen your candidacy in future processes.

Summary

In conclusion, mastering the coding test stage of a data interview requires a combination of technical proficiency, careful planning, effective communication, and a proactive mindset. By understanding the requirements, planning and practicing your approach, focusing on pacing and optimisation and seeking feedback, you can improve your performance and enhance your chances of success. Remember, a coding test is not just a hurdle to leap, but an opportunity to demonstrate your capabilities and shine as a data professional.

If you would like to discuss any of these stages in more detail, I'd be more than happy to help! Please feel free to call me on +44 2045 713 612 or email via saml@saragossa.co.uk