Many aspiring programmers and software developers enroll in coding boot camps. While these programs are a productive way to hone your skills, they often require candidates to complete an interview process before they’re accepted into the program. Familiarizing yourself with the questions interviewers often ask during the admissions process may improve your chances of being accepted into a boot camp.
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In this article, we discuss eight common coding bootcamp interview questions with sample answers and 20 follow-up questions to ask during your interview to learn more about the program.
8 coding bootcamp interview questions with sample answers
Here are some sample questions you may encounter during your coding bootcamp interview and examples of how to answer them:
1. What are your career goals?
Interviewers may ask this question to understand what you hope to learn by enrolling in their coding boot camp. They may also use this information to determine whether your goals align with their courses. Discuss your short- and long-term career goals to answer this question successfully.
Example: “My long-term career goal is to become a full-stack web developer. I’m interested in this program because I want to learn more about SQL and MongoDB databases. Some other short-term goals I have include mastering Bootstrap. I see accomplishing these short-term goals as a step toward securing a job as a full-stack web developer in the future.”
2. How much experience do you have with coding?
Coding boot camps can range from entry-level programs to advanced courses. Answering this question honestly can help the interviewer determine whether you may benefit from enrolling in the specific boot camp you’re applying for or whether there’s a better option available for you. Highlight specific programming languages and projects on which you’ve worked. Then, share what areas you prefer to learn more about and how it can advance your career.
Example: “I started building websites five years ago, so I’m familiar with CSS, JavaScript, and HTML. This year, I accepted a programming internship at Tech World, where I started to learn how to use Python. I hope to continue learning new programming languages, so I can develop software applications and mobile apps in the future.”
3. Do you prefer working on projects independently or collaborating with a team?
Programmers often collaborate with others on projects, especially if they’re complex. Interviewers may ask this question to determine how well you work on a team. They can also ask this question to assess whether you feel confident enough to complete specific tasks independently. Instead of choosing one option, discuss what types of work you enjoy collaborating with others and what you’re comfortable executing on your own.
Example: “It depends on what part of a project I’m working on currently. Generally, I enjoy collaborating with other developers and programmers on large projects because it’s more efficient, and I can learn a lot. It also allows everyone to focus on the areas where they excel and makes it easier to generate new ideas to improve the program. When working on a specific piece of code, I like to work independently to focus.”
4. What inspired you to pursue a career in coding?
Hiring managers or recruiters may ask this question to learn what motivates you and why you enjoy coding. You can talk about how you discovered coding and why you’re passionate about it. You can also discuss how this passion coincides with your career goals.
Example: “I wanted to pursue a career in coding since I was a child. When I was in middle school, I learned how to customize layouts for one of the online gaming communities I was active in using HTML, and soon, all of my friends were asking me to design layouts for their profiles. I enjoyed taking their ideas and turning them into unique designs. As I learn new coding languages and techniques, I hope to expand the services I can provide for future clients.”
5. What programming language do you prefer to use?
An interviewer may ask this question to learn about the projects you’re currently working on and whether you’re open to learning new programming languages. Pick one or two programming languages you’re comfortable using, explain what types of situations you use them in, and share what languages you wish to learn more about in the boot camp.
Example: “While I enjoy working in CSS, I try to select the best programming language for each project. In my current position, I solve a lot of algorithmic challenges, so I often use Python. At first, using this programming language was a challenge, but now that I’ve become more familiar with it, I enjoy applying this language to different projects. I recently started to work on a mobile application using Python, and I’m excited to continue learning more.”
6. Can you tell me about your favorite project you’ve worked on so far?
Hiring managers may ask this question to learn about your work experience. Highlight a project you worked on that was successful and what you learned through this process. Discuss what this project meant to you and why you enjoyed working on it.
Example: “Last year, I worked with a team of developers to create an educational app that teaches children how to read with interactive, choose your own adventure e-books. Within the first quarter, we received more than 50,000 user downloads. Working on the app was fun because I got to combine my love for reading and programming. It also helped me develop my skills using Python, but the reason this project is my favorite is that both parents and children seem to enjoy it.”
7. How much experience do you have leading projects?
Interviewers may ask questions to learn about your project management experience. Whether you led an entire development team or managed a small section of a project, share an example that highlights your ability to delegate tasks and communicate effectively.
Example: “While I’m still working toward my bachelor’s degree in computer programming, I have past experience leading projects through my campus’ chapter of Programmers for a Cause. Each quarter, we select a nonprofit program to partner with in our area. Our projects vary based on the non-profit organization’s needs, but in the past, we created landing pages, updated websites, and developed a mobile app. I’ve acted as the team lead for several of these initiatives, which involved developing a timeline, establishing the user requirements, tracking key performance indicators (KPIs), and communicating with the client.”
8. How do you make sure you meet crucial deadlines?
Meeting deadlines as a programmer is essential to ensure other team members can complete their work and your clients receive the finished project on time. Interviewers may ask this question to assess whether you can keep up with the workload the coding bootcamp assigns.
Example: “I review the overall scope of the project and identify key milestones. This helps me group tasks together in phases, allocate my time effectively, and set goals. It also helps me identify whether I’m ahead, behind, or right on schedule. Additionally, I try to complete each project at least two weeks before the final deadline because this gives me time to troubleshoot any unexpected issues without asking for additional time to finish the project.”
Questions to ask during your coding bootcamp interview
While answering the interviewer’s inquiries attentively is vital, so is developing thoughtful questions to ask them about the program. Writing down a list of questions you have about the coding boot camp before your interview is a helpful way to show interviewers you’re prepared and invested in this opportunity.
Here are 20 questions you can ask during your upcoming bootcamp interview:
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What does a typical week of work and assignments look like for this role?
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Does this program offer career support to graduates?
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What is your acceptance rate?
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What percentage of graduates find coding jobs in the first year after completing this program?
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Does the school hire graduates to teach or assist educators?
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Does this course have pre-work? If so, what is its purpose?
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How many additional hours do students generally spend on assignments outside the classroom?
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What is the average graduation rate for this program?
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Do the instructors have a specific degree?
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What is the common teaching style of this boot camp?
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Do the camp’s founders instruct any courses?
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How often do you update the curriculum?
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Are there any financial assistance or scholarship programs available?
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How much is the tuition, and what does it cover?
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If there’s a deposit due before classes, when is it due?
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What is the average annual salary for graduates of this coding boot camp?
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What is the average class size for this program?
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Are there cohorts? If so, what’s the average size?
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Do the cohorts vary in skill level, or do you group them by abilities?
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Do you suggest any activities to pursue outside the course that can supplement the material?
Coding bootcamp interview tips
Here are some tips to consider when preparing for your coding bootcamp interview:
Emphasize your motivation
Use your interview to highlight your interest in learning more about coding and developing as a professional. This can help the interviewer understand your career goals and your passion for the field.
Practice your answers
Ask a family member or friend to have a mock interview with you to practice your interview answers. A mock interview can be effective for helping you prepare answers to common interview questions, such as why you want to work in programming. It may also help you feel more confident during your interview.
Communicate effectively
Explain yourself clearly when answering the interview questions, and be sure to discuss your soft skills as well as your hard skills. For example, it may feel easier to talk only about your technical abilities, but it’s important to convey that you work well with others and enjoy being part of a team.
I hope you find this article helpful.