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Beyond Technical Skills: What to Look for in a Candidate During a Technical Interview

As an interviewer in a technical interview, your main task is to assess candidates' technical skills. But, beyond the basics, you should also pay attention to their communication abilities, problem-solving approach, and more.

Technical competency is a crucial factor to consider when interviewing candidates. It is important to determine whether the candidate has the necessary skills to complete the job. Some candidates may talk a big game, but not have the ability to write solid code. It is essential to assess whether their claimed experience aligns with their skill level.

Motivation is a very important aspect to evaluate. Are they genuinely passionate about solving problems and eager to learn new technologies? In the ever-evolving field of technology, knowledge that is current and relevant today may become obsolete within a few years. Therefore, it is essential for a developer to have the internal drive to solve problems and to continuously learn and adapt to new technologies.

Effective communication is also critical to a candidate's success, especially when working with others. It is important to assess how well the candidate understands the interviewer's questions, and whether they ask good follow-up questions to clarify any confusion. Additionally, their responses should be logical, coherent, and easy to understand.

For mid-senior positions, it is crucial to evaluate whether the candidate has the ability to work independently. Can they jump into a codebase they've never seen before and figure out what's going on? Do they have the skills to track down the root cause of bugs, rather than randomly changing code? And are they able to solve problems on their own, utilizing resources like Google or ChatGPT to help them out?

By focusing on these essential qualities, an interviewer can successfully evaluate a candidate's potential for success in a technical role.

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