If you’re currently applying to all the best coding bootcamps, you might be worried about your upcoming coding bootcamp interview. We’re here to help you find out what to expect and increase your chances of acing your coding bootcamp interview questions and tests so that you can begin your new coding career.
This article will cover common coding interview questions and answers you should give. We will also provide sample coding problems for interviews. If you’re interested in a specific school, we review common interview questions to help you prepare for a Flatiron School interview or a coding bootcamp interview at a program like Thinkful. Keep reading, we’ll cover everything you need to know about coding bootcamp interview questions.
How to Prepare for Your Coding Bootcamp Interview
The most important thing to do when it comes to bootcamp interview prep is research. Each coding bootcamp is different, and so is each coding bootcamp interview. Brush up on what your coding bootcamp is all about, such as the bootcamp’s mission and values. You’ll also need to start asking yourself basic coding bootcamp interview questions like:
- Why are you interested in coding?
- What are your goals?
- What do you think your career path looks like?
Although these are non-technical bootcamp interview questions, you’ll still want to prepare to answer them during your interview. The majority of coding bootcamp interviews will be more about you and your intent rather than your current skill level. So having a clear understanding of your goals is an important aspect of bootcamp interview prep.
Coding Bootcamp Interview Questions and Answers
In this section, we will detail common coding bootcamp interview questions and answers. You can learn what common questions to expect in your coding bootcamp interview and how to properly answer them. Interviews for coding bootcamps can be daunting, so let this guide help you prepare.
What are your career goals?
The interviewer asks this coding bootcamp interview question to gather an understanding of whether or not you are the right fit for a bootcamp. They want to make sure that your career goals are in alignment with a coding bootcamp’s outcomes. In your answer, you should be honest and confident about your career goals.
Answer: My career goal is to work as a web developer. At some point in my career, I would love to work as a web developer for a social media company. I am really passionate about the power of social media, and I would like to contribute to that industry.
Why do you want to pursue a career in coding?
This coding bootcamp interview question helps the interviewer assess your motivation for joining a bootcamp. By understanding why you want to pursue a career in coding, the interviewer can get a glimpse of what drives you.
Again, your answer to this question should be honest. Tell the interviewer why a career in coding is appealing to you. Talk about what you hope to achieve in this career and why you have chosen this specific career path.
Answer: I want to pursue a career in coding so that I have better job security and growth opportunities. I also want a coding career because it can be lucrative, and I want to earn enough money so that my family and I are comfortable.
What coding experience do you have?
Many bootcamps are made for beginners. However, some coding bootcamps do require students to have prior experience. In any case, you may be asked this coding bootcamp interview question so that the admissions officer can gauge your level of knowledge. In your answer, you should mention any experience you have with coding and related technology.
Answer: I don’t have a lot of coding experience, but I have taken a free HTML course online that covered the fundamentals of the language. I also took a computer science class in high school in which I learned about Python.
What’s your programming language of choice?
The interviewer might ask you this question to further gauge what you know about coding and where your interests lay. To answer this coding bootcamp interview question without any experience, you can talk about the language you most look forward to learning. Otherwise, you can discuss the coding language you have enjoyed working with the most and why.
Answer: Python is my preferred programming language because it is versatile and easy to use. I like that Python is relevant to a wide variety of web applications and can also be used for data analysis.
Are you a team player or do you prefer working alone?
This coding bootcamp interview question helps the interviewer learn more about your work style and personality. The ideal candidate can work both independently and within a team, although it is okay to have a preference. You should be honest in your answer but ensure the interviewer that you are able to work effectively in both scenarios.
Answer: I am typically a self-starting, independent worker, so working alone is not a problem for me. However, I also think there is a lot of value in collaboration and teamwork, so I also enjoy working with others. In my ideal scenario, I would have the opportunity for both cooperative and independent work.
8 Tips for Answering Coding Bootcamp Interview Questions
Now that you know some of the most common coding bootcamp interview questions and answers, it is time to refine your responses. The tips below will help you formulate the perfect answers to coding bootcamp interview questions. Read through these tips carefully and make sure to keep them in mind during your bootcamp interview.
Tip #1: Show Your Interest and Motivation
In order to be successful in your coding career, you have to fully commit to it. You won’t thrive as a coder if it’s just something you’re doing because you might want to build a website one day or because it’s simply convenient.
For example, if becoming a software developer is something you’re truly committed to, be upfront about your goals and desires. Don’t be afraid to show your passion for web design and coding during your bootcamp interview, and tell your interviewer what draws you to this field.
Tip #2: Share Your Previous Experiences
If you’ve tried to learn code in the past, talk about that during your coding interview for bootcamp. Discuss what you’ve learned and how you were successful. Don’t be afraid to mention barriers and how you overcame them or how you’re currently working to overcome the barriers.
If you haven’t ever coded before, you can still prepare for your coding bootcamp interview by practicing common coding bootcamp interview questions and preparing to complete coding problems for interviews.
You can also mention during your coding bootcamp interview that you play an instrument or played on a sports team. This can really help you make an impression because it shows your ability to achieve technical feats and follow specific rules and guidelines to be successful.
Tip #3: Communicate and Show That You Can be Part of a Team
When you think about coding or development, you think about your eyes glued to the screen focusing on your work and nothing else. During your coding bootcamp interview, make sure to emphasize your collaborative abilities and give examples of when you’ve worked successfully on a team.
Although much of the work at coding bootcamp is independent, you’re still a part of a larger team. So, demonstrating that you are capable and willing to be a teammate and offer effective communication to create the best product will help you stand out among the rest.
Tip #4: Be Optimistic and Positive
We understand that the entire coding interview and bootcamp selection process can be extremely draining, especially if you know nothing about coding. Coding careers will push your limits. So, it’s easy to bring all that stress and frustration into your interview. However, it’s important to remain optimistic when answering coding bootcamp interview questions.
You want your interviewer to know that you’ll stay calm and focused even during the most challenging of times. No matter how good of a coder you are, there is no way you are going to avoid bugs or barriers in your coding career.
Tip #5: Don’t Show Entitlement
Always try to stay humble, no matter how confident you are in your coding skills or your ability to learn. Show your interest and your willingness to learn as well as your capabilities, but don’t expect any guarantees. During your interview, bootcamp recruiters will want to know that you’re a good fit for the coding bootcamp.
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Tip #6: Answer All the Coding Bootcamp Interview Questions
Your interviewer will probably ask you a lot of questions. So, avoid brushing questions off.
Answer each coding bootcamp interview question fully and in the best way that you can. Leaving a question unanswered can be your demise. Some common coding bootcamp interview questions to be prepared for are listed below.
- Living expenses: Be sure to prepare answers on how you’re going to pay for your living expenses while you’re enrolled in your coding bootcamp. Your interviewer will want to make sure you have a thought-out plan that will lead you to the highest rate of success.
- Part-time considerations: If you plan on enrolling in your coding bootcamp part-time, be prepared to explain how you’ll be able to balance your job with a bootcamp.
- Full-time considerations: If the coding bootcamp is full-time and in-person, long commute times can become a major issue. If your commute is longer than 45 minutes each way, make sure to have a response prepared that explains how you plan on attending regularly and on time.
Tip #7: Be Prepared to Answer the Question: Why Do You Want to Become a Coder?
Without a doubt, no matter which coding bootcamp you’re being interviewed for, you’ll be asked why you want to become a coder. Make sure you have a well-thought-out answer that shows your intent and desires to succeed in the coding world. Coding bootcamp interview questions, coding challenges, and technical assessments are all part of the process.
Tip #8: Be On Time
Answering coding bootcamp interview questions well isn’t the only factor that contributes to your success during a coding interview for bootcamp. Whether your interview is in-person or online, you must be on time.
If you are often late, plan to get to your interview at the bootcamp early, or be in the virtual waiting room ahead of time. If you’re late or a no-show, you will leave a negative impression on your interviewer.
What Comes After the Coding Bootcamp Interview Questions?
Now it’s time for you to hang tight and wait to hear back from your coding bootcamp program. Feel free to shoot a thank you email just to show your interest and appreciation for the time that the interviewer took to sit down with you.
It may take several days or even up to a week for you to hear back from the admissions team. During this time, you can start brushing up on your coding skills to prepare for the bootcamp. You should also take this time to organize your finances so that you can pay the deposit to secure your seat in the coding bootcamp.
Common Coding Bootcamp Interview Questions by Coding Bootcamp
In this section, we will cover the most common coding bootcamp interview questions from some of the top bootcamp providers. From Hack Reactor to DevMountian, this guide will help you learn what to expect in a coding bootcamp interview.
Hack Reactor Coding Bootcamp Interview Questions
Unfortunately, Hack Reactor doesn’t provide details about the coding bootcamp interview questions they ask prospective students. However, the website does say that interviewees and interviewers will work through the coding bootcamp interview questions, coding questions, and a technical problem. This technical problem gives students an insight into the Hack Reactor teaching method.
Make sure you brush up on your JavaScript chops by doing a dozen coding problems for interview prep on CodeWars or another coding website. You should be comfortable with using higher-order functions, array and string manipulation, and writing out pseudo-code.
Lambda School Coding Bootcamp Interview Questions
Bloom Institute of Technology, formerly Lambda School, says to treat your coding bootcamp interview just like a job interview. Although there won’t be any technical interview questions, there will be predictable questions about your interest, proactivity, availability, financial support, and more. If you get conditionally accepted, then, in most cases, finishing your prep course will get you fully accepted.
App Academy Coding Bootcamp Interview Questions
Just like any other coding bootcamp interview, App Academy coding bootcamp interviews consist of non-technical questions about your goals, desires, and interests. The technical interview consists of a series of coding problems for interviews.
One is a guaranteed coding challenge and a second coding test if App Academy decides you’re ready to move forward. App Academy has a more rigorous interview process than most bootcamps, so make sure to check out its JumpStart prep program.
Thinkful Coding Bootcamp Interview Questions
During the Thinkful interview, expect common coding bootcamp interview questions about your ambitions and goals. Thinkful also has four basic practices they want you to follow. These practices are listed below.
- Be Professional: This doesn’t mean dressing up in a business suit. It means you need to come prepared to show you have done your research about the program you’re applying for. Treat it like a job interview. But it’s not necessary to go all out with the bells and whistles.
- Be Passionate: Thinkful doesn’t expect you to have tons of knowledge and experience, but they do expect you to have passion and drive. Don’t be afraid to show it!
- Ask Questions: This is also your time to ask questions. Show interest in the bootcamp and get to know if this program is right for you. Even if you read our detailed Thinkful review, you must have plenty of questions for the interviewer.
- Follow Instructions: You will likely be asked to complete a coding assignment. Follow instructions exactly and you’ll be sure to impress.
Flatiron School Coding Bootcamp Interview Questions
The Flatiron School interview is held online. During your Flatiron School coding bootcamp interview, you will discuss your ambitions and tell your story. This gives the school a chance to learn more about you and why you want to join this coding bootcamp.
After the Flatiron School interview, you will be sent a code assignment. Once the code assignment is completed and submitted, you will be set up with an instructor to review the assignment.
Coding Dojo Coding Bootcamp Interview Questions
At Coding Dojo, once you’ve applied, you’ll get a call to set up a 15 to 30-minute phone interview to get to know you better. Once the coding bootcamp interview is complete, your application goes to the admissions team for a final decision, which is made two to three days after the interview. The decision is based on the Coding Challenge score.
Ironhack Coding Bootcamp Interview Questions
Some of the most important things Ironhack evaluates in a potential student are their curiosity, passion, and drive. If you don’t have those three things, then you might not be able to get through the eight-week program.
Luckily, Ironhack provides a couple of sample coding bootcamp interview questions to expect during the interview. These sample questions include the following.
- What motivates you on a day-to-day basis, and what do you love to do?
- What happens when you put a function inside a loop?
DevMountain Coding Bootcamp Interview Questions
At DevMountain, you will be invited to a phone interview. The admissions team then looks for two primary qualities, aptitude and passion. They want to find people who really want to learn to code and can demonstrate either some experience in learning on their own.
Next, you’ll be invited to complete a coding challenge. The school will send out a set of coding problems for interview candidates and give you approximately one week to complete them.
Dev Bootcamp Interview Questions
Noble Desktop, formerly Dev Bootcamp, is one of the coding bootcamps where you don’t have to worry about answering any coding bootcamp interview questions. Check out Noble Desktop for its wide range of coding bootcamp courses and accessible education.
Questions You Should Ask During Your Coding Bootcamp Interview
In addition to answering questions, there are also important questions to ask coding bootcamp representatives during your interview. Take this time to really get to know your coding bootcamp to make sure that, if you do get accepted, it is the right program for you. Below, you can learn about the questions to ask a coding bootcamp admissions officer.
20 Questions to Ask in Your Coding Bootcamp Interview
- Who is the interviewer, and what is their experience?
- Do you have multiple campuses?
- How much work (if any) is required before the first day of class? If there is pre-work, what is the purpose?
- What is the bootcamp’s acceptance rate?
- Who are the instructors?
- What are the instructor qualifications?
- What kind of teaching style does the instructor have?
- How is feedback given between student and instructor?
- Ask about expectations outside of the program. Is there additional expected work? If so, how much?
- Are there cohorts, and if so, how diverse are the cohorts?
- Do you have a refund policy?
- What is the graduation rate?
- Is there a final exam?
- What is the job placement rate?
- What’s your job guarantee?
- What is the average annual salary?
- Do you offer scholarships?
- What does tuition cover?
- Is there a deposit due before class starts?
- What are your financial options?
Prepare for Your Technical Coding Bootcamp Interview with Career Karma
If you still don’t quite feel prepared for your coding bootcamp interview, Career Karma can help. One major aspect of the admissions process is the tech interview for the bootcamp. You should refresh yourself on coding basics so that you can ace your tech interview. Bootcamps don’t only focus on the technical interview though. So make sure to use the tips in this article to prepare for the most common coding bootcamp interview questions.
At Career Karma, we’ll help you every step of the way, from your coding application to finding the perfect program for you to overcoming barriers while you’re in the program. We have mentors, peers, and resources to help you succeed on your journey to break into tech.
Coding Bootcamp Interview Questions FAQ
Your response to this question doesn’t need to be longer than one minute. You should give a brief yet comprehensive summary of your personal and educational background, as well as your interests. You can state where you are from, what your work and educational experience is, as well as what interests you about coding and technology.
Can I get accepted into coding bootcamp even if I lack technical expertise?
Yes, you can get accepted into a coding bootcamp even if you lack technical expertise. In fact, many coding bootcamps are designed with beginners in mind. To get accepted, you will just need to ace the coding bootcamp interview questions presented in this article.
Can you fail a coding bootcamp?
Yes, you can fail a coding bootcamp. However, every coding bootcamp has a different policy. For example, Noble Desktop allows students to retake any of its courses for free. That being said, failure is not uncommon because coding bootcamps are intensive and fast-paced. Coding bootcamps give coding problems to interview participants to gauge how well they might do in the full program.
How should a beginner prepare for a coding interview?
A beginner should prepare for a coding interview by researching common coding bootcamp interview questions, coding problems for interviews, and free coding courses to take before starting a full bootcamp program. If you can, try to learn the basics of one programming language to gain a little experience in coding.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
