Here's the scoop, Hacker News. I've been learning to program for the last few months, and a friend who has essentially been mentoring me in a few disciplines and the general principles of programming suggested to a company that was looking for (Python) programmers that they consider me. It would be my first job in the field, and I want to get it. Bad. My question: what tips would you have for a first-time interview for a programmer?
Know how to do the job. In this case you're applying for Python Programmer, you should be able to easily write Python programs from scratch. If you can't write python programs, don't apply. Be extremely eager to write code at the interview since as a skilled python programmer it is easy for you and you want to show this. If it's not easy, don't apply.<p>Don't bring a laptop and try to refrain from saying anything not related to the questions because it can and may be used against you.
You should give Programming Interviews Exposed: Secrets to Landing Your Next Job (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Programming-Interviews-Exposed-Secrets-Programmer/dp/047012167X" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Programming-Interviews-Exposed-Secrets...</a>) a read. It gives you a good idea of what to expect and how you can prepare. I read it before I started interviewing a few months ago and I found it to be very helpful.
When answering technical questions or writing code on the whiteboard, think out loud as much as you can. Getting the right answer is often less important than showing that you're smart and know how to think through problems. Think about it from the interviewers perspective - they're trying to figure out whether you're smart and someone they'd like to work with. When you're silent, it's hard for them to gather information.<p>Also, draw pictures! Before you write code on the whiteboard, discuss your approach, and draw any appropriate data structures/ui/etc. Once you've got buy-in from the interviewer that the approach you outlined sounds reasonable, then begin to implement it. This will not only score you points from the interviewer for taking a methodical approach, but will also make it more likely that the code you do write is well thought out.
Be honest about your skills. Don't try to over-inflate your skillset, the interviewer will be able to tell.<p>Try to make mention of the fact that you are loving every moment of the learning process that you started a few months ago. Generally, people who consider hiring novice programmers are looking to help grow that person into a lean, mean coding machine, so if you appeal to that fact and tell them you're in it to learn, they'll love it and you should have a higher chance of getting the job.<p>Otherwise if the company is looking for someone with the know-how from the get-go, your only chance would be to nail the technical aspects of the interview, so study your ass off!
Make sure to have some paper with you to write down names or questions. Sometimes you will hear a technology that you can research after and reference in your thank you note. It shows interest into what the people are doing and that you can grasp new concepts.
Learn to code on paper or a whiteboard without the use of a computer.<p>I bought myself a whiteboard just to practice the usual programming questions. Good luck!