15 Coding Bootcamp Interview Questions

15 Coding Bootcamp Interview Questions

If you’re reading this, it’s more than likely you’ve been invited to a coding bootcamp interview. First off, let me offer you a big congratulations if this is the case—it’s is a big step forward in the coding bootcamp process. And if you’re reading this without having been invited to an interview, but you just want to prepare for what’s coming down the road, I like your confidence.

As the founder of CodeOp, and its lead interviewer, I wanted to share some insights with you that could help you in the next stage of the life-changing journey you’re embarking on. Preparing for your coding bootcamp interview isn’t just about being able to answer the right questions, but also knowing which questions to ask to ensure that the bootcamp of your choice is the right one for you. Does it fit your future education and career prospects? And does it fit you? For the best educational experiences, I always feel there needs to be the right cultural fit to maximise learning in an environment that’s comfortable as well as uplifting.

It’s important to remember that no one else knows your prior knowledge and experience more than you do, so it’s up to you to express it in the best way. With a combination of knowledge, experience, and passion, you’ll be able to articulate your way through the interview process with ease.

Common Questions Asked in a Coding Bootcamp Interview

Almost everyone preparing for a coding bootcamp interview wants to know what interview questions will be asked when the day finally arrives. Thankfully, there are some insights to be found about the interview process from multiple online bootcamp schools.

The most common questions that will be asked at your introductory interview will be related to your personal story and current ambition in learning how to code. 

For this you might want to think about several things: What excites you? What inspires you? What keeps you motivated to endure the ongoing education and development required of being a computer programmer? How has your personal journey led you to the decision to continue your education with a coding bootcamp?

You’ll want to keep your answers as succinct as possible, but be sure they’re well rounded enough to get your point across, as the interview will be, on average, just 30 minutes long. Better to save your unedited life story for future course lunch break conversations, and present a solid outline of your experience, accomplishments, and ability to problem solve and overcome obstacles. This is vitally important whether you have experience with coding and programming or not.

Coding Bootcamp Technical Interview Questions

Coding technical interview questions are used to better understand your current overall aptitude for the education you’re about to undertake. Many bootcamps will offer some type of exam or test, free of charge, to allow you to assess your own skill set before an interview. Knowing you have the skills is one thing, but are you able to articulate and talk about what it is you are doing with your code? You can expect this to be a key part of a technical interview.

The only way to be sure that you’re ready for the technical questions in your interview is to continue learning some fundamentals of code. Keep practicing and take any preparation exams and courses that your chosen bootcamp offers. 

Whatever language you choose, make sure you are able to speak clearly about the problems you’re solving while coding. Don’t get completely lost in the abstraction of symbols and their relationships to each other on a screen when forming a group of code. Take the time to assess, review, and understand why you’re creating the code in the first place, and fix and troubleshoot your code along the way.

Non Technical Interview Questions to Consider

Non technical interview questions for software developers will almost always consist of past experiences and responsibilities, while outlining accomplishments that you feel most proud about. What projects have you been a part of? Have you managed or led teams of developers in the past?

These questions are generally probing questions, and there’s not necessarily a right or wrong answer. The goal of the interviewer is to be able to get greater insight into your own unique experience and understanding of the position of coder, programmer, or developer. You can take this time to highlight your personal experiences, philosophy, and working relationships.

Important Questions to Ask When Applying to a Coding Bootcamp

Are you ready and armed with the questions you want to ask your potential future coding bootcamp? Having a series of questions ready for if you get stuck can be a great tool to break any unexpected silence, and to keep you (and them!) talking, even if you’re not feeling entirely confident. If anything, they can be used as a source of inspiration to come up with other questions you may not have thought of in the first place.

The main purpose of this part of the interview is to ensure that you have a full understanding of what it is you’ll be getting from your chosen bootcamp—from acceptance rates, to graduation rates, to average salary, and job placement, financial assistance, and scholarship options. These are all important factors to consider no matter which coding bootcamp interview you have.

Below is a helpful list of questions you can ask at your next coding bootcamp interview, or use to give you some ideas around what you might like to ask. You can use this list for further inspiration and direction in formulating deeper questions that relate to your unique needs and requirements from your coding bootcamp of choice.

Questions About Bootcamp History, Admissions, and Instructors

• What is an average day like at one of your campuses?
• Do instructors have certain hours they like to be contacted?
• What type of benefits are offered for on campus students?
• What is the average acceptance rate for students?
• How many combined years of experience do the instructors have?
• Is each instructor allowed to use their own style of education?

Questions About Time Commitment, Resources, and Graduation

• Is the curriculum constantly updated for relevance in today’s industry?
• Am I restricted to certain learning and classroom hours while studying?
• Will I need to do additional work outside of classroom hours?
• What are the basic resource requirements needed to complete the bootcamp?
• What is the average graduation rate at your bootcamp?
• How many graduates have passed through your bootcamp?

Questions About Job Placement and Scholarships

• Are there scholarships offered through your bootcamp?
• What does your tuition cost cover?
• Do you offer tuition assistance or loan options?
• What is the job placement for new graduates?
• What is the average annual salary of your graduates, specifically?
• What do you consider a successful employment placement after bootcamp?

Tips to Prepare for Your Interview

All round preparation is key to your dev bootcamp interview, so I wanted to touch on some other things to be aware of that could help you in the interview process.

• Be a professional: A bootcamp interview should be treated like any other professional interview and a little research can go a long way.
• Show your passion and commitment: Don’t be afraid to show this in your interview, no matter your experience level. Let the interviewer know your commitment to learning in general, as well as to their particular school. Do your research and make sure you can talk about things specific to the particular school where you’re interviewing.
• Follow any instructions provided: It’s commonplace for there to be an assessment to know where your skill-set and knowledge with certain coding languages and theory lies. You don’t need to know how to code to enter into most bootcamps, but your ability to follow instructions and prepare for an interview accordingly will shine through.
• Always ask questions: This one should be obvious, and now having read this, even easier to do. Asking the right questions shows that you’re committed and interested in the coding bootcamp you are interviewing with. Add to that, how will you know if the bootcamp is a good fit for you in the first place if you don’t ask about it? Bootcamps are not a one size fits all type of environment and ultimately, you’re your own best advocate for your future education and career.

If you’re still considering which educational bootcamp to choose to increase your technical skills in computer coding and programming, why not take a look at our team and the curriculum we teach at CodeOp? 

With a 100% job offer guarantee, scholarship opportunities, and financial assistance options available to new students to make paying course fees easier, we’re definitely a coding school option you should consider.