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We all know that the application process for your first developer role can be daunting. So we teamed up with Oxylabs, which gathered practical tips from their developers and tech recruiters to help you nail the tech interviews and live coding task. Let’s dive in!

Demonstrate bigger-picture thinking and don’t overdo it

Arnas Juškys, Senior Go Developer

Since I participate in both technical interviews and live coding, here are some genuine tips from me. 

During the interview process, your future teammates will try to find out more about your problem-solving approaches and how broad your technical knowledge background is. 

Do you keep up with the latest versions of the tech stack? Do you actively seek the news in the technology field? Do you have any tech-related hobbies or personal projects? These are some of the questions you can expect during most technical interviews.

When it comes to live coding, my top tip is to approach it as simply as you can — just do what’s required. From my experience, I’ve noticed that some candidates try to show off their knowledge and, as the end result, slow down the code, cause memory leaks, etc. So, just go straight to the point and don’t overcomplicate it!

Know your programming theory

Aliaksandr Liavonchyk, Senior Python Developer

My advice, especially for Junior-Mid developers, is to build strong theoretical knowledge alongside practical code writing skills.

During technical interviews, I’ve noticed that some candidates can write solid code but can’t discuss it with commonly used terms and descriptions. This makes it difficult to evaluate your knowledge — you might know the answer, you just don’t have the right words for it.

So, I genuinely recommend reading programming theory as it will give you a strong foundation for high-quality code writing!

Ask questions and gather feedback

Kornelija Paulauskaitė, PHP Developer

I remember my recent application process very well, and I hope that by sharing my experience, I will ease your mind a bit!

Don’t be scared of the live coding task — it’s a great chance to get valuable feedback in real time. And if you get stuck, ask questions — you’ll gain insights into your code and get to explore the workplace dynamic and culture of the hiring team.

So, try to approach the live coding task as a learning opportunity that will help you grow as a developer — no matter the outcome!

Be honest and curious

Karina Lukaševič, Senior Talent Acquisition Partner

I talk to candidates during the screening process, and here are a few insights and reminders for a smooth first conversation with any team.

Use role description to prepare for talking about your work experience so that you focus on the most relevant responsibilities and skills and get your message across to us. And, well, honesty is the best policy — be open and reflect on areas where you miss the requirements. Transparency is the only way to see if there can be a good match!

And to feel more relaxed before the interviews, try looking at the entire application process this way: this is also your opportunity to find out more about the company and the team you’re applying to. Be curious and prepare some questions in advance — it shows that you take this opportunity seriously!

The Oxylabs team is hoping this blog was useful, and they would like to meet you! Check out open roles on their career website.