Top 10 Junior Developer Interview Questions You May Be Asked

Anyone who has ever been on a job interview knows they can be nerve-wracking experiences. You want to make a good impression and say the right things, but sometimes it’s hard to know what exactly you should be doing.

If you’re a junior developer who is just starting to look for jobs, this process can be even more daunting.

In most cases, the interview process for a junior developer position will consist of a technical screening, followed by one or more interviews with members of the development team.

The technical screening is designed to assess your technical skills and knowledge, while the interviews are typically focused on your experience and abilities.

Be prepared to discuss your experience with coding languages, databases, and other software development tools. The interviewer may also ask you to solve a problem on a whiteboard or write code on the spot.

In this article, we’ll go over some of the most common questions that are asked, so you can be prepared for your next interview.

1. Tell me about yourself.

Although not a question, you will likely hear a variation of “Tell me about yourself” during any job interview. This seems simple enough, but it can be difficult to answer, as you want to give the interviewer a sense of who you are without sounding like you’re bragging.

Here’s how you can structure your answer:

• Keep it brief. Your interviewer doesn’t want to hear your life story. Stick to highlighting your education, professional accomplishments and skills relevant to the position you’re applying for.

• Avoid talking about your personal life. This is a professional setting, so focus on discussing your work experience and qualifications.

• Give an overview of your professional goals and what you hope to accomplish in the role.

• End with a short summary of your key skills and why you’d be the best person for the job.

2. Have you ever worked on a project from start to finish? If so, can you tell me about it?

You will often be asked during job interviews whether you have ever worked on a project from start to finish. The interviewer is looking to see if you have the ability to take initiative and see a project through to completion.

If you have worked on a project from start to finish, be sure to give specific examples of what you did and how you saw the project through to completion. This will show the interviewer that you have the ability to take initiative and are not afraid of hard work.

If you have not yet worked on a project from start to finish, that’s okay! Just be honest with the interviewer and let them know that you are still gaining experience in this area. You can also mention any projects you are currently working on that may not be complete yet.

3. What do you find most interesting about software development?

Questions about your interest in software development are typically used by interviewers to gauge your fit for the role.

While this may seem like a simple question, it can be difficult to answer if you’re not prepared.

First, take a step back and think about what it is that interests you most about software development.

Is it the challenge of problem-solving? The opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies? The satisfaction of seeing your code come to life? Whatever it is, make sure you have a clear answer in mind before your interview.

Once you’ve identified what you find most interesting about software development, share this with the interviewer.

If possible, give a specific example of a project or task that you found particularly engaging. This will help illustrate your passion for the field and show that you’re truly invested in becoming a junior developer.

4. What are your strongest abilities?

When you’re a junior developer, you don’t have a lot of experience to draw upon. So, when an interviewer asks you about your strongest abilities, it can be tough to know how to answer.

Here are a few tips on how to answer this question in a way that will impress your interviewer:

• Talk about your technical skills. Chances are you have strong technical skills. So, focus on highlighting your technical abilities in your answer.

• Emphasize your willingness to learn new things. As a junior developer, you’re still learning and growing in your career. So, emphasizing your willingness to learn new things is always a good idea.

• Highlight your perseverance. You will probably face many challenges from coworkers or clients. You may even fail at times. But, as long as you’re willing to learn and improve your skills, it’s a good idea to emphasize your perseverance. For example, you can say something like “I’m always willing to learn from my failures and bounce back quickly.”

5. What is your experience with version control tools like Git or Azure?

As a junior developer, you will likely be asked about your experience with version control tools like Git or Azure. When answering this question:

• Talk about any experience you have using these tools, even if it is just personal projects. This will show that you are familiar with the basics of using version control tools.

• If you have used them professionally, describe how you used them and what types of tasks you were able to accomplish with them. This will showcase your skills and highlight the value that you can bring to a team.

• Mention any challenges that you faced while using these tools and how you overcame them. This demonstrates that you are adaptable and can problem-solve when necessary.

6. What is your approach to problem-solving?

Junior developers are often asked about their problem-solving approach during job interviews. There are a few key things you can do to prepare for this question and give a great answer:

• First, think about what your interviewer is really asking. They want to know how you go about solving problems, so be sure to give them a detailed answer. Include steps like brainstorming, researching, and testing in your response.

• Second, use specific examples to illustrate your problem-solving process. This will help the interviewer understand how you think and work through issues.

• Finally, be sure to keep your answer positive. Emphasize that you’re always looking for ways to improve your skills and solve problems more efficiently. By doing this, you’ll show that you’re a proactive junior developer who is always ready to take on new challenges.

7. Are you familiar with any frameworks or libraries that would be relevant to our company?

The interviewer may ask about your familiarity with different frameworks and libraries during a job interview. To answer effectively, there are some key things you should keep in mind:

• Take a moment to think about which frameworks and libraries you are familiar with. If the interviewer is looking for specific ones, make sure to mention those. If you are not familiar with any of the frameworks or libraries they mention, be honest and say so.

• Even if you are not familiar with the exact framework or library they are asking about, try to draw parallels to the ones that you do know. For example, if they mention ReactJS and you have only used AngularJS, explain how the two are similar and why you would be able to use ReactJS after some learning.

8. Have you written any unit tests or integration tests before? How do you feel about writing tests?

As a junior developer, you will likely be asked about your experience with writing unit tests and integration tests. Here’s what to consider when preparing your answer:

• If you have written unit tests or integration tests before, describe your experience and how you feel about writing tests.

• If you have not written unit tests or integration tests before, explain why you are interested in writing them and what you think they can accomplish.

• In either case, emphasize your willingness to learn and follow best practices when it comes to writing unit tests and integration tests.

9. Do you have any experience working with databases, such as MySQL?

Databases are a critical part of any software development process. If you’re applying for a job as a junior developer, you should be able to demonstrate your understanding of how they work.

It’s important to be honest about your skills and experience. If you don’t have any direct experience, tell the interviewer that you’re familiar with the basics of database management and explain what coursework or projects you’ve undertaken that have given you this knowledge.

If you do have some experience working with databases, be sure to highlight the skills that would enable you to work with databases.

10. What kind of coding challenges have you faced and how did you overcome them?

When it comes to coding challenges, it’s important to be prepared to share both the problems you faced and how you solved them. This not only shows that you have the technical skills required for the job, but also that you can think critically and solve problems.

Some common coding challenges that junior developers may face include debugging code, working with code that is not well-documented or optimizing code for performance.

When answering this question you should:

• Be detailed in your explanation. Your interviewer wants to see that you are able to break down a problem and find a solution. Walk them through your thought process so they can see how you arrived at the final answer.

• Highlight what you learned from the experience. This is a great opportunity to showcase your problem-solving skills and show that you are able to make good decisions.