Navigating Tech Interviews: Tips from Hiring Managers

Technical interviews can be intimidating, even for experienced developers. As the Career Services Director at LakshWealth Coding Bootcamp, I've helped hundreds of candidates prepare for interviews at companies ranging from innovative startups to established tech giants. More importantly, I've gathered insights from dozens of hiring managers about what they're really looking for when evaluating candidates.

In this article, I'll share the insider perspective on tech interviews—not just what you should know, but how you should approach the process to stand out from other candidates. These insights come directly from conversations with hiring managers at top tech companies in India and globally.

Understanding the Modern Technical Interview Process

Before diving into specific strategies, it's important to understand the typical structure of today's technical interview process, especially at larger companies:

• Initial Screening: Usually a phone or video call with a recruiter or HR representative
• Technical Phone/Video Screen: One or more interviews with engineers focusing on coding problems or technical questions
• Take-Home Assignment: Some companies provide a project to complete within a specified timeframe
• Onsite Interviews: Multiple rounds with different team members covering coding, system design, and behavioral aspects
• Final Decision: Usually made by a committee after gathering feedback from all interviewers

Companies in India often follow similar processes, though startups may compress these stages or combine them. Understanding this framework helps you prepare appropriately for each stage of the journey.

What Hiring Managers Are Really Looking For

Beyond technical skills, hiring managers consistently mention these key attributes when discussing their ideal candidates:

1. Problem-Solving Approach

Contrary to popular belief, most hiring managers care more about how you solve problems than whether you get the perfect solution immediately.

• What they value: Systematic thinking, asking clarifying questions, breaking down complex problems
• Red flags: Jumping to code too quickly, getting frustrated, giving up without exploring options
• Insider tip: "I'd rather hire someone who solves 70% of the problem thoughtfully than someone who memorized the solution but can't explain their reasoning." — Engineering Manager at a major e-commerce company

2. Communication Skills

Technical communication is consistently rated as one of the most important skills by hiring managers.

• What they value: Clear explanation of technical concepts, thinking aloud during problem-solving, appropriate level of detail
• Red flags: Inability to explain technical decisions, dismissive responses to questions, overly complex explanations
• Insider tip: "When a candidate can explain complex technical decisions clearly, it tells me they'll be effective working with other teams and mentoring junior developers." — CTO at a fintech startup

3. Adaptability and Learning Mindset

Technology changes rapidly, and hiring managers want people who can evolve with it.

• What they value: Evidence of self-learning, openness to feedback, ability to pivot when approaches aren't working
• Red flags: Defensiveness about code, unwillingness to consider alternatives, outdated knowledge without awareness
• Insider tip: "I always ask about a recent learning experience or technical challenge. The enthusiasm and depth in that answer tells me more about future potential than any algorithm question." — VP of Engineering at a product company

4. Cultural Fit and Team Collaboration

Technical skills alone aren't enough in today's collaborative development environments.

• What they value: Respectful interactions, credit-sharing, examples of successful teamwork
• Red flags: Speaking negatively about previous colleagues, taking sole credit for team accomplishments, showing arrogance
• Insider tip: "I pay attention to language—candidates who naturally use 'we' when discussing achievements and 'I' when discussing mistakes often make great team members." — Director of Engineering at an AI startup

Preparation Strategies for Different Interview Types

Based on feedback from hiring managers, here are the most effective strategies for common interview formats:

Coding Interviews

These assess your ability to translate problems into working code.

• Preparation focus: Data structures, algorithms, time/space complexity analysis
• Recommended approach:
• Start with clarifying questions about constraints, edge cases, and expected outputs
• Think aloud while developing your approach
• Begin with a naive solution, then optimize if time allows
• Test your solution with examples, including edge cases
• Be receptive to hints from the interviewer

Hiring manager insight: "I'm impressed when candidates test their own code without being prompted. It shows attention to detail and quality consciousness." — Senior Engineering Manager at a leading Indian IT services company

System Design Interviews

These evaluate your ability to architect complex systems and make appropriate trade-offs.

• Preparation focus: Scalability patterns, database choices, API design, microservices vs. monoliths
• Recommended approach:
• Establish requirements and constraints before designing
• Start with a high-level architecture diagram
• Identify potential bottlenecks and how to address them
• Discuss trade-offs of different approaches explicitly
• Incorporate feedback and be willing to adjust your design

Hiring manager insight: "The best candidates discuss trade-offs explicitly. There's rarely one perfect system design, and I want to see that you understand the consequences of your choices." — Principal Engineer at a cloud computing company

Behavioral Interviews

These assess your past behavior as an indicator of future performance.

• Preparation focus: Project examples, conflict resolution, leadership experiences
• Recommended approach:
• Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for structured responses
• Prepare specific examples for common questions about challenges, conflicts, and successes
• Include metrics and specific outcomes where possible
• Be honest about failures and what you learned
• Connect your experiences to the role you're applying for

Hiring manager insight: "Candidates who can speak specifically about their contributions to projects, including challenges and mistakes, are more credible than those who only share success stories." — HR Director at a B2B SaaS company

Take-Home Assignments

These evaluate your real-world coding abilities without the pressure of an interview.

• Preparation focus: Clean code, documentation, testing, following requirements
• Recommended approach:
• Read all requirements carefully before starting
• Set up a proper project structure with appropriate architecture
• Include unit tests and handle edge cases
• Write a clear README explaining how to run your code and any assumptions made
• Ensure the solution works as expected before submission

Hiring manager insight: "A take-home assignment is your chance to showcase your best work. I look for evidence that the candidate took pride in their solution, from proper error handling to thoughtful documentation." — Tech Lead at a healthcare technology company

Common Interview Mistakes to Avoid

Hiring managers consistently mention these avoidable mistakes that can derail otherwise strong candidates:

Technical Missteps

• Not verifying that your solution works with test cases
• Overcomplicating solutions to simple problems
• Ignoring performance implications of your approach
• Failing to ask clarifying questions when requirements are ambiguous
• Using outdated patterns or approaches without awareness

Communication Errors

• Remaining silent while coding or problem-solving
• Dismissing interviewer suggestions without consideration
• Using overly technical jargon without explaining concepts
• Interrupting the interviewer
• Providing vague or general answers to specific questions

Behavioral Red Flags

• Speaking negatively about previous employers or colleagues
• Demonstrating arrogance or an unwillingness to learn
• Showing frustration or giving up when facing challenges
• Taking full credit for team accomplishments
• Displaying a lack of interest in the company or role

India-Specific Interview Considerations

While technical skills are universally important, there are some aspects of the interview process that are particularly relevant in the Indian tech industry:

Product Companies vs. Service Companies

The interview focus often differs between these two common employer types:

• Product companies (like Flipkart, Razorpay, or Zerodha) typically emphasize deeper technical skills, problem-solving, and system design
• Service companies (like TCS, Infosys, or Wipro) often focus more on adaptability, learning potential, and specific technology experience

Tailor your preparation based on the company type you're targeting.

Cultural Nuances

Some cultural aspects worth noting about tech interviews in India:

• Many Indian companies value formal communication, so maintain professionalism throughout
• Be prepared to discuss your educational background in detail, as this is often emphasized
• Demonstrating loyalty and long-term commitment is often valued, so be prepared to discuss your career plans
• Startups may have more conversational interviews, while established companies often follow structured formats

Competitive Technical Bar

The technical bar for top companies in India is very high due to the competitive talent market:

• Algorithm and data structure questions are typically more challenging than in some other markets
• System design interviews often expect knowledge of high-scale architectures
• Be prepared to demonstrate specific expertise in your claimed areas of specialization

Preparing Your Questions for the Interviewer

Hiring managers consistently say that the questions a candidate asks reveal a lot about their priorities and potential fit. Based on their feedback, here are some impressive questions to consider:

• "What are the biggest technical challenges your team is facing right now?"
• "How do you measure success for someone in this role after 3, 6, and 12 months?"
• "Can you tell me about the team's development process and how decisions are made about technical direction?"
• "What learning opportunities or growth paths exist for engineers in your organization?"
• "What's the balance between feature development, technical debt management, and innovation in your team's work?"

Hiring manager insight: "When a candidate asks thoughtful questions about the team's challenges and growth opportunities, it shows they're thinking beyond just getting the job and are concerned with long-term fit and contribution." — Engineering Director at a leading e-commerce platform

After the Interview: Follow-Up Best Practices

The interview process doesn't end when you leave the room or exit the video call. Hiring managers notice and appreciate thoughtful follow-up:

• Send a thank-you email within 24 hours, personalizing it with specific references to your conversation
• If you realized a better solution to a technical problem after the interview, it's appropriate to briefly mention it
• Follow up once after a week if you haven't heard back, but avoid multiple follow-ups which can seem desperate
• If rejected, request constructive feedback that can help you improve
• Maintain connections with interviewers on LinkedIn even if you don't get the role—the tech industry is small and networked

Conclusion: Confidence Through Preparation

Technical interviews can be challenging, but understanding what hiring managers are really looking for allows you to prepare effectively and present yourself as a valuable potential team member.

At LakshWealth Coding Bootcamp, we've incorporated these insights from hiring managers into our interview preparation modules, mock interviews, and career coaching sessions. Our students practice not just the technical skills, but the communication and problem-solving approaches that make candidates stand out.

Remember that interviews are a two-way street. While the company is evaluating you, you're also assessing whether the role, team, and company culture are the right fit for your career goals. With thorough preparation and the right mindset, you can approach tech interviews with confidence and clarity, positioning yourself for success in India's dynamic tech industry.