40 Best Software Engineer Interview Questions

Software Engineers are the vitals of technological industry, they are responsible for developing, testing,
deploying the computer programs. The software engineers are the alluding factors of the future of technology.
Thus, this can the whole and sole aspect of this delegation to be most in demand. This is why there are billions
of young blood who seek their career as a software engineer in different streams.

So, if you are holding a software engineer degree and are going to be interviewed for the same, then here are a
few things you need to be prepared for. The below content will let you get a brief idea of what kind of questions
you will encounter in the interview when interviewed for a software engineer position in an organization.

For the better understanding, we can say that the whole gamut of the questionnaire can be divided into five
different sessions, where each session has its own purpose and motive to know the candidate’s ability and how
perfectly they fit the bill.

Starting with the first one:

Session 1: Common Software Engineers Interview Questions

This is where the employer gives the candidate a chance to present themselves in an impressive way, that can
showcase how able the candidate is to frame himself up to fit the bill. The questions the candidate may
encounter are.

Q1.

Tell me about yourself?

Tell, the interviewer about yourself, not too much but the brief about your qualification, background and
native etc.,

Q2.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Describe your strengths and weaknesses; keep the particular professional and relevant.

Q3.
 What are your skills and capabilities?

Describe the things you are good at, especially the skills that match the job profile.

Q4.

Explain the reason you left the previous job if any?

If you worked anywhere previously, explain the circumstances that made you quit that job.

Note: Never, ever speak ill of any company during the interview.

Q5.

Why should we hire you?

Here, you can explain how passionate you are about the post applied to you for, and how your skill fit the
bill.

Q6.

How well can you handle the pressure?

Generally, the answer for this question is given with an example from a previous experience, or it can also
be answered as "I keep my work above all, regardless of the complications and situations."

Section2: Software Engineer Conceptual Interview Questions

This session is where the employer comes up with the software-about or quiz questions to analyze how well the
candidate is at the concepts, basics and fundamental knowledge of software engineering. The questions the
candidates may encounter are.

Q7.
What is a programming language? How many do you know or have used?

It is a set of instructions given to the computing device to perform specific tasks. And then mention the
number and the programming languages you know, or used.

Q8.

What is software engineering?

It is an engineering branch associated with software system development.

Q9.

What makes you learn software engineering concepts, when you already know about
the programming?

A programmer may not have a complete conceptual understanding of the software engineering. The
software engineering concepts guide the programmers to know how to assess the end user requirements
and design the algorithms, create programs by coding and testing the code and the documentation.

Q10.

What is functional programming?

It is the style of a programming language that uses the concepts of a mathematical function.

Q11.

What is a Computer Software?

It is a complete package that includes a software program, its documentation and user guide to use the
software.
Q12.

What is software management and what are the responsibilities of a software

manager?

It is the process of managing the activities like time, cost and quality while developing the software. The
software manager is engaged with managing the activities like planning project, monitoring the progress,
communication among the stakeholders, and managing the risks and resources for the smooth execution
of development within the constraints.

Q13.

Mentions some software management tools?

The tools are used as per the requirement, the few popular and widely used software management tools
are Gantt chart, PERT chart, Resource histogram, Critical path analysis, Status reports etc.

Q14.

What do you mean by feasibility study?

It gauges how beneficial and practical the project development will be for the organization. The feasibility
study encompasses economic, technical and operational feasibility of the project.

Q15.

Explain software metric?

It provides measures of various aspects of software process and product. They are divided into
requirement metrics, process metrics, and product metrics.

Q16.
What is the difference between structured English and pseudocode?

Structured English is the native one and is used to write the structure of the program module using
programming language, and the pseudocode is the programming language that uses the native English
words to write the bits of code.

Q17.

Do you know black-box and White-box testing?

Black Box testing – It checks if the desired outputs are produced when the valid inputs are given.

White Box testing – It checks the valid output and input and also if the code is implemented correctly.

Q18.

Explain the difference between validation and verification?

Validation – It checks if the product is made as per the user requirements.

Verification – It checks if the proper steps are followed to produce the product.
Validation confirms the right product and the verification ensures the product is built in the right way.

Q19.

Explain various types of software maintenance?

The various types of software maintenance are:

Corrective – removing the errors found.

Adaptive – tackling changes in hardware and software environments.
Perfective Maintenance – implementing changes in existing or new requirements.
Preventive Maintenance – appropriate measures to avoid future problems.

Q20.
 What is agile software philosophy?

It is a philosophy for managing software projects and teams. It has the similarities to lean manufacturing
principles for "eliminating wastes", or say "abstraction".

Q21.

Differentiate between mutex and semaphore?

Both of them are used as synchronization primitives. But have a big difference.

Mutex – the Only thread that locked or acquired can be unlocked.

Semaphore – A different thread can signal of the thread waiting on a semaphore.

These were a few basic and fundamental questions the employers come up with, but they may ask for more too.
So, it is advised for the candidate to have the complete revision of the basic and ground knowledge of software
engineering before appearing for the interview. As said, the stronger you seem at the basics, the more chances
you have to qualify.

When your knowledge of the software concepts is tested, the interviewer moves on to know how well you
implement them. This is where the candidate’s technical skills are tested.

Section3: Skill – compatibility interview questions for Software

Engineers
It is important for the interviewer to know about the candidate's technical skills to figure out whether the
candidate is compatible as a software engineer for their organization or not. The questions the candidate may
encounter may follow as

Q22.

How do you write the code, describe the process for the code from requirement to
delivery?

Describe the step-by-step process of writing the code in brief, also don’t forget to state the uses of the
functions you are using in the code.
Q23.

State how well the code can handle the error situations?

Describe the perspectives and the strong points of the code you have written and how well they proved to
be in handling the error situations.

Q24.

Can you design a scalable application, walk us through the process if you can?

If you can, explain the brief process of designing the application that covers each step while giving the
interviewer the small explanation of each.

Q25.

What books of software engineering do you recommend for a better understanding

of software engineering?

Software Engineering by Sommer Ville (9th Edition), (8th Edition) and Software Engineering: A
practitioner's approach by Roger S. Pressman (7th Edition), (8th Edition).

Q26.

Which paradigm of software do you think you can handle the best?

There are three paradigms such as Software development paradigm, software design paradigm, and
programming paradigm. As per the skills you attain and knowledge you have you can answer the question
accordingly.

Q27.

How can you say if the software is good and productive?

 Any software is judged on the characteristics of it, like what it offers or how well it can be used. Any
software must satisfy the operational, transitional and maintenance grounds.

Q28.

How can you say if the software is good and productive?

Recommend the best one you know, or the one that is most widely used. Few of the tools available for the
effective product management are Gantt chart, PERT chart, Resource histogram.

Q29.

Have you ever been in the requirement elicitation? If yes, how would you carry out
the things?

If you have ever been, then reply with "Yes, I would find the requirements for an intended software
system by communicating with the system users, end users, clients, and other software system
development stakeholders".

Q30.

What do you say about the software requirements characteristics?

I think the software requirements characteristics are the foundation of software development, hence they
must be clear correct and well-defined.

These were few questions the software engineers encounter when they are interviewed that mostly depends on
the post they are getting interviewed for. So, it is important for the candidates to have a proper look at the
interview listings and the requirements of the post, before applying and appearing for the interview.

And, the answers to these questions are required to be given with complete honesty. If a can does not know the
answer, he or she can frankly say it.
But do not act or pretend to do know them, as this may decide the position of yours in the organization and later
when you can’t solve the problem, you may land yourself in a trouble and get a bad remark.

Section4: Mutual Understanding Questions for Software Engineers

When the employer finds the candidate with compatible technical skills, he will move on to know the
candidate’s mutual skills in a work environment, or with the co-workers, that describes the behavior and
situation handling skills.

In this session, the candidate may encounter the questions as follows.

Q31.

Can you describe the level of interaction with the co-workers that will eventually
allow you to achieve the most success?

I can say, that I am pretty obvious to keep things mutual and clear with my co-workers, I would like to put
up my views, and ask them to put theirs too, to analyze which suits best for the situation and the company.
Humbleness and kindness are what I believe is the best attitude for any profession to achieve success.

Q32.

Can you come up with an instance when you worked with coworkers to solve an issue
at work?

Here, the candidate needs to explain any previous experience of how he/she managed to solve the issue at
work while working as a team.

Q33.

How will you react if your manager wants to buy a new software and you disagree
with the decision, as you think it can decrease the productivity?

There will obviously be a few situations where I will face such diverse thoughts issues, but I will try my
best to convince the concerned with my views and thoughts on the cause.
 Q34.

What would do you if you are asked to review a code full of errors by a co-worker?

Well, I can say I would first let my co-worker know where the things went wrong, and suggest him/her
the ways to rectify those errors, in a way that would help him/her come back for more learning and
reviews without hesitation.

Here, the candidates are supposed to put up the instances or experiences of the situations they handled in their
jobs, these help the employer configure how well the candidate can manage to work as an individual or in a
team.

Section5: Company culture questions for Software Engineers

These questions indicate that the interview has almost come to a concluding point. Here the interviewers
analyze how well the candidate has prepared for the interview for a particular organization or company. The
candidates may encounter the following questions.

Q35.

What type of work environment do you thrive in?

In answer to this question, come up with the work environment you are comfortable with, and also let the
interviewer know your previous experiences with the work environments.

Q36.

What do you know about our company or organization?

Tell everything you know about the organization or the company, highlights the points where it reflects
their success or growth tech etc

Q37.

Why do you want to work here?

 Explain the interviewer, how you are passionate about the job you are getting interviewed for, and how
the company will help you in the growth of your career.

Q38.

How about working with a collaborative work environment?

Describe your views on collaborative work environment and explain how well it goes for you. Also,
mention the advantages of such a work environment.

Q39.

How about working with a collaborative work environment?

Same like the above answer, tell the interviewer how you can manage the start-up work environment.

To answer such questions the candidate needs to make a complete research on the company they are appearing
in the interview for. And also know what type of environment they are comfortable to work with, etc.

Take Away
It is obvious to be bundle of nerves before appearing for the interview, but that doesn’t mean you let the
nervousness reflect in your answers to the questions you are asked. It is important for the candidate to be
confident. The attitude, body language and the etiquettes of the candidate are also observed by the interviewer.

The factors that can help you crack the interview and land you the job are confidence, and honesty in the
answers you give.

So, prepare yourself well for the interview. Best of luck!