Coding Bootcamp Interview Questions: How to Prepare & What to Ask

If you’re reading this, it’s more than likely you’ve been invited to a coding bootcamp interview. First and foremost, let me congratulate you if that is the case—it is a big step forward in the right direction.

And if you’re reading this without being invited to an interview but just want to prepare for what’s coming down the road, I love your confidence.

As the founder of CodeOp and its lead interviewer, I wanted to share some insights that could help you ace the meeting.

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 and uplifting.

Common Questions Asked in a Coding Bootcamp Interview

1. Personal Questions

The most common questions that will be asked at your introductory interview will be related to your personal story and current ambition to learn 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. The interview will be, on average, just 30 minutes long.

2. Technical Questions

Many bootcamps will offer some type of exam or test, free of charge, to allow you to assess your skill set before an interview.

Knowing you have the skills is one thing, but can you articulate and talk about what you are doing with your code? You can expect this to be a key part of a technical interview.

The only way to ensure you’re ready for the technical questions in your interview is to continue learning some fundamentals of code.

Whatever language you choose, make sure you can 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 first, and fix and troubleshoot your code.

3. Non-Technical Questions

Non-technical interview questions include past experiences and responsibilities while outlining accomplishments 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 interviewer’s goal is 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

Having a series of questions ready if you get stuck can be a great tool to break any unexpected silence and keep both parties talking.

The main purpose of this part of the interview is to ensure that you fully understand what you’ll be getting from your chosen bootcamp—from acceptance rates to graduation rates to average salary, job placement, financial assistance, and scholarship options.

Here’s a set of questions that I have prepared:

Questions About Bootcamp History, Admissions, and Instructors

• What is an average day like at one of your campuses?
• Do instructors have certain hours they would 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

• Be a professional: A bootcamp interview should be treated like any other; 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.
• Follow any instructions provided: It’s commonplace for there to be a some sort of skill assessment. 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: Asking the right questions shows 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?

Suppose you’re still considering which educational bootcamp to increase your technical skills in computer coding and programming. Why not 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.