Ace the Programming Interview 160 Questions and Answers for Success

Be prepared to answer the most relevant interview questions and land the job Programmers are in demand, but to land the job, you must demonstrate knowledge of those things expected by today′s employers. This guide sets you up for success. Not only does it provide 160 of the most commonly asked interview questions and model answers, but it also offers insight into the context and motivation of hiring managers in today′s marketplace. Written by a veteran hiring manager, this book is a comprehensive guide for experienced and first–time programmers alike. Provides insight into what drives the recruitment process and how hiring managers think Covers both practical knowledge and recommendations for handling the interview process Features 160 actual interview questions, including some related to code samples that are available for download on a companion website Includes information on landing an interview, preparing a cheat–sheet for a phone interview, how to demonstrate your programming wisdom, and more Ace the Programming Interview , like the earlier Wiley bestseller Programming Interviews Exposed , helps you approach the job interview with the confidence that comes from being prepared.

Introduction xxiii Chapter 1 Hiring Programmers: The Inside Story 1 Chapter 2 Handling the Phone Interview with Confi dence 29 Chapter 3 In–Person Interviews 39 Chapter 4 Negotiating a Job Offer 53 Chapter 5 Programming Fundamentals 63 Chapter 6 Code Quality 109 Chapter 7 The Usual Suspects 157 Chapter 8 Quirks and Idioms 193 Chapter 9 Testing — Not Just for Testers 245 Chapter 10 The Right Tools 265 Chapter 11 Notorious Interview Questions 303 Chapter 12 Programming Wisdom 351 Appendix Preparing Your Cheat Sheets 395 General and Behavioral 396 Programming, General 397 Programming Concepts 397 Work History 398 Questions to Ask, If Given the Opportunity 399 Index 401

Edward Guiness is a software developer who has been both interviewer and interviewee over his long career. He has been programming since before the birth of Windows 1.0. In 2012, Edward founded SocialCoder (socialcoder.org), a volunteering organization for programmers, designers, and other technical people.