Technical Interview Prep & Career Growth Blog
Practical advice on technical interview preparation, communication skills for engineers, and strategies for long-term career growth. Written by engineers, for engineers.
The 'AI can code' effect on technical interviews
AI writes code faster than you. So what are interviews actually testing now? The skills that matter are shifting, and most candidates haven't noticed.
I dropped Mongoose and I'm not going back
I replaced Mongoose with the native MongoDB driver and Zod. Here's the real setup, what I miss, and how the migration went.
I regret how I split Prestonly's codebase
I built a language learning platform across four separate repos because it seemed like the right thing to do. It wasn't. Here's what I'd do differently.
What interviewers mean by 'tell me about a technical challenge'
Most candidates waste this question with bad examples or no structure. Here's what's actually being evaluated and how to tell the right story.
How to explain React hooks in interviews
Stop reciting useState definitions. Here's how to explain React hooks like you actually understand them, not like you're reading documentation.
Frontend interview questions you'll actually get in 2026
15 frontend interview questions for 2026 with verbal answer structures, what interviewers actually evaluate, and common mistakes to avoid.
How to practice for technical interviews alone
You don't need a friend to practice technical interviews. Solo methods like rubber ducking, recording, and timed drills work if you do them right.
How to say 'I don't know' in a technical interview
Every candidate hits questions they can't answer. The difference between a rejection and an offer often comes down to how you handle that moment.
How to stop rambling in technical interviews (the 60-second rule)
Senior devs ramble in interviews more than juniors. Learn the 60-second rule and a simple structure to give concise, confident technical answers.
The first 30 seconds of your interview answer matter more than the rest
Interviewers form a judgment within your first sentence. Learn how to open technical interview answers with confidence and clarity.
Why you know the answer but freeze in technical interviews
You've solved this problem before, but your brain buffers when someone's watching. The neuroscience behind interview freeze and practical drills to fix it.
Why explaining out loud beats reading for interview prep
You've read the system design primer. You can trace through algorithms in your head. But try explaining them out loud and watch the gaps appear.
5 interview mistakes that have nothing to do with knowledge
Most candidates who fail technical interviews know the material. They fail on communication — diving in without context, going silent, monologuing.
The skill that gets engineers promoted (it's not coding)
The engineers who advance fastest aren't the best coders. They're the ones who can explain their work. And almost nobody practices this deliberately.
Why cramming for technical interviews doesn't work
You blocked off the weekend to grind LeetCode. It won't help as much as you think. Here's what consistent daily practice does differently.