What to Expect
The technical assessment is a deeper dive into your skills and knowledge. Unlike the HR screening, this interview focuses on how you think and what you know in your technical domain.- Duration: ~45 minutes
- Format: Conversational with scenario-based and knowledge-based questions
- Focus areas: Domain expertise, problem-solving methodology, system thinking, and technical communication
- Depth: The AI adapts — it may ask follow-up questions to probe deeper into your answers
What’s Being Evaluated
| Area | What the AI Looks For |
|---|---|
| Technical depth | Do you understand core concepts in your domain? |
| Problem-solving | Can you break down complex problems into clear steps? |
| Communication | Can you explain technical concepts clearly, even to a non-expert? |
| Practical experience | Can you tie knowledge to real-world examples from your work? |
| Reasoning | Do you think through trade-offs and edge cases? |
The AI evaluates the quality of your reasoning, not just whether your final answer is “correct.” Showing your thought process matters.
How to Prepare
Before You Start
- Review the job description for technical requirements. Know which skills and tools are listed and be ready to discuss your experience with each.
- Brush up on fundamentals. Depending on your field, this could mean reviewing core concepts, frameworks, methodologies, or tools you’ll be expected to know.
- Prepare real examples. Think of 3–5 projects or challenges where you applied your technical skills. Be ready to walk through what you did, why, and what the outcome was.
- Practice explaining out loud. Technical assessments reward clear communication. Practice walking through a problem step-by-step as if explaining to a colleague.
During the Assessment
- Think out loud. The AI gives credit for your reasoning process, not just conclusions. Narrate your thought process as you work through scenarios.
- Ask clarifying questions. If a scenario is ambiguous, ask for more details. This mirrors real-world problem-solving and is viewed positively.
- Be honest about gaps. If you’re unfamiliar with a topic, say so and explain how you’d approach learning it or finding the answer. This is far better than guessing.
- Use structure. When answering open-ended questions, organize your response: state your approach, walk through the steps, and summarize your conclusion.
What to Ask the AI
- “Can you clarify the constraints of this scenario?”
- “Should I assume [specific technology/framework] for this question?”
- “Would you like me to go deeper on [specific aspect]?”
- “Can I walk through my approach step by step before giving a final answer?”
- “Is this question focused on design, implementation, or both?”
What NOT to Ask the AI
Don’t Try To…
- Ask for the answer. “What’s the right approach here?” — the AI won’t tell you. It’s evaluating your approach.
- Ask if you’re doing well. The AI cannot provide real-time feedback on your performance.
- Request easier questions. The difficulty is set by the hiring team based on the role’s requirements.
- Ask the AI to solve the problem for you. Collaborative hints are not part of the assessment format.
- Copy-paste or reference external resources during the interview. The AI is evaluating your knowledge, not your ability to search.
Things That Don’t Help
- Jumping straight to an answer without showing your reasoning
- Using excessive jargon without explaining your thinking
- Giving textbook definitions without connecting them to practical experience
- Deflecting with “it depends” without exploring the trade-offs