Technical interviews can feel like a blur of random problems—until you approach them with a repeatable process. Here’s a framework you can use in live coding, whiteboard, and technical assessments to stay calm, communicate clearly, and consistently arrive at a solid solution.

1) Start with a 60-second “problem intake”

Before touching the keyboard, force yourself to answer these out loud:

• What are the inputs and outputs? (types, ranges, constraints)
• What does “correct” mean? (edge cases, duplicates, empty input)
• Can I restate the problem in one sentence?

This signals strong communication and prevents costly misreads.

2) Clarify constraints to pick the right approach

Many candidates jump into coding without confirming what matters. Ask:

• Expected time complexity? “Is an (O(n^2)) solution acceptable?”
• Memory limits? “Is extra space okay?”
• Data size? “Is (n) closer to 10^3 or 10^7?”

Even if the interviewer doesn’t give precise numbers, you’ll often get hints like “optimize” or “simplicity is fine.”

3) Narrate your solution using a simple structure

A strong explanation is usually:

1. High-level idea (one paragraph)
2. Data structures you’ll use and why
3. Complexity (time + space)
4. Walkthrough with a small example

Pro tip: If you suspect a common pattern, name it: two pointers, sliding window, hash map counting, BFS/DFS, binary search on answer, etc. Pattern recognition is a real skill—show it.

4) Code like you’re writing for production (but faster)

Interview code doesn’t need perfect architecture, but it should be readable:

• Use clear variable names (left, right, countMap)
• Keep functions small
• Handle edge cases early (empty input, single element)
• Add brief comments only where logic isn’t obvious

If you make a mistake, say it quickly: “I see a bug: my loop condition fails when…” and fix it. That’s a maturity signal.

5) Always do a “post-solve” check

Before you stop:

• Test with 1 normal case + 2 edge cases
• Confirm complexity again
• Mention a possible optimization if you didn’t implement it

This is where you stand out—many people finish coding and go silent.

Quick practice challenge

Pick any medium problem you’ve done before and redo it using this script:

• 60s intake → constraints → structured explanation → code → post-solve check. Time yourself. The goal is not speed first—it’s consistency under pressure.

What part of the technical interview process trips you up most right now: choosing the approach, communicating, or debugging under time pressure?