What we look for at interview (it is not talent)

Our interview has a reputation for being stressful, mostly among people who have not done it yet. It is forty minutes with one of the mentors who would teach you. Here is what happens and what they are listening for.

The first fifteen minutes: your prep work

You talk through two exercises from the prep pack. We are not marking the code. We want to hear how you got unstuck: what you searched for, what you tried first, what you would do differently. “I copied an answer and then worked out why it worked” is a perfectly good answer.

The middle twenty: one small problem, together

The mentor gives you a short problem, usually something like filtering a list of bus departures, and solves it with you. You drive the keyboard, they help. Most people do not finish, and that is fine. We are watching whether you can take a hint, say “I don’t know” out loud, and keep going.

The last five: your questions

Ask anything. The best questions we hear are about the part-time timetable, what happens if you fall behind, and what graduates from your previous career went on to do.

What we are not looking for

A maths background, a degree, previous jobs in tech, or speed. Our graduates have been nurses, chefs, warehouse leads and teachers. The single best predictor of finishing the course is having finished the prep pack, which is why it is the only entry requirement.

If you are thinking about applying, start the free prep pack this week and book the call when you are halfway through.