Technical Interview
An interview designed to assess a candidate's domain-specific technical knowledge and problem-solving ability, typically used for engineering, data, and technology roles.
A technical interview evaluates a candidate's hard skills — their ability to write code, solve algorithmic problems, design systems, analyse data, or demonstrate other domain-specific competencies. Formats vary widely: live coding exercises, take-home assignments, whiteboard problem-solving, system design discussions, or portfolio reviews.
Technical interviews are among the most debated topics in hiring. Critics argue that formats like whiteboard coding problems — which require candidates to write perfect code under pressure in front of an audience — test anxiety tolerance more than engineering ability. Defenders argue they are one of the few objective signals available in a process otherwise vulnerable to subjective bias.
The trend in technical interviewing has moved towards work-sample tests: realistic exercises that mirror the actual work of the role. For remote positions, async take-home assignments are increasingly common — they allow candidates to work at their own pace, in their own environment, and often produce more authentic evidence of ability than a live exercise under observation.