Why Smart Engineers Still Fail Technical Interviews

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Why Smart Engineers Still Fail Technical Interviews

Dan Bentivenga

Jul 27, 2025

You wouldn’t run a marathon without training.

You wouldn’t walk into a sales pitch without prepping the deck.

So why do so many software engineers think they can just “wing it” in a technical interview?

I’ve been a technical recruiter for over a decade. I’ve placed engineers at Fortune 500s, fast-growing startups, and everything in between.

And I’ve seen it all:

  1. Senior devs with 10+ years of experience freeze up during a simple array manipulation.
  2. Mid-level engineers land roles 1–2 levels above their current job because they prepared like their life depended on it.
  3. Hiring managers turn down technically sound candidates because their communication was poor under pressure.

Most engineers believe they’ll “rise to the occasion” when the interview comes.

Here’s the truth:

You don’t rise to the occasion. You fall to the level of your preparation.

What a Technical Interview Actually Tests

It’s easy to think the goal of a technical interview is to show off your knowledge. But that’s only half the game.

The best hiring managers are testing for 3 things:

  1. Can you solve the problem?
  2. Can you explain your thinking clearly?
  3. Can you stay calm under pressure?

Think of it less like an exam, and more like a live demo of how you’ll work on the job. Yes, there are coding problems. But the subtext is always:

  1. How do you approach complexity?
  2. Do you break big problems down into smaller steps?
  3. Do you get flustered when things go sideways?
  4. Can you collaborate in real-time?

You’re not just being assessed on your output. You’re being assessed on how you get there.

Great Engineers Still Fail Without Prep

A few months ago, I worked with a front-end developer interviewing for a large bank.

Sharp candidate. Strong resume. Tons of experience in React and TypeScript. On paper, a lock.

But he hadn’t touched algorithms or data structures in over 5 years. Didn’t think it mattered. Didn’t run any mock interviews. Didn’t practice thinking out loud.

Result? He stumbled through a relatively simple problem. Didn’t communicate his thought process. Got rejected after round one.

Meanwhile, another candidate with less on-paper experience had done three mock sessions, worked through over 100 LeetCode problems, and studied his communication like it was a second language.

Guess who got the job?

How to Actually Prep Like a Pro

If you’ve got interviews lined up, or want to be ready when they come, here’s how I recommend approaching prep:

Understand the format

Every company has a slightly different structure. Find out:

  1. Will there be live coding?
  2. Whiteboarding?
  3. Take-home assignments?
  4. System design interviews?

Knowing the game lets you train the right muscles.

Practice thinking out loud

This is a major unlock. You might be great at solving problems in silence. But in the interview, silence is death. Practice explaining:

  1. What you’re doing
  2. Why you’re doing it
  3. What tradeoffs you’re considering

Review your fundamentals

Especially if you haven’t touched this stuff in a while:

  1. Arrays
  2. Strings
  3. Linked lists
  4. Hash tables
  5. Recursion
  6. Sorting algorithms

You don’t need to be a CS PhD. But you need to be sharp on the basics.

Simulate real interviews

Use platforms like Pramp, Interviewing.io, or even just a friend who can play “hiring manager.”

Record yourself. Watch it back. Notice:

  1. Where you ramble
  2. Where you freeze
  3. Where you could simplify

Audit your communication

A technically correct solution that’s poorly explained can still lead to a rejection.

Practice clear, concise communication. Don’t assume the interviewer can read your mind.

Don’t neglect system design

For mid-to-senior roles, you’ll likely be asked to design scalable systems.

  1. Read “Designing Data-Intensive Applications”
  2. Watch YouTube breakdowns of real system design interviews
  3. Practice explaining systems you’ve built before

Hiring Managers Notice the Prep

I can’t tell you how many times a client has said:

“That candidate really impressed us. They were prepared. Clear. Thoughtful.”

And I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard:

“We liked the resume. But the interview fell flat.”

The difference isn’t usually intelligence. It’s intention.

If You Want the Offer, Prepare Like You’re Not the Only One Interviewing

Because you’re not. If you made it to the final round, so did someone else. And in this market, where competition is high and budgets are tight, the smallest edge matters.

  1. A well-prepped candidate communicates better.
  2. They move faster.
  3. They adapt under pressure.
  4. They show they care.

And that’s what hiring managers remember.

Final Thought

You don’t need to turn into a LeetCode robot.

But you do need to respect the game.

Technical interviews are a skill in their own right. And like any skill, they can be improved.

Prepare with the same energy you’d use to ship a mission-critical feature.

Because in a way, that’s exactly what this is.

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