Technical interviews can feel intimidating, especially if it’s your first time going through one. But here’s the good news, these interviews aren’t just about getting the “right” answer, they’re designed to understand how you think, solve problems, and communicate your ideas along the way.
With the right preparation and mindset, a technical interview can become a great opportunity to highlight both your skills and your potential.
Tip 1: Practice communicating your thought process
Clear communication is key in any technical interview. Interviewers want to understand how you approach problems, which means being able to clearly explain your thought process as you work toward a solution. This can feel awkward at first, especially if you’re used to solving problems silently, but it gets easier with practice.
We recommend practicing technical questions using platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank, and then taking it one step further by practicing how you would explain your solution out loud. Even talking through problems on your own can help build confidence and make it feel more natural when you’re solving problems in front of someone else.
Tip 2: Avoid assumptions: clarify and explain
Try not to assume the interviewer knows what you’re thinking or that certain steps are “obvious.” Instead, take time to restate the problem in your own words and ask clarifying questions about inputs, constraints, or edge cases before jumping in.
As you work through the problem, be intentional about explaining your decisions and walking through your approach step by step. This helps prevent misunderstandings and shows that you’re thoughtful, methodical, and comfortable collaborating through a challenge.
Tip 3: Pay attention to fundamentals
Many technical interviews focus on core programming concepts rather than complex or obscure problems. Make sure you’re comfortable with fundamentals and understand when and why to use them.
A simple, correct solution is often better than an overly complicated one. Don’t feel pressured to over-engineer; strong fundamentals go a long way.
Tip 4: Stay calm and positive
Feeling nervous during a technical interview is completely normal. If you make a mistake, acknowledge it, correct it, and keep going rather than panicking. Interviewers care just as much about how you respond to challenges as they do about the final solution.
Staying calm and maintaining a positive attitude demonstrates resilience, professionalism, and a willingness to learn, all qualities that are especially important for internship roles at Coveo.
Wrapping Up
Preparing for a technical internship interview takes time and practice, but it doesn’t require perfection. What matters most is communicating clearly, asking thoughtful questions, and showing how you approach problems. Interviewers are looking not only at your technical skills, but also at your curiosity, willingness to learn, and how you grow through challenges.
If that sounds like you, our internship opportunities at Coveo are designed to support hands-on learning, meaningful impact, and growth from day one. We’d love to see you apply.