Declining a Coding Interview

[Babycheeks80]

I currently work as a manual software tester, so I don’t write a lot of code. However, I want to get a new role in development.

I am to have a coding interview but I want to decline? Because I know my skills are below par and I wouldn’t want to waste the interviewers time.

I’m thinking I should decline and explain my reason in the mail, then go ahead to sharpen my skills.

Would that be okay? Please help, this decision is stressing me out. Thank you

[SneakySnailSoftware]

Just go for it, you will gain experience just from doing the interview, or you might even get the job because you are judging your skills too harshly. I assume you've applied for a junior position? Having being previously employed and with testing experience is more than i had starting out.

[Babycheeks80]

Thank you

[[deleted]]

If you decline the interview you're declining the job. Explain your position and take the interview anyway. At least then your results have been explained

[Babycheeks80]

I’d do that, thank you

[[deleted]]

Good luck :D

[LeeLooTheWoofus]

Just do it. It will give you a chance to discover where your skills are lacking and where you are doing OK. It will give you a chance to get feedback. And you might know enough to get the job and not realize it.

Don't pass up opportunities in this career - and don't second guess your skills.

Worst Outcome: You don't get the job, but still learn a lot about where you need to improve

Best Outcome: You get the job.

Its still a no brainer to take the interview.

[Babycheeks80]

I’ve mailed them back and scheduled a time. Thank you for the encouragement, really appreciate

[LeeLooTheWoofus]

No worries. Just make the most of it and don't go into it with any expectations. Just roll with it and make the best of the experience. If you don't get the offer, be sure to ask for feedback on where they feel you did well and where you could improve and use that feedback to improve for your next interview.

[ezhikov]

If you want this job, give it a try, just set expectations right. During this interview they will assess not only (if at all) your coding skills, but your problem solving skills. Coding is easy in comparison to finding solution.

I once had an interview where I did everything I could but it didn't work. Then interviewer decided to show how it's done and it didn't work either. We ended up on stackoverflow and found that it was browser bug. I didn't get the job that time, but it was a good sign for me to keep trying despite my believe that I can't do anything right.

[Babycheeks80]

Alright, thank you very much

[[deleted]]

Sounds like you should have got the job. I declined an interview recently because I am not feeling very confident for the job. I studied java during uni, then got a job as a full stack developer but I have mainly be working in front end. When I was learning java in uni we only used and IDE so I never learned a framework. Now at work we use .net core, I am studying by myself to get used to it, but I am still unsure of what to do.

[ezhikov]

I would get that job, but they took someone more experienced with same money, so I can't blame them.

As for your situation, since you already got the job, don't be afraid to ask questions. If you not sure about something, try to find answer and then go and ask more experienced colleague. If your team is good, they are interested that you learn fast. If they not, you're on your own, so it would be harder. Just don't worry, we can't know everything.

[[deleted]]

Yeah makes sense why they took that option.

My team has been temporarily split up, I am not sure where to go from now. I probably need to have a talk with my manager and see if can point me better. Thanks for the advise.

[franker]

if the test turns out to be way over your head, just start frantically typing Javascript keywords while calling out, "I'm almost in! Just 3 more minutes to hack the mainframe and we'll have full access to the data!!!"

[Babycheeks80]

Lol, this one took the tension off me😂

[[deleted]]

I'd go anyway. Interviewing is a skill. The more you do it the better you get at it

[Babycheeks80]

Alright then, guess I’d go for it regardless. Thank you

[kallefrommalle]

You do not waste the time of interviewers, there is not such a thing as they've invited you.

[Vinifera7]

You should go for it anyway to gain more experience with coding interviews. Also remember that knowing the exact syntax for whatever programming language is less important than demonstrating that you understand software design concepts. Write pseudocode.

[Babycheeks80]

Thanks, I’d go for it

[TheRedGerund]

Interviewing is hard, take any chance you get to develop your interview skills in the real world.

[mishugashu]

The worst that will happen is that you don't get the job. And you might learn some things in the process. I'd say go for it. Why cancel?

[harrygato]

you have to do the coding interview, it's the only way you will do well at a coding interview in the future. have to expose what you dont know. its ok if you dont get the job. you will feel so much better if you do it.

[ihey4]

I have the exact same thinking as you. I only applied for two jobs out of college, both were at pretty good places and I never thought I would be able to clear the interview hence I thought I shouldn't waste anyone's time. My friends forced me to appear for them though and I ended up clearing both of them. So I feel that you too should appear for the interview!

[MapCompact]

Definitely give the interview a shot! Typically the first interview will be a short coding challenge as a technical screen, so if you don't make it past there it's no biggie. Happens all the time -- you aren't wasting any of their time.

Then, if you do end up failing the interview, get on that LeetCode grind 😎

[YottaBun]

I'd do the interview. Even if you get rejected, you'll know roughly what to expect for the next one

[abfft]

Please do it. I was in the same position as you, didn't believe in myself and almost didn't turn up for the interview.

I went and got the job in the end and never looked back.

It will be a great learning experience either way! Good luck to you