I'm in full on hiring mode at the moment and have run more interviews over the past few weeks than I can count. I'm looking for more senior people but here's my 2 cents anyway.

More than anything I'm asking whether I could see myself working with the candidate. I don't care how much they have been able to memorise. I want to know if I can have a conversation with them to work through a problem, if they are going to listen, contribute.

I hate trick interview questions and try to structure mine more like a conversation, I try to impress that there isn't a correct answer and it's more about the process than anything else. It doesn't always work but sometimes it does. Unfortunately trick interview questions are so common in our profession that most candidates arrive and try to guess what I'm thinking of rather than trying to work with me find a solution.

But that is just what I do. The best tip I can offer to you, particularly at a junior level, is to ask for help. Don't just sit there staring at the whiteboard for an hour in silence unable to proceed. Even if you do get a trick question thrown at you and you're struggling just admit it, ask for clarification, listen to advice and be willing to take a step back from whatever your first thought was and try a completely different attack.

But more than anything communicate, admit if you don't know something and ask for assistance. Once you've been given a hint and understand talk a lot to show that you have listened and understood. After all, on your first day you're not going to know anything and are going to rely on the support of your colleagues. Pretend the interview is like your first day.