Programming language for interviews

The most popular languages in top large tech companies:

• Software Engineer / Backend Software Engineer / Full-Stack Software Engineer: Python, C++, Java, or JavaScript.

• Frontend Software Engineer: JavaScript

• iOS software engineer: Swift, Objective-C. Google will ask to choose a language like Python, C++, Java, or JavaScript.

Please note if you are applying to top tech startups Ruby works well too.

While some companies and interviewers will be ok interviewing you in a language outside of that list we highly recommend learning one of these languages because:

• You will be able to apply to a wide range of companies and roles.

• Knowledge of more than one programming language is a good sign while knowing only one language or only older languages is a bad sign.

In addition to the most common language functions we recommend learning about:

• An "idiomatic" way - leveraging useful language idioms that other languages don't have (e.g. list comprehensions in Python).

• Object-oriented syntax (e.g. inheritance).

• Lower-level implementation of data structures and algorithms to make sure your code is efficient.

  • In C++ you need to know how to use pointers efficiently.

Last updated: 2020-06-01.