# How to prepare for a technical interview

> A technical interview tests how you think and explain, not encyclopaedic knowledge. Here is a plan for a few evenings of preparation.

Source: https://autoapply.edinstvenij.cc/en/blog/interview-prep · Updated: 2026-10-29

## Interview stages in IT

- **Recruiter screening**: experience, expectations, English. See [how to pass a screening](https://autoapply.edinstvenij.cc/en/blog/recruiter-screening).
- **Technical interview**: questions on your stack, a walk through your experience, sometimes live coding.
- **Take-home task**: not everywhere; agree on the scope before you start.
- **Final talk** with a manager or the team: values, work, conditions.

## What to review

- The fundamentals of your language and framework: how things work under the hood at your level.
- Databases: indexes, transactions, typical queries.
- Architecture for middles and seniors: how you would design a service you know.
- Your own projects: you must explain every line of your CV with confidence.

## How to talk about projects

Use a simple pattern: what the task was → what you did yourself → what the result was → what you would do differently. Interviewers like the last one: it shows you learn from experience.

## Practising with AI

The best preparation is a mock interview out loud. AutoApply has a free "AI interview" tool: it builds a prompt with your stack, level, CV and the job text. Paste it into ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini, and the AI asks questions one at a time and reviews your answers at the end.

## After the interview

Write down the questions you struggled with and work through them the same day. After a few interviews you will see what to review first.

## FAQ

### Is it fine to say "I do not know"?

Yes, if you then reason out loud about how you would find the answer. Making things up is worse.

### How long should I prepare?

A few evenings are usually enough if you work with the stack every day. After a break, longer.

## Read next

- [How to pass a recruiter screening](https://autoapply.edinstvenij.cc/en/blog/recruiter-screening.md): What an IT recruiter asks on the first call, how to answer about salary, English and why you are looking, and how to prepare in 15 minutes.
- [How many applications it takes to get an IT job](https://autoapply.edinstvenij.cc/en/blog/how-many-applications.md): How many applications to send a day, how to measure your job search funnel and what to do when nobody replies. A practical approach without myths.
- [Jobs for a Java developer: search and automatic applications](https://autoapply.edinstvenij.cc/en/roles/java.md): How to find a job as a Java developer in Ukraine: what employers ask for, which filters to set, a sample cover letter and automatic applications on Djinni and DOU.

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