Ace Your Communication Skills for Technical Interviews: 7 Steps

“I thought that since I had advanced knowledge of ML, cracking interviews shouldn’t be a problem for me but this was not the case. I realised that I put enormous efforts into projects but was not able to explain it properly to the recruiter.”

– Amit, Data Scientist at a Big 4

You might relate to this issue if you’re from a tech background or have interviewed for a tech role.

We’ve all heard how soft skills are essential to crack HR interviews.

But what about tech interviews?

Do you need excellent communication skills, or is having technical info in your domain enough?

Well, no matter how talented you are at what you do, how will you be assessed if you cannot convey it to the right people?

So, what are you supposed to do?

Here, we’re briefly touching on the importance of communication skills in interviews, how it affects the technical field, and 7 foolproof tips on communicating effectively to ace those tech interviews.

🗣️ Importance of Communication Skills in Interviews 

Effective communication skills are crucial in interviews.

They play a vital role in making a positive impression on employers. 

Research shows that 93% of communication is nonverbal, while only 7% happens through spoken words. (Mehrabian, 1971)

Do you see how vital non-verbal cues are?

⭐It’s not the speech itself that matters but the articulation in your speech.

It’s how you articulate those non-verbal cues to form logical responses.

Articulation shows confidence, competence, and the ability to convey ideas effectively. 

This skill helps you listen actively and convey your thoughts concisely, increasing the likelihood of securing a job offer.

▶️“Effective communication is 20% what you know and 80% how you feel about what you know.” – Jim Rohn

Because how you feel is what you will communicate.

So, practise articulation, folks!

💻 What is a Technical Interview?

A technical interview is like a puzzle-solving session where the interviewer checks your skills and knowledge related to a specific job. 

👉 Imagine you're applying for a software developer position. 

In this type of interview, you may be asked to write code on a whiteboard or solve programming problems on a computer.

For example, the interviewer might give you a coding challenge and ask you to write a program that counts the number of words in a sentence. You must demonstrate your programming abilities, like writing clean and efficient code.

👉 If you're going for a network engineer role, they may ask you to explain how you would troubleshoot a network issue or configure a router. 

You must showcase your understanding of networking concepts and problem-solving skills.

👉 Or, for a data analyst position, you might be given a data set and asked to analyse it, find patterns, or create visualisations using tools like Excel or Python.

A technical interview aims to assess your practical skills and how you approach and solve problems related to the job you're applying for.

❌ A Common Misconception About Technical Interviews and Communication Skills

Remember, how Amit mentioned he couldn’t effectively explain his skill and knowledge while interviewing, above?

This is because tech professionals—yes, even highly talented ones—often assume that hard skills are superior to soft skills.

Which, well, they are. 

But during interviews, merely knowing the answers to questions isn’t enough. 

You have to explain those answers to the interviewer.

And explain in a way that showcases your point of view, your reasoning abilities.

This is what decides the final result of your interview.

So, think again next time you think soft skills aren’t as necessary!

✒️7 Steps to Ace Your Communication Skills For Technical Interviews

Use these 7 effective steps to communicate the right way in technical interviews.

⚡ Understand the problem correctly—ask clarifying questions

⭐“The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said.” – Peter Drucker

This is only possible through active listening. 

Strong listening skills help you recognise the inconsistencies in a problem statement and ask relevant questions.

And asking the right questions helps you frame a well-rounded solution. It reduces the possibility of you arriving at inconsistent answers.

🗣️ Think out loud—share your thought process 

When the interviewer phrases a problem, think out loud while coming up with a solution. 

Think of it as a conversation with the interviewer rather than a test.

This helps the interviewer understand your reasoning skills and technical knowledge—a huge success factor in an interview.

Plus, it also helps you course correct if you lose track of the solution. 

🧠 Discuss the rationale for your choices

⭐The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place. – George Bernard Shaw

Simply framing an answer to a problem isn’t sufficient.

Telling the interviewer how you came to a conclusion can help them gain a deep understanding of your skills.

This is what helps you crack that interview!

✅ Be highly receptive to feedback

Often, when solving a technical problem, the interviewer might try to nudge you toward the solution they require. 

Being receptive to feedback will help you course correct and navigate through the variables to arrive at the right answer.

It also shows the interviewer how open you are to new ideas and teamwork.

🌟 The STAR Interview Method

The STAR response framework always helps you answer interview questions effectively. 

👉It stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result.

Here’s an example: 

Let's say a data science interviewee is asked, "Tell me about a time when you had to solve a complex problem using data analysis skills."

Response using the STAR framework:

🎯Situation: In my previous role at X Company, we faced a significant decline in customer satisfaction. 

It was challenging because we had a large dataset with various factors influencing customer experience. 

🎯Task: My task was to identify the key drivers of dissatisfaction and propose actionable solutions. 

🎯Action: To tackle this, I conducted extensive data analysis, including exploratory data analysis, regression modelling, and text mining. 

I collaborated with cross-functional teams to implement the recommended changes. 

🎯Result: We successfully identified the primary issues and implemented targeted strategies, leading to a 20% increase in customer satisfaction scores within six months."

See how you effectively provide context, describe your tasks, explain the actions you took, and highlight the positive results.

There’s so much more to an answer than simply replying with the most direct option!

🔨 A thorough brush-up on skills

It’s cliche advice, but it’s true!

⭐Practising your skills helps you feel more confident and prepared, which shows in how you communicate.

For example, let's say you're interviewing for a software engineering role. By refreshing your knowledge of data structures and algorithms and solving coding challenges on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank, you'll be better equipped to tackle similar problems during the interview. 

Practice makes perfect, so don't skip this important step!

Want a thorough review of your skills from a MAANG professional to help you ace those interviews?

You can try a free trial here.

💪 Practice interviews 

Mock interviews are like practice rounds for real technical interviews. 

They help you get comfortable and confident in answering tricky questions. 

Simulating the interview experience helps you identify and work on your weak spots. 

✨Getting feedback from a professional mentor is also a great way to improve. 

So, when the real deal comes, you'll be well-prepared and ready to show off your skills!

✒️ Signing Off 

I hope this mini guide helps you understand how to apply clear communication skills to navigate your tech interviews.

If you want to go the extra mile and develop a fail-proof strategy to help you get into Tier 1 tech roles, you can talk to a mentor right here.

They’re all top professionals who have tried and tested interview strategies so you do not waste your time, energy, and resources.

Meanwhile, happy practising!