Tech interviews can be tricky — and even the smallest mistakes can cost you the job. Based on real insights from our recruiters, this article breaks down seven common pitfalls candidates face and how to avoid them, so you can walk into your next interview prepared and confident.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in [March, 2021] and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.

WHAT YOU’LL FIND IN THIS ARTICLE:

• 7 Mistakes to Avoid on Your Next Tech Job Interview – Learn how small details, like a messy background or poor camera setup, can hurt your chances. Avoid common mistakes like vague answers, lack of research, and forgetting to ask questions.

• The Interview Is Over – What Now? – The follow-up matters. A thank-you note, self-reflection, and keeping your job search active can make all the difference.

• Final Thoughts – Great interviews aren’t just about skills. How you present yourself, your attitude, and your curiosity can set you apart.

You are a developer looking for a new professional challenge. You’ve heard about KWAN before (and how well people are treated here!) so you decided to fill in the recruitment form, and now you’re expecting one of our recruiters to get in touch with you.

While you’re waiting for our phone call, we would like to share with you some tips to help you prepare for your upcoming tech job interview. These 7 points were carefully selected after hearing from our recruiters – so these are real stories – based on years of experience recruiting developers like you.

7 Mistakes to Avoid on Your Next Tech Job Interview

1. Not preparing the space for the interview

You’re going to be interviewed by video call directly from your workspace, in your room. You have about 15 minutes to prepare for it. So you put a nice shirt on, you find the e-mail with the meeting invitation, and… that’s it, right?

Well, KWAN’s recruiters have been doing remote interviews for a while now, so they have a few usefull insights to share about them. Keep reading!

Make sure no one will disturb you

That includes people physically disturbing or phone calls. So, before the interview starts, inform your family or housemates you’ll be busy for the next couple of hours and ask them to avoid making noise.

“It’s very distracting to interview a candidate when there’s someone else in the room cleaning, especially if they’re using a vacuum cleaner. It’s also as bad when the candidate is in the living room, just a few meters from family members who are talking or whatching TV. Besides being hard for the recruiter to keep focused on the interview, it’s not very respectful.” – Rita Santos, KWAN

If you really have to answer a phone call, let the recruiter know beforehand

If you’re expecting an important phone call, and you already know about it at the beginning of the interview, inform the recruiter, and ask if it’s ok to answer your phone if it suddenly starts ringing.

By doing this, the recruiter won’t be taken by surprise and so, they’ll be more keen on waiting while you answer the phone, because they are expecting it.

Make sure your room is tidy

Tidying up what shows up on your background (at least!) is an important part aspect of preparing for your interview. Not making your bed or ignoring your jammies left randomly over the nightstand lamp, passes across the message that you’re disorganized. And if you are disorganized with your bed, who’s to say you’re not with your code as well?

Make sure your camera is in front of you

If you work with two screens and your camera is not placed right in front of you, the recruiter will feel like you’re doing something else while answering their questions. Of course, eye contact is the desirable situation, but if you can’t move your camera to the top of the screen in front of you, then the best you can do is to let the recruiter know about it at the beginning of the interview.

We’ll leave you a bonus hint: Lighting! They don’t say “lights, camera action” in Hollywood for nothing. Light your face up! And avoid having a big window behind you. It’ll make your face disappear into darkness.

2. Not knowing anything about the company you’re applying for

“Hi! Thanks for applying to work with us at KWAN, first I’d like to know what you know about our company”.

“It’s a company that recruits developers”.

The end.

Awkward silence.

If this is the only thing you know about KWAN – or any other company – it shows you didn’t do your homework, as there are so many channels from where you can collect information: our website, Instagram, LinkedIn, Youtube, etc!

You can also hit the streets and ask around. Maybe some of your friends already know our street cred.

No need to know the name of every technology we work with at KWAN. But knowing that KWAN was founded by a developer who was unhappy with the way developers were recruited and wanted to do it right – that will show the recruiter that you care enough about this job interview that you tried to learn something beforehand.

3. Not being able to explain what you do in your current job

“So what do you do in your current job?”

“I’m a developer.”

“But what do you do?”

“I develop. In Java.

You’re not “Bond, James Bond”, so you should elaborate.

What sets you apart from other Java developers?

Here’s a possible answer:

I work under an architecture of microservices. I collaborate on the functional phase of the project, the architecture definition and I also get the requirements directly from the client. With whom I contact regularly. I have experience working with Scrum and CI/CD pipeline. Moreover, I’m the only backend developer on my team. I implement new features and I do evolutive maintenance.

4. Not mentioning you have experience working with databases

A lot of our clients ask for developers with experience working with databases. However, if not asked directly, most candidates don’t mention they have this kind of professional experience.

Having experience with databases shows you’re able to extract and organize information, and so you will be perceived as a more complete professional.

5. Presenting the company you are working for instead of your own experience at the company

“Can you tell me about your experience at the company you’re currently working at?”

“I work for company X, which is an American multinational and it is present in 16 countries. My project is composed of 40 people which allows the company to bring excellent wi-fi connection to remote users…”.

So far this candidate has said nothing about their work.

We already know about the company you work for (we did our homework!). So, at this point, what we really want to know is about you and what YOU do.

6. Talk negatively about your current company

It’s ok to say you don’t identify with some practices of the company you currently work for – but it doesn’t mean you should insult your boss or your colleagues, and complain about everything and anything your company does.

It doesn’t do you any good and it’s awkward for the recruiter.

Plus, if you’re acting like this now, who can guarantee the recruiter you’re not going to do the same, in a few months, about the company you’re now applying for?

7. Not asking any questions

It can be during the interview or in the end. Asking at least one question (ideally 2 or 3) shows you’re interested in the company and in the job vacancy.

You don’t know what to ask? Rita Santos, can give you some ideas.

“Lots of candidates I interview simply give out answers, but don’t ask any questions. And there are so many things you can ask about: how will my day to day be if I get this job? Who will my teammates be? What’s their role? What’s the most important skill valued by this position?” – Rita Santos, KWAN.

What other questions can you ask?

How about asking recruiters how did they come to KWAN? And what’s their favourite part about working here?

Not only you’re showing interest, but also confidence, without harming their impression of you.

The Job Interview Is Over – What Now?

The end of the interview isn’t the end of the process — and how you follow up can make a lasting impression. As soon as the interview is over, take a moment to reflect while everything’s still fresh: what went well, what you’d improve, and anything you forgot to mention.

These notes can help you in a future round or even in a follow-up message. Speaking of which, sending a thank-you note is more than just polite — it shows professionalism and genuine interest. Keep it concise, thank the interviewer for their time, and, if relevant, add a small clarification or detail you didn’t manage to share during the conversation.

Over the following days, stay proactive: prepare for potential next steps, keep your references informed, and, crucially, don’t pause your job search. Even if the interview felt great, it’s wise to maintain momentum and keep exploring your options. Following up thoughtfully isn’t about pressure — it’s about showing you care.

7 Mistakes to Avoid on Your Next Tech Job Interview – Final Thoughts

To succeed in a technical interview, good answers aren’t enough — it’s essential to be mindful of how you present yourself. Prepare your space in advance (check lighting, tidy the background, avoid interruptions), and make sure you understand the company well to show genuine interest and alignment.

During the interview, clearly explain what you actually do, highlighting specific skills (like working with databases), and keep the focus on yourself rather than your previous employers. Maintain a professional attitude, avoid negative comments, and show curiosity by asking smart questions. This way, you’ll maximize your chances of making a strong impression and moving forward in the hiring process.

We hope the large experience of our recruiters can help you improve your performance on your next job interview, and so increase your chances of being hired for that dreamy developer role.

Spoiler alert, you’ll find that job at KWAN! Don’t believe us? There’s only one way to find out.