15th November was my first technical interview ever. I still remember feeling nervous but excited.
I applied for the Full Stack Developer role, and the interview started straight with technical questions:
React & Frontend Deep Dive
The interviewer fired rapid questions:
- What is a React bundler? – I couldn't answer this one.
- What is DOM? – Explained.
- What is Virtual DOM? – Explained.
- What is
getElementById('root')? – Explained. - Do you use Redux? – No.
- What is Context API? – Explained well.
I was also asked about helmet in frontend and backend – this caught me off guard, but I explained it as a security middleware for setting HTTP headers.
Next.js Rendering Concepts
Then they asked about Next.js:
"Explain SSR and CSR" – I explained the difference between server-side rendering and client-side rendering, covering how SSR improves SEO and initial load time while CSR provides better interactivity after the first load.
Hands-On Practical Task
Then they gave me a laptop and asked me to initialize a React project and create folders the way I usually do.
I created the structure and explained everything confidently – showing my project organization approach with separate folders for components, pages, utils, and services.
Backend & System Architecture
After that, more backend and system questions came:
Backend topics covered:
- Aggregation Pipeline – Explained how I use MongoDB aggregation for complex queries.
- How I used Redis – Explained
cachingand performance optimization strategies. - How I used WebSocket – Explained real-time communication implementation.
- DevOps knowledge (AWS, Docker, etc.) – Shared my current level honestly.
The Valuable Feedback
Before leaving, I asked for feedback since it was my first interview.
"Answer more specifically. Don't explain unnecessary things."
That simple sentence hit differently. They were telling me to be precise and focused in my answers – don't over-explain or add unnecessary context.
Key Lessons Learned
What this interview taught me:
- ✅ Be specific – Answer the exact question asked
- ✅ Don't over-explain – Keep it concise and relevant
- ✅ Know your gaps – Be honest about what you don't know
- ✅ Stay confident – Even in practical tasks under pressure
- ✅ Ask for feedback – It's the best way to improve
Final Thoughts
Overall, it was a great learning experience. I understood where I'm strong, where I need to improve, and how to give clear, targeted answers in technical interviews.
A memorable first step in my journey. 🚀
First interviews are not about perfection – they're about learning, growth, and understanding what the industry expects from you.
