The document provides tips for whiteboard interview practice, emphasizing that interviews should be conversational rather than adversarial. It outlines the evaluation criteria, the proper approach during coding exercises, and common mistakes to avoid. The agenda includes hands-on exercises, group discussions, and feedback to improve interview skills.

1. WHITEBOARD:
Interview Practice
Jovena Whatmoor

2. WHITEBOARD TIPS
• It’s a conversation, not a test
• Listen
• Ask questions
• It’s okay to ask for a 2-min pause to think
• Manage your time, practice for speed
• Leave space on the board for adjustments or notes
• Talk through the whole exercise
• Sometimes there’s more than one “right answer” - talk
through different approaches
• It’s more than getting to the right answer

3. WHAT THEY’RE EVALUATING
1. Problem solving skills
2. Communication skills
3. Ability to articulate questions
4. Willingness to take in feedback
5. If you understand your limitations
6. Depth of technical understanding

4. WHITEBOARD APROACH
1. Repeat the question, write it down
2. Ask clarifying questions
3. Sketch out high-level approach
4. Begin writing the coding solution, talking it
through – This is a conversation!
5. Ask for feedback
6. Run tests, including edge cases
7. Make adjustments if tests fail
8. Optimize

5. HOW TO FAIL
• Faking it, instead of asking questions / coming
across like you think you know more than you do
• Refusing to take input or not asking clarifying
questions when prompted
• Go straight to the answer skipping the problem
solving and explanation steps
• Quietly working without explaining
• Trying to get it perfect in your head before writing on
the board
• No testing, no thinking of edge cases, no optimizing

6. AGENDA TONIGHT
• Choose an exercise
• We’ll group you
• Take turns sketching solutions (swapping
roles of interviewer, candidate, evaluator)
• Expectations: Interview skills not JS skills
• We’ll come through to check-in and regroup
people as needed
• Wrap-up group discussion – what did you
learn

7. THANKS FOR COMING
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@clutchtalent
www. clutchtalent.com
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