# How do Software Engineering Candidates Prepare for Technical Interviews?

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.02068 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2507.02068/

## Key facts

- Cited by 2 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 2 Jul 2025.

## Built on by (most cited first, 2 of 2)

- [Designing Conversational AI to Support Think-Aloud Practice in Technical Interview Preparation for CS Students](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2507.14418/) (2025)
- [Cognitive Skills in the Age of AI: Computing Students and Experts Perceptions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2609.31272/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

To obtain employment, aspiring software engineers must complete technical interviews -- a hiring process which involves candidates writing code while communicating to an audience. However, the complexities of tech interviews are difficult to prepare for and seldom faced in computing curricula. To this end, we seek to understand how candidates prepare for technical interviews, investigating the effects of preparation methods and the role of education. We distributed a survey to candidates (n = 131) actively preparing for technical interviews. Our results suggest candidates rarely train in authentic settings and courses fail to support preparation efforts -- leading to stress and unpreparedness. Based on our findings, we provide implications for stakeholders to enhance tech interview preparation for candidates pursuing software engineering roles.