The technical interview is one of the most stressful parts of the hiring process. When you head in for a technical interview, what you have to say about your skills isn’t enough. Instead, you’ll need to prove your technical prowess and capability. While no one expects you to know everything, you certainly need to prove that you know what you’re doing in your field and for the position you’re applying to. Want to be sure that you’re fully prepared for the tech interview? Try these key tips.

1. Get an Idea of What to Expect

During a technical interview, it’s time to show what you can do. Depending on your industry and the expectations for your specific job, you may see different types of challenges in the tech interview.

• Take a look at the full list of expectations for the job. You may be expected to prove that you can perform any of those tasks up to the standards of the interviewer.
• Look at specific technical challenges that have been used by other hiring professionals in your field.
• Ask the recruiter you’re working with exactly what skills you’ll be expected to show for the job.

Keep in mind that technical interviews often come in several different stages. You may have a phone interview when you’ll be asked specific, real-life questions including scenarios that you’ll need to face on a regular basis. You may also be given a hands-on chance to show off your skills.

2. Brush Up on Your Skills

If there are any technical skills you’ll use for the job that you haven’t had the chance to use in a while, refresh those skills. Here are some ways to brush up on your skills:

• Look for online tutorials that will allow you to use those skills.
• Connect with friends in the industry and ask them to send you technical challenges.
• Check out blogs and websites about your industry to determine whether there are any new concepts or updates that you might need to learn to stay on top of evolving skills.

In some cases, you may perform your technical interview in the office while a recruiter or interviewer watches you take on the challenge. Other times, you may be able to take that technical challenge home with you and submit your solution within a specific time frame. Make sure you have a solid understanding of how your specific company will conduct the interview, since this may impact the skills you want to brush off.

3. Use the Right Soft Skills

As you approach the tech interview, keep in mind that it’s not just about showing off your technical skills. You also want to make sure that you’re displaying the soft skills the interviewer most wants. Make sure that you:

• Incorporate collaborative problem-solving techniques.
• Think creatively.
• Share your reasoning as you take specific approaches. In some cases, even if your efforts aren’t successful, you may still impress the interviewer with how you tried to solve the challenge.

4. Be Prepared

As you go in for your technical interview, don’t forget the details! Make sure that you’re ready for this important event just like any interview.

• Dress professionally.
• Bring in your best samples. If your interviewer wants coding samples, take the time to go through your work and find the best examples of what you can do.
• Be prepared to read the instructions carefully. Sometimes, attention to detail is the difference that makes you stand out from the crowd.

Being prepared for a technical interview is an important part of starting many technical positions. With these tips, however, you’ll be ready to rock that tech interview and impress your potential employer.