Purpose of the interview

App Academy Flex was designed to provide you with a fully online, asynchronous learning experience. It is an intense program that relies heavily on self-motivation and resilience. Not every student thrives in this kind of environment. The goal of this interview is to gauge whether you are a good fit for the program - and whether it is a good fit for you!

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How the interview works

Your Admissions Specialist will provide you with the link to schedule your interview through YouCanBook.Me (a scheduling platform). When you book your interview, you will receive a Zoom link for your interview via email.

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On the day of your interview, a couple minutes before its start time, your interviewer will email you this same Zoom link so you can join them for your interview.

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The interview will be approximately 30 minutes long. To complete the interview, you will need the following:

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• Computer (you cannot take the interview on your phone)
• Steady internet connection
• Zoom account
• Microphone
• Webcam

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Once you join the interview, the interviewer will introduce themselves and then ask you questions. Afterwards, you will get a chance to ask the interviewer any questions you might have.

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Our interviewers are recent App Academy graduates, who are working part-time during their job search. Your interviewer is a great person to ask about the App Academy experience!

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What we're looking for

App Academy has a Selections team that reviews applicants and their interviews in order to determine their readiness for the bootcamp. Your entire application will be reviewed, and you will be assessed on a number of criteria:

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• Professionalism - We are preparing you for the working world, so we need to see you can carry yourself professionally.
• English language proficiency - Your instructors will teach in English and your peers will speak English during the course. You will need professional working English language proficiency to be successful.
• Passion for coding - This is a stressful bootcamp, and a passion for coding will greatly improve your ability to handle the intensity of our bootcamp.
• Understanding of software engineering - Learn what a day in the life a software engineer is like! Software engineers are professionals who design and create computer programs and applications. They work closely with system programmers, analysts, and other engineers to develop operating systems and programs that meet user needs and project requirements. They use mathematical models and scientific analysis to determine performance interfaces and project outcomes. Strong demand for skilled software engineers means that they can pursue many employment options in various industries. App Academy focuses on web development: websites and web applications. Though students can use the skills they learn at App Academy to pursue these specialties after they land a Software Engineering position, the following are NOT considered software engineering and are NOT taught at App Academy: game development, AI development, IT, cyber security, VR development, mobile development and blockchain.‍
• Enthusiasm and positive energy - We want to hear about why you are excited about coding, potentially attending App Academy, and becoming a software engineer. We also want to see that you can speak positively about yourself and your experiences, as these are qualities that employers are looking for.‍
• Resiliency and work ethic - Time management, stress management, and a strong drive are necessary to thrive in the program.‍
• Ability to work well on a team - Approximately half of your day will be spent pair-programming, so you will need to be able to work well with your partners to succeed.‍
• Openness to diversity - App Academy students come from a diverse set of backgrounds. One of our core values is creating a positive, inclusive environment for all students, particularly those from backgrounds historically underrepresented in the tech field. We expect all students to treat each other with empathy and respect. Learn more about diversity, inclusion, and bias in the tech sector: Diversity in tech: Closing the gap in the modern industry, To Build Less-Biased AI, Hire a More-Diverse Team and Biased by Design: Exclusion hurts tech companies more than they know.‍
• Persistence in the job search - This is not a “get rich quick” scheme: we are not going to hand you a job after graduation. We are looking for students who are self-motivated, who maintain a positive attitude and keep pushing towards their goal of becoming a software engineer despite setbacks. Your career coach and the App Academy Placement team will help you level up your job search skills, but your job search is ultimately in your hands.

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How to prepare

• Download and test out video chat on Zoom.
• Practice a 2-3 minute personal pitch that addresses: your education background, your career history, why you are interested in software engineering and why you want to attend App Academy.
• Research software engineering to ensure the profession is a good fit for your career goals.
• Practice the example interview questions: record yourself, practice in front of a mirror, or practice with a friend.
• Look through the FAQs and list out any further questions you may have about the App Academy experience. You can ask your interviewer when the time comes.

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Interview tips

Do:

• Practice your personal pitch.
• Breathe, smile, sit up straight, and make eye contact.
• Be mindful of filler words (um, like, so, and). It’s ok to take pauses as you formulate your thoughts.
• Be mindful of what’s in the view of your background and present yourself the way you would in a professional interview setting.
• Focus on the positive.
• Reframe setbacks in your life as opportunities for growth.

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Don't:

• Leave the interviewer confused about why you are interested in App Academy and software engineering.
• Ramble or go on long tangents, mumble, slouch, avoid eye contact.
• Give vague, generic answers that don’t speak to your specific experiences.
• Take the interview in a dark room, your car, a cafe, or a chaotic environment.
• Talk negatively about yourself or others.
• Eat, vape, smoke, curse, or do anything you wouldn’t do in a professional interview setting.
• Frame your success in terms of being better than others.
• Read off a script.

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Example questions

We do not provide the exact interview questions ahead of time so that you can provide more organic, rather than memorized, responses. However, here are examples of the types of questions we will ask:

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• What is your background and what are your career goals?
• Besides the potential salary and flexibility, why do you want to become a software engineer?
• What does a software engineer do?
• Why do you think a career in software engineering is for you as opposed to your current career?
• What have you done to explore coding?
• Why is App Academy the right fit for you?
• How have you overcome issues when working on a team?
• What obstacles have you overcome in your life?
• What experiences in your life have prepared you for App Academy?
• How do you bounce back from obstacles and rejections?
• What is an example that demonstrates your drive to succeed?
• How do you keep yourself motivated and organized?
• How do you think we can ensure that App Academy is an inclusive environment for students of all backgrounds?‍

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Top Six Reasons Candidates are Rejected or Required to Complete a Second Non-Tech Interview

• They do not provide a clear reason for pursuing software engineering beyond the pay and the ability to work remotely, or they do not demonstrate a basic understanding of what a software engineer does.
• There is a misalignment between the candidate's goals and what App Academy offers. For example, App Academy does not prepare students to become video game designers.
• They attempt to wing the interview instead of preparing.
• Their responses are generic and do not speak to their specific experiences, or they do not provide enough information about their educational and/or professional background.
• They do not show how their recent education and/or professional experiences have prepared them for the rigors of App Academy.
• They have not reflected on how App Academy or they themselves can ensure that the program is a positive environment for all students, particularly for students from underrepresented communities.

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Interview Checklist

On the day of your interview:

• Make sure that your webcam is functional and your internet connection is steady.
• Remember that you must take your interview on a computer, not on your phone. Barring emergency circumstances, you will be asked to re-interview if you take your interview on your phone.
• Consider wearing professional clothing during the interview. This is not required, but it gives a strong first-impression that you are taking the interview seriously.
• Test out your mic to ensure that your sound is clear.
• Check that the background of your video looks clean and that your face is well-lit in the frame.
• Place your camera at eye level. This may require setting your laptop or monitor on a box or a stack of books to elevate it.
• Take a deep breath and remember to smile. We are excited to get to know you better.

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We wish you the best of luck in completing the non-technical interview - you've got this!