Purpose of the Interview

App Academy’s programs are intense and require self-motivation, collaboration through pair programming, and resilience. The goal of this interview is to gauge whether you are a good fit for App Academy – and whether we are a good fit for you!

How the Interview Works

You’ll receive an email with a link to SparkHire, a self-service video interview platform. The subject line of the email will be “Interview for App Academy.” On SparkHire, you’ll complete a one-way interview in which you’ll be presented with a set of interview questions. Responses will vary in length between 2 to 3 minutes for a total of about 30 minutes. There will be 30 seconds of “think time” for you to gather your thoughts, before you will be prompted to start recording your response. You will also have the option to do a practice video once you are in the SparkHire platform, which will help you get acquainted with the format and interface.

Important: You will have 7 days from the time you reach this stage of the process to complete the non-technical interview. The exact deadline will be specified in your SparkHire invitation email.

To complete the interview, you will need the following:

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

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:

• Professionalism – App Academy prepares its students for the job search, so we need to see how you can carry yourself professionally.
• English language proficiency – The program will be taught in English. 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 of a software engineer is like. App Academy focuses on web development. The following ARE NOT considered software engineering and are NOT taught at App Academy: game development, IT, cyber security, VR development, mobile development, and Blockchain.
• 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 – One of our core values is creating a positive, inclusive environment for all students. Learn more:
  • Diversity in tech: Closing the gap in the modern industry
  • To Build Less-Biased AI, Hire a More-Diverse Team
  • Biased by Design
• Persistence in the job search – After graduating, students often spend months applying and interviewing. You’ll need to stay positive and driven throughout the process.

Interview Tips

Do:

• Practice a 2–3 minute personal pitch: your background, career history, why software engineering, why App Academy.
• Understand why software engineering aligns with your long-term goals.
• Be specific about why App Academy stands out to you. Explore our blog and YouTube channel.
• Practice sample questions: record yourself or use tools like Google Interview Warmup.
• Smile, sit up straight, and make eye contact.
• Present yourself professionally.
• Focus on the positive.
• Reframe challenges as growth opportunities.

Don’t:

• Be vague about your interest in coding or App Academy.
• Ramble, mumble, slouch, or avoid eye contact.
• Give generic answers.
• Take the interview in a noisy, dark, or unprofessional environment.
• Speak negatively about yourself or others.
• Eat, vape, smoke, or curse.
• Boast about being better than others.
• Read off a script.

Top Five Reasons Candidates Are Rejected or Asked to Re-Interview

• No clear motivation for pursuing software engineering beyond salary or flexibility.
• Misalignment between goals and what App Academy offers.
• Lack of preparation for the interview.
• Generic responses with little connection to personal experience.
• No demonstration that recent experiences have prepared them for the program.

Example Questions

We don’t provide exact questions ahead of time, but here are some examples of what to expect:

• What is your background and what are your career goals?
• Why do you want to become a software engineer (besides salary/flexibility)?
• What does a software engineer do?
• What have you done to explore coding?
• Why is App Academy the right fit for you?
• How have you worked through challenges in team settings?
• What personal obstacles have you overcome?
• What life experiences have prepared you for App Academy?
• How do you stay motivated and organized?

Interview Checklist

On the day of your interview:

• Dress business casual to show professionalism.
• Use a computer (not a phone). Phone use may require a re-interview.
• Ensure your webcam works and your internet is stable.
• Place your camera at eye level (use a stand or books if needed).
• Test your mic for clear audio.
• Clean up your background and ensure good lighting.
• Take a deep breath and smile. We’re excited to meet you!

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