Tech Interviews with Sorting Algorithms Workshop

Presentation: https://codebar-shanghai.github.io/Tech_Interviews_Sorting_Algorithms/
Repo: https://github.com/codebar-shanghai/intro-websecurity-workshop.git

Welcome everyone to the Tech Interviews with Sorting Algorithms Workshop. I’m Lauren Collins, and I’ll be guiding you through today's session. This workshop is designed to help you gain a deeper understanding of how sorting algorithms play a crucial role in technical interviews and to prepare you for real-world coding challenges. Throughout this session, we’ll explore different sorting techniques and practice implementing them. In addition, we’ll also be introduced to techniques for practicing soft skills, such as communication and problem-solving, which are highly valued by employers.

About Me

Aspiring Full Stack Developer
Focused on web technologies
Passionate about empowering women in tech
B.S. Degree in Teaching and Learning
Work Experience in Middle School Education (Age 11 - 13)
Fun fact: My 4-year-old daughter is the youngest CodeBar member!

Overview

Introduction (5 min)
Tech Interviews Presentation (30 min)
Intro to Workshop (40 min)
Q&A (15 min)
Break (10 min)
Workshop with Q&A (75 min)
Closing Remarks (5 min)

Takeaways

Learn how to prepare for tech interviews at various levels
Gain experience with Bubble, Merge, or RSA algorithms during the workshop

The Problem with Interviews

Interviews can be unpredictable. This workshop aims to demystify the tech interview process.

Expectations Based on Level

I interviewed hiring managers about what they look for in candidates:

All Levels: Publicly showcase your work.
Junior: Highlight soft skills.
Mid-Level: Demonstrate growth and adaptability.
Senior: Show deep knowledge and thought leadership.

Interview Insights

Eddie

Use standard language libraries in interviews.
Start with a docstring to define inputs and outputs before coding.
Follow a "top-down" programming approach.
Develop fluency in idiomatic programming (e.g., by following Python’s design principles and style; refer to bubble sort and merge sort exercises).
Solve problems first, then use AI to refine and learn.

Interview Insights

Anonymous

Deep understanding of work processes.
Strong problem-solving skills.
Self-learning and independence.
Knowledge of real-time programming and concurrency.

Interview Insights

Prof. Nath at the University of Colorado Boulder

Focus on adaptability over what you've learned.
Strong fundamentals and problem-solving are key.
Be honest if you don't know something.
In academia, pedagogy and teaching skills matter.

Interview Insights

David

Strong communication skills.
Experience with success and failure.
Commitment to self-learning.
Alignment with current coding practices.
Deep understanding of key language features.
Deliver projects publicly—learn in public.
A degree is not required.

David emphasized that communication skills are just as important as technical ability in interviews. Candidates should clearly explain their thought process and decisions. He highlighted the value of experiencing both success and failure, as resilience and learning from mistakes are key traits employers seek. Self-learning is essential in the fast-changing tech world, and staying current with coding practices is crucial. David also recommends "learning in public" by sharing projects on platforms like GitHub, as it showcases initiative and real skills. Lastly, he noted that a degree isn't necessary—practical skills and a strong portfolio often matter more.

Learn in Public Using Blogs

Kedasha Kerr: From Social Worker to Software Engineer at Microsoft: itsthatlady.dev
Dan Abramov: Creator of Redux, shares insights on React and JavaScript: overreacted.io
Lauren Collins: Markdown files documenting learning on GitHub Pages: laurencollins.dev

Best Places to Find a Job

Coding communities
User groups (Tech, Agile, etc.)
Conferences
Open source projects

What Does "Computer Science Knowledge" Mean?

Do I need a computer science degree? No!

University of Colorado advisor highlighted these courses as key to landing a job in the tech industry.

Intro to Programming
Algorithms
Data Structures
Data or Information Visualization
Software Development Methodologies

Pair Programming

Driver: Writes the code
Navigator: Guides the driver
Switch roles every 20-30 minutes
Discuss and explain your thought process
Use feedback to improve

A common interview technique, especially for junior developers. It assesses collaboration and problem-solving in real-time.

You are encouraged to pair code during the workshop while completing the activities today.

Pair Programming

Driver: Writes the code
Navigator: Guides the driver
Switch roles every 20-30 minutes
Discuss and explain your thought process
Use feedback to improve

A common interview technique, especially for junior developers. It assesses collaboration and problem-solving in real-time.

Study Tips Using AI

Do NOT: copy and paste code you should understand (Ex: algorithms & data structures)
Do: Use AI to quiz yourself on topics.
Do: Create a study plan with AI (e.g., "Learn Python in 5 hours").
Do: Understand the topics deeply to discuss them confidently in an interview.
Do: Spend a block of your time using active recall to write and rewrite code from memory generated by AI.
Ask AI: "What do I need to memorize, and what do I need to know well about X, Y, Z?" to help you study effectively.
Tell AI to organize the information into a table or create Cornell notes for you to study from.
Then ask AI: "Quiz me on X, Y, Z."

History of Top-Down Programming and Interviews

Inventor:Harlan Mills and Niklaus Wirth
Year: 1970
Relevance: Top-down programming helps interviewers assess structured thinking by breaking complex problems into smaller parts.

Top-Down Programming

Start with the Big Picture: Define the overall problem or goal.
Break Down Into Smaller Sub-Problems: Divide the task into smaller, more manageable parts.
Work on High-Level Functions First: Create the main function that outlines the solution.
Develop Sub-Functions: Implement helper functions to support the main function.
Refine Each Function: Focus on implementing the details of each function.
Test Each Part and the Whole: Ensure all components work together seamlessly.

Q&A

Feel free to ask any questions!

Activity Options

Choose one of the following activities. To get started, break into small groups of two or more:

Activity 1: Learn Bubble Sort – New coders working alone
Activity 2: Learn Merge Sort – Hobby coders working alone
Activity 3: Learn RSA – Professional developers

Setup GitHub CodeSpace

https://github.com/codebar-shanghai/Tech_Interviews_Sorting_Algorithms_activities.git

Work in groups of 2 or more
Fork the Repository
Open the Forked Repository in CodeSpace:

Break (10 min)

Feel free to get up, take a break

Fun Facts:

The technologies used to build this presentation are...

Prettier Formatter to make code easy to read
Reveal.js for presentation slides
ChatGPT & HuggingFace.co/chat to speed up workflow
Graphviz for diagramming in Python

Workshop (85 min)

In pairs, choose and code an algorithm such as Merge Sort or the RSA Algorithm.

Apply what you've learned from Pair Programming, and top-down programming. Focus on clear communication and collaboration as you work through the coding tasks together.

Other Resources

Identify your technical skill level: https://github.com/Semalab/developer-skills-matrix.git
Algorithms Visualization: https://visualgo.net/en/sorting
Geek for Geeks - Algorithm & Data Structures Study Tool: https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/

Thank You!

Special thanks to our sponsors, everyone who contributed, and all participants!