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Interview preparation roadmap · HR

Recruiting for tech roles: understanding stacks and levels, sourcing engineers and screening well.

Tech rolesSourcingScreening

0 / 17 complete · 10 core · 7 other · 86 subtopics

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  1. 01Interview foundations
  2. 02Recruiting core
  3. 03Working with hiring managers
  4. 04Practice
  5. 05Behavioral & HR
  6. 06Company & final prep
CoreCommonly assessedGood to knowRole-dependentAdvancedFor deeper interviewsOptionalNot needed by everyoneCompletedYour progressYou are hereNext up

  1. 01Interview foundations

    What every interviewer sees first.

    1. 01.1Resume

      CoreBeginner3–5 h

      A one-page resume you can defend line by line.

      What this covers

      • One-page format — Reverse-chronological, clean fonts, no photos or tables that confuse parsers.
      • Project bullets — Action + what you built + a number (users, speed, accuracy).
      • Skills section — Only skills you can answer questions on for two minutes.
      • ATS readability — Export a text-based PDF and check it with a parser.
      • Working links — GitHub, LinkedIn and a live project link that open.
      • Tailoring — Reorder bullets to match the job description.

      What to practise

      • Run your PDF through a parser test
      • Rewrite each bullet as action + result
      • Remove any skill you can't explain for 2 minutes

      Common questions

      • Walk me through your resume.
      • Which project here are you most proud of, and why?
      • Why is this skill on your resume?

      Free resources

      • OpenResume — Free ATS-friendly resume builder and parser test (Free)
      • Jake's Resume (Overleaf) — The LaTeX resume template most SDE freshers use (Free)
      • Resume Worded — Resume and LinkedIn scoring (Free plan)
      • Jobscan — Match your resume against a job description (Free plan)

      Free courses

    2. 01.2Tell me about yourself

      CoreBeginner1–2 h

      A 60–90 second answer: present, past, why this role.

      What this covers

      • Present — Who you are now: degree, year, focus.
      • Past — One or two proof points: a project, internship or result.
      • Future — Why this role and this company next.
      • Length — 60–90 seconds; stop before you list everything.
      • Delivery — Calm pace and eye contact, not a memorised script.

      What to practise

      • Write it, then say it out loud 5 times
      • Record yourself and cut anything over 90 seconds

      Common questions

      • Tell me about yourself.
      • Why should we hire you?
      • Where do you see yourself in a few years?

      Free resources

      Free courses

    3. 01.3LinkedIn & online presence

      Good to knowBeginner2 h

      A profile that matches your resume and shows your work.

      What this covers

      • Headline — Role you want plus your strongest skill.
      • About section — Three lines: what you do, proof, what you want next.
      • Featured work — Projects, GitHub, portfolio or writing links.
      • Consistency — Dates and titles match your resume.
      • Clean public footprint — Check what a search of your name shows.

      What to practise

      • Rewrite your headline and About section
      • Ask one senior for a review of your profile

      Free resources

      • LinkedIn — Job alerts and, more importantly, referrals (Free)
      • OpenResume — Free ATS-friendly resume builder and parser test (Free)

      Free courses

  2. 02Recruiting core

    The main rounds.

    1. 02.1Recruitment & sourcing

      CoreIntermediate6–8 h

      Finding, screening and hiring the right people.

      What this covers

      • Job descriptions — Clear must-haves vs nice-to-haves.
      • Sourcing — Job boards, LinkedIn, referrals, Boolean search.
      • Screening — Resumes and phone screens.
      • Interview coordination — Panels, feedback, timelines.
      • Offers — Closing and pre-joining follow-up.
      • Metrics — Time to hire, quality of hire.

      What to practise

      • Write a Boolean search for a role
      • Screen ten sample resumes against a JD

      Common questions

      • How would you fill an urgent role in two weeks?
      • How do you reduce offer drop-outs?

      Free resources

      • Workable HR resources — Job description templates and interview questions for HR (Free)
      • LinkedIn — Job alerts and, more importantly, referrals (Free)

      Free courses

    2. 02.2Understanding tech roles

      Good to knowBeginner4–6 h

      Enough technical vocabulary to screen engineers well.

      What this covers

      • Common roles — Frontend, backend, data, DevOps and what they do.
      • Tech stacks — What the names on a resume mean.
      • Levels — Junior to senior expectations.
      • Coding assessments — How they work and their limits.
      • Talking to engineers — Asking good screening questions.

      What to practise

      • Write one-line explanations for 15 tech terms
      • Shadow or role-play a technical screen

      Common questions

      • How would you screen a backend developer?
      • What is the difference between frontend and backend?

      Free resources

    3. 02.3HR fundamentals

      CoreBeginner6–10 h

      The functions of HR and the employee lifecycle.

      What this covers

      • HR functions — Hiring, onboarding, payroll, performance, exit.
      • Policies — Leave, conduct, grievances.
      • Performance management — Goals, reviews, feedback.
      • Compensation basics — CTC structure, benefits.
      • Employee relations — Handling conflicts fairly.

      What to practise

      • Map the employee lifecycle for one company
      • Draft a simple leave policy

      Common questions

      • How would you handle a conflict between two employees?
      • What is the role of HR in performance reviews?

      Free resources

      Free courses

  3. 03Working with hiring managers

    Partnering well.

    1. 03.1Stakeholders & leadership

      Good to knowIntermediate2–4 h

      Influencing without authority and handling disagreement.

      What this covers

      • Mapping stakeholders — Who cares, who decides, who is affected.
      • Communication — Regular updates and no surprises.
      • Disagreement — Data, empathy, escalation as a last step.
      • Leading teams — Setting goals, feedback, recognition.
      • Stories — Prepare two real examples.

      What to practise

      • Write two STAR stories about influencing someone
      • Practise giving feedback in a role-play

      Common questions

      • Tell me about a time you influenced someone without authority.
      • How do you handle a difficult stakeholder?

      Free resources

      Free courses

    2. 03.2HR analytics

      Good to knowIntermediate4–6 h

      Using people data: attrition, hiring and engagement.

      What this covers

      • Key metrics — Attrition, absenteeism, time to hire.
      • Excel & dashboards — Pivots and simple charts.
      • Surveys — Engagement survey basics.
      • Insight — From numbers to actions.
      • Privacy — Handling employee data carefully.

      What to practise

      • Build an attrition dashboard from sample data
      • Write three recommendations from it

      Common questions

      • How do you calculate attrition rate?
      • Attrition rose this quarter. How do you investigate?

      Free resources

      Free courses

  4. 04Practice

    Rehearse it out loud.

    1. 04.1Mock interviews

      CoreBeginner3–5 h

      At least two full practice interviews before the real one.

      What this covers

      • Realistic setting — Same format, time limit and dress as the real round.
      • Common questions first — Introduction, motivation, experience, weaknesses.
      • Feedback — Ask what was unclear or too long.
      • Recording — Watch yourself once; fix fillers and pace.
      • Role questions — Add 3–5 questions specific to your field.

      What to practise

      • Do two mock interviews with a friend or senior
      • Use a spoken practice tool and read the transcript

      Common questions

      • Tell me about yourself.
      • Why this role?

      Free resources

      Free courses

  5. 05Behavioral & HR

    How you work with people.

    1. 05.1Behavioral & STAR

      CoreBeginner3–4 h

      Stories about teamwork, conflict and failure, told with STAR.

      What this covers

      • STAR structure — Situation, task, action, result. Spend most of the time on action.
      • Story bank — 6–8 real stories you can reuse across questions.
      • Teamwork & conflict — Disagreeing respectfully and what you changed.
      • Failure & weakness — A real one, what you learned, what you do now.
      • Ownership — Times you took initiative without being asked.
      • Common HR questions — Why us, why you, strengths, relocation.

      What to practise

      • Write 6 stories in STAR form
      • Map each story to 2–3 common questions
      • Practise one story with a friend

      Common questions

      • Tell me about a time you failed.
      • Describe a conflict in a team and what you did.
      • What is your biggest weakness?

      Free resources

      Free courses

    2. 05.2Strengths & weaknesses

      CoreBeginner1–2 h

      Honest strengths with proof, and a real weakness you are working on.

      What this covers

      • Strengths with proof — Pick 2–3 and back each with one short example.
      • A real weakness — Not a disguised strength; something you are actively improving.
      • What you are doing about it — The habit, course or system that shows progress.
      • Fit to the role — Strengths that matter for this job, not any job.

      What to practise

      • Write three strengths with one example each
      • Practise the weakness answer until it sounds calm, not rehearsed

      Common questions

      • What are your greatest strengths?
      • What is your biggest weakness?
      • How would your friends or teammates describe you?

      Free resources

      Free courses

    3. 05.3Common HR questions

      CoreBeginner2–3 h

      The questions almost every HR round asks, answered honestly and briefly.

      What this covers

      • Why this company — Specific reasons from your research, not praise.
      • Why should we hire you — Match two needs of the role to your proof.
      • Gaps and changes — Explain gaps, backlogs or a branch change without excuses.
      • Relocation, shifts, bonds — Know your real answer before the interview.
      • Career goals — A realistic next step, connected to this role.
      • Notice period and joining — Facts you should have ready.

      What to practise

      • Write short answers to ten common HR questions
      • Say them aloud to a friend and cut anything over a minute

      Common questions

      • Why do you want to join us?
      • Where do you see yourself in five years?
      • Are you open to relocation?
      • Why did you choose your branch or degree?

      Free resources

      Free courses

  6. 06Company & final prep

    The last 48 hours.

    1. 06.1Company research

      CoreBeginner1–2 h

      The product, the role, the job description and recent news.

      What this covers

      • The business — What it sells and to whom.
      • The role — What the job description really asks for.
      • Recent news — Launches, results, announcements.
      • Interview format — The rounds, if the company shares them.
      • Your fit — Three reasons, matched to the job description.

      What to practise

      • Write 3 reasons you want this role
      • Match 3 JD lines to your experience

      Common questions

      • Why do you want to work here?
      • What do you know about our product?

      Free resources

    2. 06.2Questions to ask

      Good to knowBeginner30 min

      Two or three good questions for the end of the interview.

      What this covers

      • About the team — How work is planned and reviewed.
      • About growth — Mentoring, learning, the first 90 days.
      • About the product — What is hard right now.
      • What to avoid — Questions a quick search answers.

      What to practise

      • Write 5 questions, keep the best 3
      • Prepare one question about the team's own product

      Common questions

      • Do you have any questions for us?

      Free resources

    3. 06.3Salary & offer basics

      Good to knowBeginner1–2 h

      How to read an offer, answer salary questions and compare offers.

      What this covers

      • CTC vs in-hand — CTC includes PF, bonuses and benefits; in-hand is what you receive monthly.
      • Fixed vs variable — Variable pay and joining bonuses may have conditions.
      • Bonds and clawbacks — Read the service agreement before you sign.
      • Answering "expected salary" — Give a researched range or ask for theirs first.
      • Comparing offers — Role, learning, location and in-hand pay, not only CTC.

      What to practise

      • Look up salary ranges for the role and city
      • Calculate in-hand pay for one sample offer

      Common questions

      • What are your salary expectations?
      • Do you have any other offers?

      Free resources

    4. 06.4Final checklist

      CoreBeginner30 min

      Logistics, documents, setup and a calm night before.

      What this covers

      • Logistics — Time, timezone, link or address.
      • Documents — Resume copies, ID, certificates if asked.
      • Tech check — Camera, mic, internet, charger.
      • Night before — Sleep, light revision, no new topics.

      What to practise

      • Do a 5-minute tech check the day before
      • Lay out documents and clothes the night before

      Free resources

    5. 06.5Job & interview safety

      Good to knowBeginner15 min

      Spot fake offers, payment requests and fake interview links.

      What this covers

      • Payment requests — Real employers don't charge for jobs or training.
      • Email domains — Check it matches the company's own site.
      • OTPs & logins — Never share them with anyone.
      • Fake interview links — Care with unknown chat apps and downloads.
      • Reporting — The 1930 helpline and cybercrime.gov.in.

      What to practise

      • Check one recent offer against these rules
      • Confirm the opening is listed on the company's own careers page

      Free resources

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