Interview Question – How do you approach your documentation?

Software Developer Interview QuestionEvery software developer should have an organized way of documenting projects. This question should be expected in every interview because it gives hiring managers an idea of how your documentation system works.

If you are preparing for your next interview, you may want to give this question some reflection. Grab a pen and paper and list your answers. Doing this makes it easier for you to edit and revise before reading it aloud.

Here are some tips on how to answer this question confidently:

Know the importance of documentation. Before explaining your documentation process, you must understand why it is an important step. While some may disagree, good documentation is vital to a successful project.

Documentation helps explain things in layman’s terms. It may be the most tedious aspect of developing software, but it’s important in order to give users quality content.

Keep in mind that your documentation will serve as a manual every time users need to verify something in your software. It will serve as an easy-to-understand guide for them to reference every time they have a question.

Learn how users want it. Make sure to follow the right format. Think of it as a support line for all users to rely on whenever they encounter software problems.

Develop your own system of documentation. Develop a simple process flowchart of your own. This will make your system more organized, and make it easier for you to set targets for your project.

List questions of your own and try to answer them using the software you have developed. This will give you an idea of where your documentation leads.

Be creative. Do not hesitate to unleash your creativity and make your documentation more interesting. Perhaps you can add images or add color. It also helps if you use the right format in creating your documentation. Make sure to keep it up-to-date to avoid inconvenience.

Share your personal experience in software documentation. If you have been given the task previously, perhaps you can tell hiring managers about problems you’ve encountered and how you were able to overcome them. It’s always helpful to talk about experiences worth sharing to boost your confidence and give recruiters an idea of how you work as a colleague.

Of course, there’s no perfect answer to every question. It all boils down to your confidence, sincerity and your knowledge. Don’t forget to strategize responses and be careful not to over- rehearse. Always sound natural and as sincere as possible.

Read 16506 times Last modified on Thursday, 03 March 2016 12:37
Alan Carniol

Alan is the creator of Interview Success Formula, a training program that has helped more than 80,000 job seekers to ace their interviews and land the jobs they deserve. Interviewers love asking curveball questions to weed out job seekers. But the truth is, most of these questions are asking about a few key areas. Learn more about how to outsmart tough interviewers by watching this video.