Technical interviews can feel intimidating, especially if you don’t know what to expect.

The good news is that most software engineering interviews follow similar patterns. Employers aren’t looking for someone who knows every answer—they want to understand how you think, solve problems and communicate your ideas.

Whether you’re applying for a Backend, Frontend, Full Stack, DevOps or Data Engineering role, this guide covers the most common technical interview questions you’ll encounter.

1. Tell Me About Yourself

Although it isn’t a technical question, it’s almost always asked first.

Keep your answer focused on:

• Your experience
• Technologies you’ve worked with
• Projects you’re proud of
• What you’re looking for next

Aim for a clear answer that lasts around two minutes.

2. Explain a Project You’ve Worked On

Employers often spend a large part of the interview discussing your previous work.

Be prepared to explain:

• What the application does
• Your responsibilities
• Technologies used
• Challenges you faced
• How you solved them

Interviewers usually care more about your real experience than textbook knowledge.

3. Explain REST APIs

Backend developers are commonly asked:

• What is a REST API?
• What are HTTP methods?
• What’s the difference between GET and POST?
• When would you use PUT or PATCH?
• What is a 404 error?
• What is a 500 error?

Understanding API design is essential for many software roles.

4. Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)

Many interviews include OOP questions such as:

• What is inheritance?
• What is encapsulation?
• What is polymorphism?
• What is abstraction?
• Why use interfaces?
• What’s the difference between an abstract class and an interface?

Being able to explain these concepts clearly is important.

5. Database Questions

SQL knowledge is expected for many software engineering roles.

Typical questions include:

• Explain INNER JOIN and LEFT JOIN.
• What is an index?
• What is a primary key?
• What is a foreign key?
• What is normalization?
• How would you optimise a slow query?

You may also be asked to write a simple SQL query.

6. Data Structures and Algorithms

Not every company focuses heavily on algorithms, but many still ask about:

• Arrays
• Lists
• Stacks
• Queues
• Hash Maps
• Trees
• Searching
• Sorting

The complexity depends on the company and the seniority of the role.

7. Design Patterns

Senior developers are often asked about design patterns.

Examples include:

• Singleton
• Factory
• Repository
• Strategy
• Observer
• Dependency Injection

Interviewers usually want to know when and why you would use them.

8. Git Questions

Version control is part of almost every development team.

Common questions include:

• What is Git?
• What is branching?
• What is a pull request?
• How do you resolve merge conflicts?
• What is Git rebase?

9. Cloud Questions

Cloud knowledge is becoming increasingly common.

Examples include:

Azure

• App Services
• Azure Functions
• Azure Storage

AWS

• EC2
• S3
• Lambda

You don’t need to know every service, but understanding cloud fundamentals is valuable.

10. Docker and Kubernetes

Many backend and DevOps interviews include questions about:

• Containers
• Docker images
• Docker Compose
• Kubernetes
• Pods
• Deployments

Even basic knowledge can make a positive impression.

11. Testing

Employers often ask:

• What is unit testing?
• What is integration testing?
• Have you written automated tests?
• Which testing frameworks have you used?

Writing reliable software is just as important as writing new features.

12. Debugging

A common interview question is:

“How do you debug a production issue?”

Employers want to hear a structured approach, such as:

• Reproduce the problem
• Check logs
• Identify the root cause
• Test the fix
• Deploy safely
• Monitor the result

13. Performance Optimisation

You may be asked:

• How would you improve application performance?
• Why is this query slow?
• How would you reduce API response time?

These questions assess your practical problem-solving skills.

14. Security

Basic security knowledge is expected for many software roles.

Topics may include:

• Authentication
• Authorization
• SQL Injection
• Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
• Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
• Password hashing
• HTTPS

15. Behavioural Questions

Technical interviews usually include behavioural questions as well.

Examples:

• Tell me about a difficult project.
• Describe a disagreement with a teammate.
• How do you prioritise work?
• Tell me about a mistake you made.
• Why are you changing jobs?

Employers want to understand how you work with others.

Questions for Specific Roles

.NET Developers

Common topics:

• C#
• ASP.NET Core
• LINQ
• Entity Framework Core
• Dependency Injection
• REST APIs
• SQL Server

Java Developers

Common topics:

• Spring Boot
• Hibernate
• JVM
• Collections
• Multithreading
• REST APIs

Frontend Developers

Common topics:

• JavaScript
• TypeScript
• React or Angular
• Components
• State Management
• CSS
• Responsive Design

Data Engineers

Common topics:

• SQL
• Python
• ETL
• Snowflake
• Databricks
• Airflow
• Data Warehousing

DevOps Engineers

Common topics:

• Docker
• Kubernetes
• CI/CD
• Azure
• AWS
• Terraform
• Linux

How to Prepare

Before your interview:

• Review your CV.
• Refresh your core programming language.
• Practice SQL.
• Revisit previous projects.
• Review cloud fundamentals.
• Practice explaining technical concepts out loud.
• Research the company and its technology stack.

Being able to communicate clearly is just as important as knowing the technical answers.

Final Thoughts

Technical interviews aren’t about knowing everything—they’re about demonstrating how you approach problems and apply your knowledge.

Focus on understanding the fundamentals, preparing examples from your own experience and practising how you explain technical concepts. Employers value clear communication, logical thinking and practical experience as much as technical knowledge.

With the right preparation, technical interviews become much less intimidating and much more like a conversation about software engineering.

If you’re preparing for your next opportunity, browse the latest Software Developer jobs on SoftwareVacancy and discover employers hiring across Malta.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common technical interview question?

One of the most common questions is: “Tell me about a project you’ve worked on.” Employers often use your previous experience as the starting point for technical discussions.

Do all software interviews include coding tests?

No. Some companies use live coding or take-home assignments, while others focus on architecture, technical discussions and previous project experience.

How long does a technical interview usually last?

Most technical interviews last between 45 and 90 minutes, depending on the role and interview process.

What should I do if I don’t know an answer?

Be honest. Explain how you would approach the problem and show your thought process. Interviewers often value problem-solving skills more than memorised answers.

Where can I find software engineering jobs in Malta?

SoftwareVacancy regularly publishes opportunities for Software Developers, Frontend Developers, Backend Developers, DevOps Engineers and Data Engineers from employers hiring across Malta.