Daniel Manesh

Technical job interviews for software engineering positions frequently require live problem-solving under observation. These high-stakes interviews are challenging for students, as they require them to prepare for the interview separately. This study investigates how computer science (CS) students prepare for technical interviews and how they perceive these interviews in relation to the CS curriculum and industry job expectations. To that end, we interviewed n=20 students and recent graduates with recent technical interview experience. We found that most relied heavily on repeated practice with coding problems, often drawn from widely circulated problem sets. They also leveraged their social capital by working with peers during interview preparation. Many participants reported a disconnect between interview content and their formal coursework, leading some to prioritize interview preparation over academic responsibilities. Participants expressed a desire for interview formats that better reflect real-world job tasks. These findings offer insights into how academic programs and employers might better support the equitable and effective assessment of job candidates.

This poster presents the development and implementation of a 10-day remix-based summer camp curriculum designed to introduce high school students, particularly a multinational cohort of young women, to programming through creative coding. The curriculum integrates music composition using EarSketch and web development with HTML and CSS. The camp aims to inspire participants to gain self-efficacy in programming and motivate them to explore STEM/computing careers. Preliminary results from surveys and interviews indicate increased confidence in programming skills. This ongoing research explores the impact of remixing as a gateway for transitioning into more general-purpose computing domains such as web development.