20 Andela Interview Questions and Answers

Andela is a company that helps its users create their own family tree and preserve their family history. In order to help its users find the best possible candidates for their needs, Andela has compiled a list of the most common interview questions that Andela asks its candidates. This article will provide an overview of the types of questions that Andela asks, as well as some tips on how to answer them.

Andela Interview Process

The interview process at Andela is divided into two parts: the soft skills interview and the technical interview. If you pass the soft skill interview, you are scheduled for a technical interview within the week. The technical interview involves live coding, and is meant to test your problem-solving skills.

1. Why should we hire you?

This question is a great way to see how well you can sell yourself. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight your skills and experience that make you the best candidate for the job.

Example: “I should be hired because I am an excellent communicator who has proven my ability to work with others in a team setting. My communication skills are also quite strong, which means I would be able to clearly explain any questions or concerns to my teammates. I have a passion for technology and innovation, so working at Andela would allow me to use these skills to create new solutions for problems.”

2. What is your biggest weakness?

This question is a common one in interviews, and it’s important to be prepared with an answer that shows your ability to self-reflect. When answering this question, try to pick something you’re actively working on or have already improved upon.

Example: “My biggest weakness is my perfectionism. I want everything I do to be the best it can be, but sometimes I get caught up in making sure every detail is just right. This has caused me to miss deadlines in the past, so now I’m trying to focus more on getting things done rather than worrying about whether they are perfect.”

3. What do you know about Andela?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the company and how you can contribute to it. When answering this question, make sure to highlight what you know about Andela’s mission, values and goals.

Example: “I’ve been following Andela for quite some time now, so I’m very familiar with its mission and values. I think that Andela is an amazing organization that helps African developers find their place in the tech industry. The fact that they are committed to helping people from Africa succeed in the tech world makes me want to work here even more.”

4. How would you deal with a difficult co-worker?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you would handle conflict in the workplace. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific situation where you had to work with someone who was difficult and how you handled it.

Example: “I once worked with a co-worker who was very critical of my work. I tried to ignore her comments at first, but eventually she started making me feel like I wasn’t doing my job well enough. I talked to my manager about the issue, and they helped me come up with strategies for dealing with this person. Now, when I get feedback from her, I take notes on what she says and try to implement those suggestions into my work.”

5. What is your experience with web development, front end or back end?

This question is a great way to gauge your experience with the specific technologies that Andela uses. If you have no prior experience, it’s important to highlight any other relevant skills or experiences that may be helpful in this role.

Example: “I’ve been working as a web developer for five years now and I’m very familiar with front-end development languages like HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript. I also have some experience with back-end languages like Python and Ruby on Rails.”

6. What are some advantages and disadvantages of working in an agile environment?

Andela is a company that uses agile development, so you may be asked to explain your experience with this method. Use examples from previous work experiences to show how you can adapt to different environments and collaborate with others.

Example: “I have worked in an agile environment before at my last job where we used Scrum as our framework for developing software. I found it helpful to use the daily standup meeting to communicate any issues or concerns I had about the project. This helped me understand what was expected of me and allowed me to ask questions if I needed clarification on something.”

7. Do you have any experience with test driven development?

Test driven development is a software development process that focuses on creating tests for the code before writing it. This allows developers to ensure their code works as intended and helps them avoid bugs in the future. If you have experience with this method, explain how you used it. If not, let the interviewer know you are willing to learn more about it.

Example: “I’ve worked with test driven development in the past, but I’m always open to learning new methods of working. I think it’s important to be flexible when it comes to different processes.”

8. Provide an example of when you went above and beyond for a customer/client.

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you are willing to go the extra mile for them and their company. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think of a time when you went above and beyond for a customer or client and how it helped them achieve success.

Example: “When I was working as an assistant at my previous job, one of our clients had a large project due in two weeks. They were having trouble finding information on some of the topics they needed to write about. Instead of just telling them we couldn’t help them with those topics, I offered to do additional research on those topics so they could have all the information they needed by the deadline.”

9. Tell me about a time you had to make an important decision without consulting your manager on how to proceed.

This question can help the interviewer get a better sense of how you make decisions on your own and how you use your critical thinking skills to solve problems. Use examples from previous work experiences or personal life that highlight your ability to think critically and apply logic to problem-solving situations.

Example: “When I was working as an administrative assistant at my last job, my manager asked me to organize a meeting with several other managers in our department. However, when I went to send out the email invites, I realized we had too many people for the conference room we were using. So, I called one of the managers back and asked them if they could move their meeting to another day so we could accommodate everyone.”

10. If one of our clients was unhappy with the work we did, what would your approach be?

This question is a great way to see how you would handle conflict and criticism. When answering this question, it can be helpful to give an example of a time when you had to address a client’s concerns or complaints.

Example: “If one of your clients was unhappy with the work we did, I would first make sure that they were aware of our company’s customer service policy. If they still felt unsatisfied, I would do everything in my power to resolve their issue as quickly as possible. I believe that communication is key, so I would try to speak with them on the phone or via email to understand what they are looking for.”

11. How comfortable are you with speaking in front of groups?

This question is a good way to assess your public speaking skills. As an Andela developer, you may be asked to present in front of groups or teams on occasion. Your answer should show that you are confident and comfortable with this type of activity.

Example: “I have experience presenting in front of large groups. In my last job, I was the lead developer for our team. This meant that I had to give presentations to other developers and managers about new projects and updates. I find public speaking to be quite enjoyable as long as I am prepared.”

12. Have you ever worked remotely before?

This question is a great way to learn more about the candidate’s experience with remote work. If you’re looking for someone who has worked remotely before, it can be helpful to ask them how they feel about working from home or another location outside of the office.

Example: “I have worked remotely in the past and I really enjoy it. I find that I am able to get more done when I’m not distracted by coworkers and other people around me. However, I also like being able to collaborate with my team members and discuss projects with them.”

13. Describe a situation where you were able to collaborate effectively with a diverse team.

When working with a team, it’s important to be able to collaborate effectively and communicate well. This question helps the interviewer determine how you work with others and your communication skills.

Example: “In my last position as an IT specialist, I worked on a project that required me to work with a diverse group of people from different backgrounds. We had to create a new system for our company that would help us manage customer service issues more efficiently. To do this, we needed to work together to find solutions to problems and come up with creative ways to solve them.”

14. Are you familiar with the software development life cycle?

The software development life cycle is a process that developers use to create new applications. This question helps the interviewer determine if you have experience with this process and how it can help you succeed in your role at Andela. Use examples from your past experience to show that you understand the importance of following this process.

Example: “I am familiar with the software development life cycle, as I used it when creating my own family tree application. The SDLC helped me organize my thoughts and plan out each step before beginning work on the project. It also helped me stay organized throughout the entire process.”

15. Describe a technical problem that you have run into and how you have dealt with it.

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and how you can use them in the workplace. When answering this question, it’s important to be specific about what the issue was and how you solved it.

Example: “I once had an issue with my computer where I couldn’t access any of my files. This happened while I was working on a project for school, so I panicked a little bit because I didn’t have a backup copy of my work. However, I remembered that I could access all of my files through Google Drive, so I opened up a new document there and saved everything as a draft. Then, I went back into my original documents and deleted everything except for the draft I had just created.”

16. Do you think that you would need help from more experienced developers if hired?

This question is a way for the interviewer to understand your level of experience and how you would handle working with more experienced developers. It’s important to be honest about your experience, but also highlight any skills that you have that could help you work alongside more experienced developers.

Example: “I think I’m ready to start working on my own as a developer, however, I do believe there are always things we can learn from others. If hired at Andela, I would love to learn from other developers who have more experience than me.”

17. In which areas of your career do you feel like you can grow the most?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you are willing to learn and grow in your career. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention an area of your career where you feel like you need improvement or something you would like to learn more about.

Example: “I have been working as a genealogist for five years now, but I still feel like there are many areas of my work that I could improve on. For example, I am always looking for new ways to help my clients find their family history online. In the past year, I have learned how to use AncestryDNA to help my clients discover more information about their family tree.”

18. Give us an example of a time when you took initiative to improve a process at work.

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and ability to take initiative. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe the steps you took to improve the process and what the outcome was.

Example: “At my previous job, I noticed that we were having issues with our customer service department because they would often have trouble finding information about our products. To solve this issue, I created an online database where all of the information could be stored and easily accessed by anyone in the company. This helped our customer service team provide better service to our customers.”

19. Do you have any experience training new employees?

This question can help the interviewer determine your ability to train new team members. If you have experience training others, describe what techniques you used and how they helped your team succeed.

Example: “In my last role as a web developer, I had two interns who were learning how to code. I made sure that I was available for questions and provided them with resources to learn more about coding. I also scheduled time each week to meet with them individually to discuss their progress and offer advice on how to improve their skills.”

20. What does success mean to you?

This question is a great way to learn more about the candidate’s values and how they define success. This can be an important factor in determining whether or not someone will fit well within your organization.

Example: “Success means different things to me at different times, but I think it’s most important to focus on what you’re doing right rather than what you’re doing wrong. If you’re constantly looking for ways to improve, then you’ll always be moving forward. For example, when I was working as a freelance web designer, I had a client who wasn’t happy with my work. Rather than getting defensive, I asked them what specifically they didn’t like so that I could make improvements.”