20 Code Ninjas Interview Questions and Answers

Code Ninjas is the world’s largest franchise system of coding and robotics education centers for kids ages 7-14. With over 500 locations in 44 states and 16 countries, Code Ninjas is on a mission to teach one million kids to code.

If you’re applying for a job at Code Ninjas, you can expect to be asked a variety of questions about your qualifications, work history, and availability. In this guide, we’ve assembled a list of Code Ninjas interview questions and answers to help you prepare for your interview.

Code Ninjas Interview Process

The interview process at Code Ninjas is generally quick and easy. Most interviews are conducted over the phone or via video call, and last around 15 minutes. The interviewer will ask questions about your experience working with children and coding knowledge. If you have little to no coding experience, don’t worry – the company is mainly looking for people who are good with kids and are willing to learn.

1. What do you know about Code Ninjas?

This question is a great way to see how much you know about the company and its culture. It also gives you an opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the position. When answering this question, make sure to mention something specific that you like about Code Ninjas.

Example: “I have been playing Code Ninjas since I was in middle school. I love the game because it teaches me new coding skills while being fun and competitive. I am always excited when there are new levels or challenges to play. I also really enjoy the community aspect of the game where players can interact with each other and help each other out.”

2. How would you teach a child to code if they were struggling with the concept?

This question is a great way to show your teaching skills and how you can help students learn new concepts. When answering this question, it’s important to be as specific as possible about the steps you would take to teach coding to a child who was struggling with the concept.

Example: “I would first ask them what they already know about coding. If they have some background knowledge of coding, I would start by explaining the basics of coding in simple terms that they could understand. Then, I would give them an example of a basic coding language so they could see how it works. After that, I would let them practice on their own while checking in with them regularly to make sure they were understanding the process.”

3. Why should we hire you over another candidate?

This question is a great way to show your confidence and passion for the position. It also allows you to highlight some of your most important skills that make you an ideal candidate. When answering this question, it can be helpful to refer back to the job description or any other information you have about the role. This will help you identify what the employer is looking for in their ideal employee.

Example: “I should be hired because I am passionate about coding and want to use my skills to create fun games for kids. I am also very organized and detail-oriented, which makes me a great problem solver. Finally, I am eager to learn new things and would love to work with your team.”

4. Are you comfortable working with children?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your personality and see if you are a good fit for their organization. It’s important to show that you enjoy working with children, but it’s also helpful to mention any experience you have in this area.

Example: “I love working with kids! I’ve been babysitting since I was 14 years old, and I’ve worked as a camp counselor at my local community center for the past two summers. The kids I work with always make me laugh, and I’m excited to help them learn new things.”

5. Describe your experience in programming or teaching others how to program.

This question is a great way to show the interviewer your experience in programming and how you’ve used it in the past. It’s also an opportunity for you to explain any previous teaching experiences, which can be helpful if you’re applying for a teaching position.

Example: “I have been coding since I was 12 years old. My first coding language was Java, but over time I learned many other languages including Python, C++ and JavaScript. In my last job as a junior developer, I worked with senior developers who taught me new ways of improving my code and helped me learn more about different types of coding languages.”

6. Tell us about a time that you had to deal with difficult parents.

This question is designed to test your problem-solving skills and ability to work with parents. As a teacher, you will likely have to deal with difficult parents at some point in your career. It’s important that you demonstrate the maturity and communication skills necessary to handle these situations effectively.

Example: “I had a parent who was very concerned about their child’s progress. They were constantly calling me or coming into my classroom to ask questions about how their child was doing. I met with them one-on-one to explain our grading system and reassure them that they should expect it to take several months for their child to get used to coding. After this meeting, they seemed much more comfortable.”

7. Do you have any experience working as a manager?

If you have experience managing a team, the interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your leadership skills. If you don’t have management experience, they may ask this question to see if you can adapt to that role. In either case, it’s important to be honest and explain how you would approach being a manager in this position.

Example: “I’ve never been a manager before, but I think my communication skills are strong enough to lead a team of developers. When working with others, I always make sure to listen to their ideas and provide feedback on what I think is best. I believe that by encouraging collaboration among my team members, we can create an environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their thoughts.”

8. Give an example of a time when you worked well under pressure.

When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a time when you were able to complete an assignment or project on time despite the pressure of a deadline. This can show employers that you are capable of working under stress and will help them understand how you might handle deadlines in your new role.

Example: “In my last coding class, we had a major project due at midnight. I was already feeling overwhelmed by all of the information we needed to learn for the project, but I knew that if I didn’t get started right away, I wouldn’t have enough time to finish everything before the deadline. So, I broke up the project into smaller tasks and focused on one part at a time until I finished the entire thing with plenty of time to spare.”

9. Describe a time where you had to work on a team project and there was conflict, how did you handle it?

This question is a great way to see how you handle conflict in the workplace. It’s important that you show your ability to work with others and resolve conflicts quickly.

Example: “In my last coding class, we had to create our own video game. I was assigned to a team of three other students who all wanted to be the lead programmer. This caused some tension between us as each person tried to prove they were better at coding than the others. We eventually decided on one person being the lead programmer while the other two worked together to help code the game.”

10. Would you be able to work flexible hours?

Employers may ask this question to see if you are willing to work outside of typical business hours. This can be especially important for employers who have a younger audience, as they may want their employees to be available during school hours. When answering this question, it is best to highlight your ability to work flexible hours and show that you understand the importance of being available when students need help with coding.

Example: “I am happy to work flexible hours, as I know how important it is to be available when kids are learning. I would make sure to always be online or reachable by phone so that students could get in touch with me if they needed help.”

11. Can you tell me about a time when you had to solve a problem that was not straightforward. How did you approach the problem?

This question is a great way to assess problem-solving skills and how you approach challenges. It also allows the interviewer to see if you have any unique or interesting stories about your past experiences.

Example: “I was working on a project for my computer science class where we had to create an algorithm that would allow us to play tic-tac-toe against the computer. I thought it would be easy, but after several hours of trying different approaches, I still couldn’t get it to work. I finally decided to ask one of my classmates for help. He helped me realize that I needed to use recursion in order to make the game work properly.”

12. Have you ever taught someone something new? How did you go about doing it?

This question is a great way to show your communication skills and how you can teach others. This skill is especially important for coding ninjas because they need to be able to explain complex concepts in ways that are easy to understand.

Example: “When I was working as an IT specialist, I had the opportunity to train new employees on our company’s computer systems. I started by explaining what each system did and then gave them examples of when we would use it. Then, I let them try out the system themselves so they could get comfortable with it before moving on to the next one.”

13. What is your philosophy on parenting?

This question is a way for the interviewer to learn more about your parenting style and how you would interact with their children. Your answer should show that you are willing to be firm when necessary, but also have empathy for the challenges of raising kids.

Example: “I believe in being firm but fair as a parent. I know that my actions will set an example for my child, so I try to always act in a respectful manner. I am also aware that sometimes I need to make unpopular decisions or enforce rules strictly to ensure they understand consequences. However, I do my best to explain why I’m making these decisions and give them plenty of opportunities to ask questions.”

14. Do you consider yourself a tech-savvy person?

This question is a great way to determine if the candidate has any experience with coding. It also allows you to see how they feel about technology and computers in general. If they have no experience, it’s important to find out why. You can ask them what their favorite tech gadget is or what apps they use most often.

Example: “I consider myself pretty tech-savvy. I’ve been using computers since I was a kid, so I’m very comfortable with them. My favorite app is Google Maps because I love finding new places to visit. I also really like my iPhone because of all the cool apps I can download.”

15. If hired, what would be your approach to teaching coding?

This question is an opportunity to show your teaching skills and how you would apply them in a classroom setting. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe the steps you would take when introducing coding concepts to students.

Example: “When I teach coding, I like to start with the basics of programming languages and then move on to more advanced topics. In my experience, this approach helps students learn the material better because they have a solid foundation before moving forward. I also find that having students work together in groups or pairs is beneficial for learning as well.”

16. Tell me about a time that you disagreed with your boss, how did you handle it?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle conflict and your ability to work with others. It’s important to be honest in your answer, but it’s also helpful to highlight a time when you were able to resolve the disagreement or problem with your boss or supervisor.

Example: “I once disagreed with my manager about an assignment I was given. I felt that the project would take more time than we had allotted for it, so I spoke with her about it. She agreed with me and gave me additional resources to complete the task. In the end, I completed the assignment on time and even finished early.”

17. Are you familiar with Scratch, Python, HTML/CSS, Java, C++, or other coding languages?

This question is a great way to see if the candidate has any experience with coding. If they have, you can ask them about their previous projects and how they used these languages.

Example: “I am familiar with Scratch, Python, HTML/CSS, Java, C++ and other coding languages. I’ve been using Scratch for several years now, and I use it in my classes at school. I also use Python when I’m working on more complex projects that require me to write code. In addition, I use HTML/CSS and Java when I need to create websites or apps.”

18. What are some of your favorite websites?

This question is a great way to see what kind of websites the candidate visits. It can also give you an idea of their interests and how they spend their free time. When answering this question, it’s important to mention sites that are relevant to your field or industry.

Example: “I love reading about new technology on TechCrunch. I also enjoy browsing Reddit for interesting articles and videos. I find that these two sites have some really cool content that I wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else. Another site I like is YouTube because there are so many channels dedicated to teaching people how to do things.”

19. What do you think makes a good teacher?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you have experience as a teacher. If you haven’t taught before, think about what makes a good teacher in your opinion and relate it back to the role of a code ninja.

Example: “I think a good teacher should be able to explain concepts clearly so students can understand them. They should also be patient with their students and willing to help them when they need it. I believe these are important qualities for any professional who works with children because kids learn best when they feel safe and supported.”

20. How do you feel about being a mentor for young students?

This question can help the interviewer get a sense of your personality and how you interact with others. Mentoring is an important part of being a code ninja, so it’s helpful to show that you’re willing to take on this responsibility.

Example: “I love working with kids because they are so eager to learn new things. I find that when I explain something in a way that makes sense to them, they remember it for life. It’s rewarding to see their faces light up when they finally understand something that was confusing to them before. I also enjoy seeing them grow as coders throughout the program.”