20 Galvanize Interview Questions and Answers

Galvanize is a global leader in technology education. They offer immersive training programs, bootcamps, and corporate training in the most in-demand technologies. Their campuses are located in major tech hubs around the world, including San Francisco, Denver, Seattle, Austin, New York City, London, and Hong Kong.

If you’re hoping to join the Galvanize team, you can expect to be asked a variety of questions about your experience, skills, and qualifications. In this guide, we’ve provided a list of sample Galvanize interview questions and answers to help you prepare for your interview.

Galvanize Interview Process

The interview process at Galvanize is generally pretty straightforward. For most positions, you can expect to have an initial phone screen with a recruiter, followed by one or more in-person interviews. The difficulty of the interviews will vary depending on the position you’re applying for, but overall they tend to be fairly standard.

For some positions, such as Software Engineering Immersive Resident (SEIR), you may be asked to complete a take-home assessment as part of the interview process. This is typically a coding exercise that will help assess your technical skills.

Overall, the interview experience at Galvanize is generally positive. The staff are generally friendly and helpful, and they do a good job of making sure you understand the expectations for the role you’re interviewing for.

1. What is your experience with programming languages?

Galvanize is a coding school, so it’s likely that you’ll be asked about your experience with programming languages. You can use this question to show the interviewer that you have the skills necessary to succeed in their program. If you don’t have any formal training or experience with coding, you can talk about other relevant skills and how they relate to coding.

Example: “I’ve been interested in coding for quite some time now, but I haven’t had the opportunity to formally learn how to code yet. However, I am very familiar with many of the most popular programming languages like Python, Ruby and JavaScript. I also understand the basics of HTML and CSS, which are important when learning how to code.”

2. Tell me about a time where you had to work in a team environment, how did it go?

Working in a team environment is an important skill to have when working at Galvanize. The interviewer may ask this question to see if you are comfortable with teamwork and collaboration. Use your answer to highlight your ability to work well with others, communicate effectively and solve problems together as a group.

Example: “In my last job, I worked on a team of five people who were all tasked with creating a new marketing campaign for our company’s client. We each had different ideas about what we wanted the campaign to look like, but we also needed to make sure it was something that would appeal to our client’s target audience. After some discussion, we decided to create two separate campaigns, one aimed at younger audiences and another geared toward older demographics.”

3. Describe one of the most challenging projects you have worked on and what made it difficult.

This question can help interviewers understand your problem-solving skills and how you react to challenges. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a project that was difficult for reasons beyond your control.

Example: “The most challenging project I have worked on so far was when I had to create an online course in three weeks. The client wanted the course to cover everything they needed to know about the subject matter, but there were many technical aspects of the content that we didn’t have time to teach. We ended up having to hire another instructor to help us complete the project.”

4. Do you have any experience working in an educational setting?

The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have any experience working with students. If you do, they may want to know how your previous experiences prepared you for the role at Galvanize. If you don’t have any experience in an educational setting, you can talk about other work that involved helping people learn new skills or information.

Example: “I worked as a tutor for several years while I was in college. I tutored many different subjects and helped students of all ages improve their grades. This experience taught me how to help others understand complex topics and gave me valuable teaching skills that I use every day when I’m instructing my coding classes.”

5. How would you handle a situation with a student that was not performing well in class?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle challenging situations and support students. You may want to describe a situation where you helped a student overcome an obstacle or encouraged them to perform better in class.

Example: “I once had a student who was struggling with the material, but they were also having personal issues that affected their performance. I met with them after class one day and asked if everything was okay. They told me about some of their challenges, so I offered to meet with them during my office hours to help them learn the material. After several weeks, they started performing much better in class.”

6. Tell us why you want to be an instructor at Galvanize.

Instructors at Galvanize are passionate about technology and innovation. They want to help students develop their skills in these areas, so they can be successful in the future. Answering this question shows that you have a genuine interest in working with Galvanize’s students.

Example: “I’m interested in coding because I see it as an essential skill for today’s job market. As someone who is just starting out in my career, I know how important it is to learn new things. Galvanize offers courses that teach me valuable information while also preparing me for a career in tech. I would love to work here because I think I could make a difference in students’ lives.”

7. Why do you think you would be a good fit for this position?

Employers ask this question to see if you have done your research on the company and position. Before your interview, make sure you read through the job description thoroughly. Review any skills or qualifications that are listed and think about how you meet them. When answering this question, try to relate your skills and experience back to what they’re looking for in a candidate.

Example: “I believe I would be a good fit for this position because of my passion for coding and technology. Throughout my career, I’ve had many opportunities to learn new programming languages and hone my skills as a developer. In fact, I started out as a front-end developer but quickly learned more complex coding languages like Python and Ruby. Now, I’m ready to take on a leadership role where I can help others develop their own skills.”

8. Have you ever been in a leadership role?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have experience leading a team. If you haven’t been in a leadership role, you can talk about how you’ve helped your peers or other colleagues with their work.

Example: “I was promoted to lead my department at my previous job after working there for two years. I had some experience as a leader before that promotion because I was one of the first employees hired and helped train new hires. My manager trusted me to make decisions on my own, which made it easier to take on more responsibility.”

9. Can you tell me about a time when you were working 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 your answer shows that you can work with others and resolve issues.

Example: “In my last role, I was working on a project with two other team members. We were all responsible for different parts of the project, but we had to collaborate together often. One day, one of my teammates didn’t complete their part of the project by the deadline. My other teammate and I decided to finish our parts of the project so we could meet the deadline. When my teammate who hadn’t finished their part of the project found out, they became upset. They felt like we abandoned them. However, I explained to them why we did what we did and apologized for not telling them sooner.”

10. What are some of your favorite resources for staying up-to-date on industry trends?

Galvanize is a technology-focused school, so it’s important that you stay up to date on the latest trends in your industry. Your answer should include some of your favorite resources for staying current and how they’ve helped you grow as a professional.

Example: “I have several subscriptions to online publications and newsletters that I read regularly. One of my favorites is TechCrunch because they cover all things tech, including new innovations, emerging technologies and more. Another resource I use is Hacker News, which has a lot of interesting articles about startups and entrepreneurs.”

11. We place a large emphasis on teamwork here at Galvanize, could you provide an example of a time when you worked as part of a team?

Galvanize values teamwork and collaboration, so it’s important to show that you can work well with others. When answering this question, think of a time when you worked on a team project or helped your coworkers in some way.

Example: “In my last job as an IT specialist, I was part of a large team that included developers, marketers and other specialists. We all met regularly to discuss our progress and any issues we were having. This allowed us to collaborate and help each other out when needed. It also ensured that everyone knew what the others were working on.”

12. What is your experience with data analysis?

Galvanize is a technology school, so it’s likely that you’ll be working with data. The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have experience analyzing large amounts of data and how you did it. Use your answer to highlight the skills you developed while doing data analysis and how they can help you succeed in this role.

Example: “In my last position as an IT specialist, I was responsible for monitoring all company servers. This included checking server logs, reviewing system performance metrics and identifying any issues or errors. I used several software programs to monitor these systems, including Splunk and Nagios. These tools helped me identify problems before they became major issues.”

13. What are some of the challenges you see in data science?

This question can help interviewers understand your critical thinking skills and how you approach challenges. Use examples from your experience to explain what the challenge is, why it’s a challenge and how you would solve it.

Example: “One of the biggest challenges I see in data science is that there are so many different types of data. It’s important for data scientists to know which type of data they’re working with because each kind has its own unique characteristics. For example, unstructured data like text or images is very different than structured data like numbers. In my last role, I created a system where all new data was tagged according to its type. This allowed me to create separate systems for each type of data.”

14. What is your experience with machine learning?

Galvanize is a technology-focused school, so interviewers may ask this question to see if you have experience with machine learning. If you do, they might want to know what types of projects you worked on and how your work contributed to the company’s bottom line. If you don’t have any experience with machine learning, you can talk about other ways you’ve used data analytics in your previous roles.

Example: “In my last role as an IT manager at a small business, I implemented a system that tracked our website traffic. This allowed me to identify areas where we could improve our conversion rates. For example, I found out that many people were leaving our site without making a purchase because they couldn’t find the checkout button. After implementing some changes, we saw a 10% increase in sales.”

15. Tell us about a time when you had to make an important decision without consulting anyone else or getting approval from a supervisor.

This question can help interviewers understand how you make decisions and whether you’re comfortable with making important choices on your own. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe the steps you took to make the decision and what the outcome was.

Example: “When I first started working as a developer, I had to decide which coding language to use for a project. I knew that if I chose the wrong language, it could cause problems down the line. So, I researched each of the languages thoroughly before deciding which one would work best for our team. In the end, I used Python for the project, and we were able to complete it successfully.”

16. Are you comfortable giving presentations to groups of people?

This question is a good way to determine how comfortable you are with public speaking. Galvanize instructors often give presentations in front of large groups, so it’s important that you feel confident doing this. Your answer should include information about your experience giving presentations and the types of audiences you’ve presented to.

Example: “I have given several presentations throughout my career, including one I gave at a conference for software developers. The audience was quite large, but I felt prepared and confident as I spoke. I think I did a great job explaining the topic and answering questions from the crowd.”

17. What do you know about Galvanize?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to see how much you know about their company. It’s also an opportunity for you to show them that you’ve done your research and are excited to work there. When answering this question, make sure to include information that shows you’re familiar with Galvanize as well as its culture.

Example: “I know that Galvanize is a tech incubator that offers coworking spaces, training programs and events. I’m very interested in working here because of the innovative projects it supports. I think my background would be a good fit for the types of companies Galvanize works with.”

18. When was the last time you learned something new?

This question can help interviewers understand your willingness to learn new skills and adapt to change. It also helps them determine if you’re a good fit for the Galvanize community, which is known for its open-mindedness and eagerness to try new things.

Example: “I recently learned how to use Adobe Illustrator to create vector graphics. I’ve always been interested in learning more about design software, so I took an online course on Udemy that taught me everything I needed to know. Now I’m able to create professional-looking graphics without needing any outside help.”

19. What tools do you use to keep up with industry trends?

Galvanize is a technology school, so it’s important that you’re up to date on the latest trends in your industry. Employers ask this question to make sure you have the ability to learn new skills and adapt to changes in the workplace. In your answer, explain which tools you use to stay informed about what’s happening in your field. Share two or three of your favorite resources for learning more about tech news and developments.

Example: “I subscribe to several newsletters that send me updates on the latest tech news. I also follow many tech influencers on social media who share their opinions on the newest products and services. Another resource I use is my local library. They offer free online courses where I can learn about different topics related to coding.”

20. How do you feel about working in a fast-paced environment?

The interviewer may ask this question to see if you’re comfortable with the fast-paced environment of a coding bootcamp. This is an important skill for working in a tech company, so it’s important to show that you can handle the pace and work well under pressure.

Example: “I love working in a fast-paced environment because I thrive on being challenged. In my last job as a web developer, we had tight deadlines every day, which made me feel like I was always learning something new. I’m excited to be part of a program where I’ll have even more opportunities to learn.”