20 Girls Who Code Interview Questions and Answers

Girls Who Code is a nonprofit organization that works to close the gender gap in technology. The organization offers free coding classes and programs to girls in grades 6-12.

If you’re interested in working for Girls Who Code, you can expect the interview process to be competitive. To give yourself the best chance of landing the job, you’ll need to be prepared to answer some tough questions. In this article, we’ve gathered a list of common Girls Who Code interview questions and answers to help you prepare for your interview.

Girls Who Code Interview Process

The interview process at Girls Who Code is generally pretty lengthy, taking about a month from start to finish. However, it is a fairly straightforward process, consisting of an initial phone screen, followed by one or two in-person interviews. The in-person interviews usually consist of a mix of behavioral and technical questions, as well as a teaching demonstration.

1. Why do you want to work with Girls Who Code?

This question can help the interviewer understand your passion for this field. Your answer should show that you are excited about working with young women and helping them develop their coding skills.

Example: “I want to work with Girls Who Code because I believe in empowering young women to pursue careers in STEM fields. As a woman who has worked in tech for many years, I know how important it is to have role models in these industries. When I was younger, I didn’t have anyone to look up to or learn from, so I hope to be able to provide that for other girls.”

2. What is your experience working with children and young adults?

This question is a great way to determine if you have experience working with children and young adults. If the role requires teaching coding, this question can also help employers understand your teaching style. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention any previous jobs that involved working with children or young adults.

Example: “I worked as a camp counselor for two summers while I was in college. During my time there, I learned how to work with kids of all ages and personalities. I found that each child had their own unique learning style, so I made sure to adjust my teaching methods based on what they needed. This helped me create an environment where everyone felt comfortable asking questions.”

3. Do you have any experience developing curriculum or lesson plans?

This question can help interviewers understand your experience with teaching others and how you might approach the role of a developer. If you have any previous experience developing curriculum or lesson plans, describe what you did in detail. If you don’t have direct experience, you can still talk about your ability to learn new things and apply them to different situations.

Example: “In my last job as an IT specialist, I helped develop a training program for our interns that taught them basic coding skills. We used this program to train all new employees on the basics of coding so they could work more efficiently once they started their jobs.”

4. How would you handle a student that was being disruptive in class?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle challenging situations. You may be asked to respond with a specific example of when you had to address disruptive behavior in the classroom and how you handled it.

Example: “In my first year as a teacher, I had a student who would often disrupt class by talking out of turn or not paying attention. At first, I tried to ignore his behavior because I didn’t want to embarrass him. However, after several days of this behavior, I decided that I needed to address it. I pulled him aside during lunch one day and explained to him that he was disrupting other students’ learning experiences. He apologized and promised to focus more on classwork.”

5. Describe how you handled a difficult situation in the classroom.

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle challenges and adapt to new situations. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation in which you faced a challenge and overcame it.

Example: “In my first year of teaching coding classes, I had students who were at different levels of understanding the material. Some students would get frustrated with their peers because they couldn’t keep up with the class. To solve this problem, I started using online programs that allowed me to create individualized lessons for each student. This helped all of my students learn at their own pace while also allowing them to interact with other students.”

6. Tell me about a time when you had to make decisions about a process without consulting your direct manager.

This question can help interviewers understand your ability to make independent decisions and how you approach problem-solving. When answering, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation in which you had to make an important decision without the guidance of your manager and how you handled that process.

Example: “In my previous role as a web developer, I was tasked with creating a new website for one of our clients. The client wanted some unique features on their site, so I decided to create a custom coding language to add those features. My direct manager wasn’t available at the time, so I made the decision to use the coding language to complete the project.”

7. Are you comfortable teaching computer science concepts to students of all ages?

This question can help interviewers determine if you have experience teaching computer science concepts to students of all ages. If you do, they may ask you more questions about your experiences and how you handled them. If you don’t have any experience teaching computer science concepts to students of all ages, you can explain that you’re willing to learn the skills needed to teach younger students.

Example: “I’ve been working as a coding instructor for three years now, so I’m very comfortable teaching computer science concepts to students of all ages. In my current role, I work with both adults and children who are learning how to code. I find it rewarding to see their progress over time and help them develop new skills.”

8. If hired, what types of things would you do to ensure that our girls are learning effectively?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you have experience teaching and how you would apply those skills in this role. If you don’t have any formal teaching experience, consider what other types of training or mentoring you’ve done in the past.

Example: “I believe that learning should be fun and engaging for students. I would make sure that all lessons are hands-on and interactive so that our girls can learn by doing. I also think it’s important to give them time to explore on their own and discover new things about coding. For example, when I taught my daughter how to code, we started with simple commands like ‘if’ statements and worked up from there. She was able to see her progress as she learned more.”

9. Can you tell me about a time where you were able to inspire someone else?

This question is a great way to see how you can motivate others and help them learn. This skill is important for any teacher, but it’s also helpful in other roles as well. When answering this question, think of an example where you helped someone else learn something new or encouraged them to try something they were nervous about.

Example: “When I was teaching my coding class at the community college, there was one student who was struggling with the material. She would always ask me questions during office hours, which made it hard for her to get through the rest of the day. After talking with her, I realized that she just needed more time to understand the concepts. So, I offered to meet with her after class every day until she felt comfortable with the material.”

10. What is your background in coding?

This question is a great way to learn more about the candidate’s experience and background in coding. It can also help you determine if they have any relevant skills that may be beneficial for the role. If you are hiring someone with no coding experience, this is an opportunity to teach them how to code.

Example: “I started learning how to code when I was 12 years old. My dad taught me HTML and CSS, which led me to enrolling in my high school’s computer science program. While there, I learned JavaScript, Python and Java. After graduating from college, I worked as a freelance web developer where I gained valuable experience working with clients.”

11. Do you have any experience mentoring others?

This question can help interviewers understand your leadership skills and how you might mentor other girls who code. Mentoring others is an important skill for a girl who codes because it helps them learn coding faster and more efficiently.

Example: “I have mentored several of my friends on their coding projects, which has helped me develop my communication and teaching skills. I also volunteered to teach coding classes at the local library once a week. This experience was very rewarding as I got to see younger girls learn coding and build confidence in themselves.”

12. What do you think is most important for a teacher to be successful?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you understand what it takes to be an effective teacher. When answering this question, make sure to emphasize the qualities and skills that are most important for teachers to have in order to help their students succeed.

Example: “I think one of the most important things for a teacher to be successful is patience. Students learn at different paces, so I believe it’s essential for teachers to be patient with them as they work through new concepts. Another quality I think is important is flexibility. As technology changes, we need to adapt our teaching methods to ensure our students are learning the right information. Finally, I think it’s vital for teachers to be organized. If they’re not organized, they may miss important details or lose track of assignments.”

13. Do you have experience teaching computer science?

This question can help interviewers understand your teaching style and how you interact with students. If you have experience teaching computer science, explain what you did in the classroom to engage students and encourage them to learn more about coding.

Example: “I’ve never taught a class on coding, but I do volunteer at my local library once a month where I teach kids ages eight through 12 basic coding skills using Scratch. The kids love learning new things, so I always make sure to start each lesson with an icebreaker game that gets everyone excited for the rest of the session. I also find that having snacks available helps keep the kids focused and eager to learn.”

14. In what way do you think technology can help empower women?

This question can help interviewers understand your passion for technology and how you might use it to benefit others. When answering, consider the ways in which you’ve seen technology empower women in your own life or through stories of other women who have used technology to their advantage.

Example: “Technology has helped me immensely throughout my career as a developer. I think that if more women were exposed to coding at an early age, they would be able to see its potential and learn how to harness it. In fact, I learned how to code when I was just 12 years old because I wanted to create video games like the ones I played. My parents encouraged me to pursue this interest, and now I’m using my skills to develop software that helps people.”

15. We believe that every girl should have access to computing education. What do you think needs to change to achieve this goal?

This question is a great way to show your passion for the cause and how you can help. You should answer this question by explaining what you think needs to change, as well as how you would implement these changes.

Example: “I believe that one of the biggest barriers to achieving gender equality in STEM fields is access to education. If we want more girls to learn about computing, then we need to make sure they have equal access to computer science classes at school. I would start by encouraging my local government to provide funding for schools to hire additional teachers or purchase new computers.”

16. What type of environment do you feel like helps you learn best?

This question can help the interviewer get a sense of how you’ll fit in with their team. They may want to know if you prefer working alone or collaborating, whether you like to be hands-on or more theoretical and other factors that might affect your ability to learn new skills quickly.

Example: “I feel like I learn best when I have access to mentors who are willing to answer my questions and provide feedback on my work. I also find it helpful to have a group of peers to bounce ideas off of and collaborate with. In my last role, we had weekly coding challenges where everyone worked together to solve problems. This helped me develop my problem-solving skills and gave me an opportunity to practice explaining my code to others.”

17. What makes an effective leader?

Leadership is an important skill for any professional, but it’s especially relevant in the tech industry. Employers ask this question to see if you have what it takes to be a leader on their team. Use your answer to show that you’re a strong leader who can motivate others and make decisions.

Example: “An effective leader needs to be someone who people want to follow. I think leaders should be empathetic and compassionate because they need to understand how their employees feel. They also need to be decisive and confident when making tough decisions. Leaders need to be able to inspire confidence in themselves and those around them.”

18. What do you think is the most important thing a teacher can do to keep their students engaged?

This question is a great way to assess your interpersonal skills and ability to work with others. It also helps the interviewer understand how you might fit into their team of teachers. Your answer should include specific strategies that you use in the classroom to keep students engaged.

Example: “I think it’s important for teachers to make sure they’re always prepared for class. I know from experience that when a teacher doesn’t have everything ready, it can be distracting for students. I always make sure I’m organized and have all my materials before class starts so I don’t miss any information or get behind.”

19. Have you ever been involved with a nonprofit organization before?

This question is a great way to learn more about your candidate’s interests and passions. It can also help you determine if they have any experience working with nonprofits or other organizations that support social causes.

Example: “I’ve always been passionate about helping others, so I volunteered at my local animal shelter for two years while in high school. I helped walk the dogs, clean cages and play with the cats. I also organized fundraisers and participated in community outreach events. The organization was able to hire an additional staff member because of our efforts, which made me feel really good.”

20. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Employers ask this question to see if you have a plan for your career. They want to know that you are motivated and ambitious, but also realistic about the time it takes to advance in your field. When answering this question, be honest about what you hope to achieve in your career. Explain how working at this company will help you reach those goals.

Example: “I would love to be managing my own team of developers by then. I think working here would give me the skills and experience I need to get there. I am passionate about coding and I’m excited to learn more from your team. I believe that with hard work and dedication, I can become an excellent developer.”