Technical interviews don't just test whether you can code.

They test how you think, communicate, and handle uncertainty under pressure.

These five mistakes happen in interview after interview. They're all preventable. And most candidates don't realize they're making them.

Mistake #1: Jumping to Code Without Clarifying Requirements

The question lands. Your instinct is to start coding immediately to show speed and confidence.

This is almost always wrong.

Technical interview problems are almost never as simple as they first appear. Constraints are hidden, edge cases are deliberately omitted, and the correct interpretation often depends on information you don't have yet.

Interviewers deliberately leave requirements ambiguous to see whether you recognize ambiguity and ask good questions.…