C/C++ interview question

[neenasuresh]

Will you plz tell me the standard c++ interview question?

[svlsr2000]

There is nothing like standard interview questions, being an interviewer i always try to see whether the candidate is having good knowledge of basics of c++.

[JosAH]

Sometimes I (jokingly) ask them to spell the name of the creator of C++ ;-)

kind regards,

Jos

[mac11]

Sometimes I (jokingly) ask them to spell the name of the creator of C++ ;-)

Dude! Thats messed up!

[arne]

Will you plz tell me the standard c++ interview question?

You may want to have a look into Peter van der Linden's book "Deep C secrets". One of the last chapters gives some of the interview questions he used to ask.

[DeMan]

In my experience, interviews want to know that you know the language (a little bit) and that you understand data structures and/or algorithms (ie programming techniques not necessarily language specific) and more importantly can see how you combine both. They also like to see that you can think.
While I doubt there are "standard" questions, I would suggest studying some data structures and thinking about what you can do with them (I think lists, queues/stacks and binary trees wuold be the most likely).
To show you can think, they will usually ask you to manipulate/work with the structure to do something slightly out of the ordinary (that is, they will assume you can create/traverse the structure but will have you solve a problem with it). For Example: One that I have seen on theses forums before (more than once) relates to finding the midpoint of a linked list.
It is also good to understand how different data structures vary (eg difference between doubly & singly linked list, queue and stack) as well as differences in simple algorithms (eg post-order/pre-order/inorder traversal of trees, different search and sort methods).

A lot depeneds on the type of position. If you are going for a graduate/entry level position, they often want to gauge what you know. This means they will talk to you before asking questions and ask you your strengths. Try to sell the ideas listed above that you understand, to prompt for a question in that area (to confirm your story). For example:

Q: What areas did you study at School?
A: I completed courses in Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence and Data Structures and Algorithms. During the Data Structures and Algorithms course my major project required me to design a simple program to store University Enrolments. Focusing on optimizing search times rather than Add/Delete times, I decided to organize my data in a Binary tree....etc

In this way, you claim "I know about BT's" and you should get a question on one. As with School, ultimately the prospective employer wants to know what you know not what you don't know.

Of course, different companies, different countries possibly different story, but in my experience: Always sell your knowledge, and try (not always possible) to steer interviews toward areas you know. Most important though, be confident but not cocky and don't just make things up if you don't know (even if the interviewer is only a human resourcer).