interview research and preparation coursera answers

Interview Research and Preparation Coursera Quiz Answers

• In Business Quiz
• In Interviewing and Resume Writing in English Specialization
• On March 5, 2024

Get All Weeks Interview Research and Preparation Coursera Quiz Answers

Table of contents, phrases for demonstrating skills quiz answers.

Q1. Which verb goes in the blank: to _____ a mistake.

Q2. Choose the verb that could go in the blank: ______ a dispute.

Q3. Choose the verb that could go in this blank: ______ someone to do something

Q4. Choose the verb that could go in the blank: _____ on priorities.

Q5. Choose a verb that could go in the blank: _____ a task.

Concept Review Quiz Answers

Q1. What are the three main components of educated English speech?

• Pronunciation

Q2. The sounds of a language refer to

• Consonants and Vowels
• Melody and Rhythm
• Pronunciation and Accent

Q3. The rhythm of English consists of

• Stress and Pitch
• Alternations and Stress
• Pitch and Intonation

Q4. Rhythm is characteristic of

• Words and Phrases
• Intonation and Melody

Q5. A brief, quiet vowel is called a

• Quiet vowel
• Small vowel
• Reduced vowel

Q6. A longer, louder vowel is called a

Q7. How are stress and vowel quality related?

• Only stressed vowels are full.
• Only unstressed vowels are full.

Q8. The main stress of a phrase is called

• Focal stress
• Full stress
• Main stress

Q9. Melody in English speech consists of

• Pitch Jumps and Intonation
• Phrases and Stress
• Tones and Harmony

Q10. Spoken English uses

• a narrow pitch range and evenly-timed syllables
• a wide pitch range with stress-timed rhythms

Q11. What will help you most to develop clear speech?

• Focusing on producing the correct sounds of English
• Focusing on producing the rhythm and intonation of English

Q12. What practice activities are most useful for improving your pronunciation? (Choose two.)

• Listening to native speech.
• Mirroring recordings of native speakers.
• Covert rehearsal and self-talk.
• Working with minimal pair exercises online, practicing pairs like “ship” and “sheep”.

Q1. How many pitch levels does a native English speaker use within the natural register of their voice?

Q2. Whether intonation jumps up or glides up doesn’t make any difference in English speech.

Q3. Step-down intonation just means dropping your voice.

Q4. Rising too high in pitch is a common error non-native speakers make.

Q5. Stress in English is mainly about making full vowels louder.

Q1. Which phrase below describes how a speaker breaks his or her speech into a meaningful group of words?

• Stress group
• Focal group
• Thought group

Q2. How do English speakers typically signal important information?

• They use focal stress
• They use syllable stress
• They use a word stress
• They use peak stress

Q3. What elements are used to mark the end of a thought group?

• A lengthened syllable
• A pitch change

Q4. The wrong phrase rhythm can completely distort your message.

Q5. Pausing at the end of major thought groups can help listeners understand you better.

Q1. Where does neutral focal stress occur?

• On the last stressed syllable in a thought group.
• On any word a speaker chooses to emphasize.
• On words that carry contrasting information.

Q2. Neutral stress is different for statements and questions.

Q3. Where does focal stress normally fall?

• On function words.
• On content words.

Q4. In general, speakers use focal stress to signal

• Old information
• New information

Q5. Mark the types of focal stress discussed in the lecture.

• Neutral stress
• Emphatic stress
• Contrastive stress
• Information stress

Q6. In the statement “I said she might consider a new position”, where would a speaker place focal stress to emphasize he or she was not talking about just any position?

• on “position”

Q7. In the statement “I said she might consider a new position”, where would a speaker place neutral focal stress?

Q8. In the statement “I said she might consider a new position”, where would a speaker place focal stress if he or she thought the listener had not understood what was said.

Q1. How many syllables are in the word “information”?

Q2. Using “S” to show a stressed syllable and “w” to show an unstressed syllable, how is “interview” pronounced?

Q3. Using “S” to show a stressed syllable and “w” to show an unstressed syllable, how is the noun “research” pronounced?

Q4. Using “S” to show a stressed syllable and “w” to show an unstressed syllable, how is the verb”research” pronounced?

Q5. Using “S” to show a stressed syllable and “w” to show an unstressed syllable, how is “promotion” pronounced?

Q6. How many syllables are in the word “negotiation”?

Q7. Using “S” to show a stressed syllable and “w” to show an unstressed syllable, how is “influential” pronounced?

Q8. Using “S” to show a stressed syllable and “w” to show an unstressed syllable, how is “qualify” pronounced?

Q9. Using “S” to show a stressed syllable and “w” to show an unstressed syllable, how is “qualification” pronounced?

Q10. Using “S” to show a stressed syllable and “w” to show an unstressed syllable, how is “strategic” pronounced?

Lesson 1-3 Review Quiz Answers

Q1. Why do native speakers study grammar in school?

• To make them better speakers
• To make them better writers

Q2. Choose the word closest in meaning to “chunk”.

• Collocation

Q3. Which of these are common English chunks?

• strictly talking
• off the top of my head
• once in a while
• time and time again
• have not an idea

Q4. Which of these collocations is incorrect?

• make an appointment
• have a decision
• take a break

Q5. Fill in the blank: Would you please come and take a look ___ this?

Q6. Fill in the blank: He has never taken an interest ____ sports.

Q7. Fill in the blank: Tomorrow, I have an interview ___ the company.

Q8. If asked about your desired salary, you might say you would expect a

• competitive salary
• competition salary
• competing salary

Q9. If you are very busy, you might say you

• are overloaded with work
• are heavily loaded over work
• are loaded over with work

Q10. If you have experience in a field, you might say you have

• a track record proved
• a proved track record
• a track record proven
• a proven track record

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We are Team Networking Funda, a group of passionate authors and networking enthusiasts committed to sharing our expertise and experiences in networking and team building. With backgrounds in Data Science, Information Technology, Health, and Business Marketing, we bring diverse perspectives and insights to help you navigate the challenges and opportunities of professional networking and teamwork.

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How to Get Interviews (Coursera Networking for Job Search Guide)

January 19, 2021

Download this guide in PDF format

This guide is designed to help job seekers get more interviews. If you’re eager to increase the number of interviews you’re currently getting, we have some tips and strategies for you that can make a big difference in your results and help you overcome some of the challenges associated with job boards, such as out-of-date listings and heavy application volumes that can make it hard to stand out.

This guide will help you address the challenges of job boards through networking. Because the idea of networking can seem daunting for many, this guide will focus on four actionable steps you can take to make the most of your networking efforts. You’ll learn everything from how to find people to connect with and how to schedule and prepare for important conversations, to what to talk about and how to follow up. If some of these strategies and actions feel challenging at first, don’t worry; they get easier over time. Plus, you’ll be getting more interviews, so it will all be worth it!  

The Importance of Networking

Learning how to network effectively is a really valuable skill with a wide range of benefits. It’s something you’ll want to continue to focus on, and the connections you make and maintain through strategic networking can have long-lasting positive effects on your career advancement. 

For our purposes here, we want to focus specifically on how strategic networking can help you overcome some of the challenges associated with online job applications. Benefits include:

• Getting accurate information about job availability.  The fact that a role is posted online doesn’t mean that the hiring team is actively reviewing applications. There is often a delay between the time a role is open and the time it’s posted online, as well as the time it is filled and taken down from online job boards. At the same time, there are often open positions that are not (yet) posted online for a variety of reasons. Networking can help you ensure you’ve got up-to-date information.
• Learning more details about the role . Job descriptions are not always precise. As a result, you might end up applying for roles that you think are a good fit but are, in fact not. Or, you might fail to properly tailor your application to meet the needs of the hiring team. Insider information via networking can help you understand what the team is really looking for.
• Standing out amid the competition.  Once a job is posted to a job board, there are often tens or even hundreds of people applying to it, so it can be difficult to stand out. Networking can help you get an early jump on a new opportunity before it’s posted.

The networking process described in this guide can help you address all these challenges. 

Through a short and focused conversation with someone at your target company—who has insider knowledge of relevant opportunities—you will be able to:

• Understand the requirements for your target role at that specific company. Jobs with the same title can vary greatly from company to company, and the actual requirements are not always obvious from job descriptions.
• Gain insight into the company’s organizational structure and team culture to learn what’s required for success, and understand how best to position yourself in your application materials and interviews.
• Learn about ways to monitor and apply for opportunities at that specific company, so you can know exactly what’s available and how to float your application to the top of the pile. You might even be able to get a referral.
• Establish a relationship with a professional who might be able to help you in your current job search and be a part of your professional network moving forward. 

Networking for Your Job Search: The Process

How to connect with the right people

The process of networking for your job search begins with identifying the right people to network with. Because you are looking for insider information on the role and its application process—as well as other relevant opportunities—you need to connect with insiders. 

People you are going to network with must work in, or close to, your target role at a company you are interested in working for. These people will have the information you need, beyond what’s publicly posted online. They will understand the exact skills and qualities the hiring team is looking for. They’ll know the status of currently open roles and upcoming openings, and they might even be able to connect you directly to the hiring team. 

If you are already connected to the right people, you can jump straight to Step 2 below. If you don’t currently know such people, begin with finding and connecting with them as described in Step 1.

Step 1: Finding the right people

To begin, put together a list of the companies you’re interested in. The more companies you have on your list, the more people you will be able to reach out to, and the more opportunities that will be available to you. Don’t be surprised if your company list grows to 50 or more companies. It might sound like a lot, but remember that not every company will have the right role available when you need it.

If you are not sure how to identify target companies for your job search, consider the following ideas:

• Search job boards for openings.  If a company has ever posted a relevant role, it’s worth exploring further.
• Go through your existing contacts and research the companies where they work.  Even if you don’t know anyone in your target role, your personal and professional contacts might be able to introduce you to their relevant coworkers.
• Identify a target industry  (e.g., online education, medical supplies, entertainment). If you know one company within that industry, you can perform a search for its competitors to expand your list.
• Map out companies located in your area  (or companies with a remote workforce, if you are looking to work remotely). You want to make sure you can definitely be considered for any opportunity you uncover. 

Remember, your target companies do not need to have open jobs posted—you will find out exactly what is currently available there through your networking conversations. 

Step 2: Connecting via LinkedIn

Once you know the companies you are interested in, you can start connecting with relevant people. The method described here uses LinkedIn because it is accessible to most people. You can also ask for introductions from mutual connections, attend professional events to meet people, post in networking communities online, or use any other way you prefer.

To find people through LinkedIn, begin with performing a LinkedIn People Search using your target job title as the search string, and setting a filter for “Current Companies.” See below for an example searching for a Data Analyst at Coursera.

Review the profiles that come up to identify people you want to reach out to. Focus on people you’d like to learn from and that you think you can build a rapport with based on their background, interests, and even their tone of communication.  Keep in mind that people with well-developed LinkedIn profiles—that include profile photos, summaries, and other details—are more likely to reply to you than those who have very basic profiles, because they are likely to be more active LinkedIn users.

TIP:   On LinkedIn, you can only access profiles of people who are in your network (i.e.,  your 1st-degree, 2nd-degree, and 3rd-degree connections), as well as fellow members of your LinkedIn groups. Expand your network by adding more 1st-degree connections and joining groups related to your interests. You should aim to have at least 50 connections on LinkedIn, but a few hundred will provide you access to a greater network.

Once you identify a person you might be interested in speaking to, send them a connection request with a note explaining why you are reaching out. 

Here is a sample LinkedIn outreach message:

Hi <name>, I discovered your profile because of the interesting work you do as a <role> at <company>. I’d appreciate an opportunity to ask you a few questions to learn more about what you do and what it is like to work at <company>. Thank you in advance for connecting with me!

TIP:   If you have shared connections with the person you are reaching out to, you can ask your connection for an introduction. If you are not comfortable doing that (for example, because you feel you don’t know them well enough), you can at least mention the shared connection in your connection request note, as this might be helpful.

Note that some of your connection requests may go unanswered. Don’t get discouraged or take it personally. Many people are too busy or simply don’t monitor their LinkedIn messages. The great thing is that LinkedIn provides you with access to a large number of professionals, and it’s a great idea to reach out to a lot of people. 

Step 3: Schedule and prepare for the conversation

Once you’ve established the connection, you can ask your new contact for a time to speak. It is important to be open to communicating via the connection’s preferred approach (in-person, video, phone, in writing, etc.), but ideally, you want to schedule a live conversation. It’s generally a more effective way to build a relationship, and can often make it easier to get your specific questions answered. 

Make scheduling easy by suggesting a specific time to speak, offering to work around their calendar, and sending out a calendar invitation with information on how you will connect (phone, video conferencing, etc.). 

Here is a sample meeting request message:

Thank you for accepting my connection request! As I mentioned, I reached out because I’m researching <industry/company> and would really appreciate an opportunity to ask you a few questions about your experience in <role, company>. Would you be open to scheduling a 15-minute video or phone call on <date, time>? I’m also happy to adjust to your schedule if you prefer another time.

Note that some people find it easier to provide information in writing. If you don’t get a response to your original request for a conversation, you can follow up by asking whether it would be easier for them to answer a few questions over email. Remember, everyone is different and it’s important to gauge and adjust to the style of the person you are reaching out to!

Don’t be discouraged if someone does not reply to you immediately. People are busy. Since you have already established a connection, it’s a good idea to follow up after a few days, and then again a week later to give them a chance to reply. 

If you still don’t hear back after a couple of follow-ups, you can assume this person is too busy at this time to speak with you and move on to other potential contacts. Remember that while this is a process of developing personal connections, it’s also a numbers game, and you should plan to reach out to a lot of people!.

Before moving on, acknowledge your decision to your new contact—a quick note will help ensure there is no awkwardness so you can easily reconnect in the future.

Here is a sample moving-on note:

I’m sorry we haven’t been able to connect. I definitely don’t want to flood your inbox with requests, so I just wanted to thank you again for connecting with me, and if you do end up having some time to chat, please let me know.

Preparation

Once the conversation is on the calendar, it’s time to prepare. Remember, your focus should be on learning about your target role at the company and determining the best ways to connect to new opportunities. Things you’ll want to focus on include:

• What is the day-to-day like in the role? What is the team structure, how are priorities decided, what do they like about their work, and what do they struggle with?
• What skills and experiences do the hiring team look for? What is essential, and what is nice-to-have?
• Do they think your skills and background are a good fit for the role, or are there ways you can improve your candidacy through education or experience?
• What is the best way to monitor and apply for opportunities? Is there anything coming up that is not yet posted on the careers page?
• Are there any other people they can recommend that you speak with?

To inform your questions, you’ll want to conduct thorough research on the person you are speaking with, the company they work at, and your target role. Consider the following sources of information:

• Your contact’s LinkedIn profile, and any information it links to . Look for information to inform your questions as well as anything that can help you build rapport, such as shared volunteering interests, hobbies, school experience, etc. 
• Job descriptions for your target role at the company  (if available). During the conversation, you’ll have an opportunity to clarify requirements and responsibilities.
• LinkedIn profiles of people working in your target role at the company . You want to understand their skill sets and backgrounds to get additional insights into what it takes to succeed in this role.
• Company website . You should have a good understanding of the company’s mission, business, and anything else they chose to highlight to the public.
• Company reviews on platforms such as Glassdoor . It’s a great idea to see what people are saying about the company, so you can ask more specific questions about the culture.
• News about the company . Just in case there is something significant happening at the company, you want to be aware of it.
• Company careers page . Make sure you know which roles are currently posted so that you can ask about the status, and about applying to them directly.

Step 4: Speak with your new contact

Speaking with strangers does not come naturally to many people. If you are feeling uncomfortable before or during your first few conversations, that’s completely normal! It will get easier with time as you develop the invaluable skill of networking. 

Remember that the other person is also going into a conversation with a stranger (you) and might not know what to expect. To make both of you comfortable and to help build rapport, be ready to set the structure for the conversation.

• Remind them about who you are, why you reached out, and what your goals are for the conversation . By this point, you will have done extensive research in preparation for the conversation, but your new contact might not have had the time to look at your profile and doesn’t know why exactly you reached out. Help them out by starting with a brief overview of your background and the reasons for the conversation.
• Monitor time . Conversations like this generally last 15–30 minutes. Make sure you respect the other person’s time by keeping the meeting to the length you had originally agreed upon, unless the other person wants to continue talking.
• Make it about them . While you are there to learn, the person you are speaking to is being generous with their time, and it’s your responsibility to make them feel valued and appreciated. Explain why you wanted to talk to them and show the research you’ve done. Honest praise and genuine engagement go a long way.
• Listen more than talk . Since you are there to learn about their experience and company, the primary focus of the conversation should be on the other person. Some people might be more talkative, while others may need more input from you in order to engage. Ideally, they should be speaking for 50% to 80% of the conversation. Don’t be afraid of short pauses, and be respectful and patient if they need time to gather their thoughts. 
• Take note of action items as you go along . There are many action items that can come out of a conversation like this: you might need to send the other person your resume, they might offer to connect you with someone else, either one of you might want to share articles or resources that comes up in the conversation, etc. It’s your responsibility to keep a record of these action items, so you can follow up on your promises and make it easy for the other person to remember theirs.
• Close the conversation by clarifying what’s next . Thank them for their time, summarize what you have learned, and go over any action items from the conversation. The goal is to make the other person feel useful and appreciated—after all, they’ve been generous with their time.

Asking for a referral

Getting a referral is an ideal outcome for a networking conversation. However, not every conversation will end in a referral—sometimes there will be no role available, and sometimes the person might not be open to referring you for a variety of reasons. Make sure not to take this personally or push too hard—their reasons may have nothing to do with you specifically. It’s important to respect their boundaries and comfort levels. It is also important to go into the conversation without the expectation of a referral. Focusing on learning about the role and getting advice from your new connection will take the pressure off you and them. 

If, during the course of the conversation, you confirm that there is a role available that you are qualified for, do consider asking for a referral. You should be able to sense from the conversation whether the person thinks you could be a valuable addition to their team and therefore open to referring to you. If you have any doubts about that, provide an easy way for them to say “no” to you to avoid an awkward situation. For example, you can ask, “Would you be able to refer me to this role, or do you recommend I apply online?”

If your contact agrees to refer you, make sure you understand exactly what’s required from you. Depending on the company’s system, you might need to apply through a special referral link, have your contact submit your resume internally on your behalf, or apply online and then have your contact reach out to the relevant member of the hiring team. 

Step 5: Follow up

Congratulations on completing the conversation! 

Send a thank-you email

Always send a thank-you email within a day or two to the person who has been generous enough to share their time and expertise with you. Go beyond the basic “thank you” and reinforce the connection you’ve made by:

• Reiterating what you have learned
• Following up on your action items from the conversation. Include any materials you had promised to share and list out what else you are going to do based on the conversation (make sure to follow up on those as well when the time comes!)
• Gently reminding then about any action items the other person had volunteered for
• Offering to repay the favor by sharing any information that might be valuable to the person, or offering to connect them with people in your network

Here is a sample thank-you note:

Hi <name>, 

It was great to catch up with you today and hear about the incredible work you are doing at <company>, and I was excited to learn about our shared interest in <x>. Here is a link to the article I had mentioned on <topic> that I thought you might enjoy.

Thanks again for sharing about the <role> opening with me and sharing my resume with the hiring manager! My resume is attached. Please let me know if you have any questions or need anything else from me.

Again, it was great to speak with you. Thank you for your time and willingness to share your experience with me! Please let me know if I can ever be of any help. I have a pretty extensive network in <industry> and would be happy to introduce you to any of my connections. 

Maintain the connection

Some conversations naturally lead to ongoing relationships where people find a lot in common and naturally stay in touch, while others don’t create enough rapport to solidify the connection. Even if your conversation falls into the second category, as long as you feel that you’d like to keep this person in your active network, there are actions you can take to develop the connection over time. The key to developing your new connection is finding natural touchpoints moving forward. For example:

• Share updates on your job search . Follow up on any advice from the conversation once you have a chance to act on it. Your connection will appreciate that you valued their guidance and will be glad to know if it helped. Also, remember to update and thank them once your job search is complete.
• Send interesting information as it comes up . If you come across an article or information that reminds you of the person, it is a great reason to send them a quick note.
• Engage on LinkedIn . If your new connection is active on LinkedIn, commenting on their posts and updates is a great way to continue the conversation.
• Add them to your celebrations calendar . Add them to your holiday mailing list. In addition, if any important dates, such as a birthday, come up in the conversation, make sure to mark your calendar and send your congratulations.

Do be mindful about your rate and volume of outreach, as you don’t want to overdo it. Make sure to establish a pace that feels right for the relationship.

Continue Growing Your Network

You now know how to find, reach out to, and develop relationships with people who can help your job search through insider information. Not every conversation you have will result in an immediate job lead, but many will. Networking is the most reliable way to get interviews, and it’s available to everyone with a LinkedIn account, effective strategies and some grit. 

Don’t be discouraged if you don’t feel great about your first few conversations, or if they don’t result in referrals. It is normal to feel uneasy about speaking with strangers, particularly at first. It’s a skill you need to practice. Each conversation you have with an industry professional is a win. You are building one of your most valuable professional assets—your network—one person at a time!

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How to Prepare for a Postdoc Interview

So, you’ve been invited for a postdoc interview. Congratulations! This means the principal investigator (PI) liked what they saw in your CV, cover letter, and letters of recommendation. The interview will allow both of you to determine if your skills, experience, and personality are a good fit for the position.

A postdoc interview often has multiple parts. First-round interviews are usually conducted one-on-one with the PI over video, followed by on-campus interviews for the top candidates. The on-campus interview will be one to two days. During this time, you will have another in-person interview with the PI, meet with other members of the lab or department, tour campus, and give a talk about your current research.

Here are some ways to prepare for each stage of the interview to make sure you stand out from the crowd:

Practice Your Answers         

You can’t predict every question that will be asked during each round of your interview, but the job description will give you a good idea of the technical skills and qualifications the PI is looking for. You are likely to be asked research-centred questions such as:

• What are the main findings of your PhD?
• What areas of our research interest you and why?
• How will your research fit in our department?
• How would you seek funding for your work?
• How will this postdoc help you reach your professional goals?
• Do you have an experience mentoring graduate students?

You should also be prepared to answer questions about topics such as teamwork, your strengths and weaknesses, and how you deal with failure. Before the interview, you should also come up with elevator pitches in answer the two most common interview questions: “tell me about yourself” and “what do you research?”

Ask for Feedback

While thinking through these questions and taking notes is fine, the best preparation is actually saying your answers out loud in front of another person. Ask your supervisor to hold a mock interview with you. Having hired their own postdocs, they are in a position to offer valuable feedback about your answers and ask questions you hadn’t thought of.

Prepare Some Questions of Your Own

Remember, an interview goes both ways. A postdoc is an important part of your training and you want to be sure you choose one that’s right for you and your future career. You want to be sure you understand the PI’s expectations for you and that they are clear on your goals. Some potential questions include:

• What have past postdocs done after leaving the lab?
• Where does the lab funding come from? How is the postdoc position funded?
• Will I able to take my project with me once the postdoc ends?
• How does the lab handle authorship?
• What is the institution’s postdoc policy?

Prepare Your Talk

If you reach the on-campus interview stage, you will be asked to give a 40-minute talk to the lab about your current research. Your talk should introduce your topic, cover the experiments you’ve done, their results, and the implications for the field. Remember not to get too technical and always put your findings in context as it is unlikely everyone in the room will be specialists in your field. Take care when preparing your slides and make sure they are easy to follow with no errors. You should practice your talk several times on your own, as well as in front of an audience of your labmates. It’s also a good idea to give a practice talk to someone outside of your field if you are interviewing in a different field than you did your PhD in.

Read Up on the Lab

Take some time to familiarize yourself with the lab and its recent publications. Look at who the current lab members are and their backgrounds. Read a few of the lab’s recent publication and note which lab members are working on each project. This will allow you to ask intelligent questions about their work when you meet them.

Dress the Part

You know what they say about a first impression. An interview is always an occasion to look your best. Your day to day attire as a researcher will likely be casual, but you should still dress up for your interview. Wear business attire and while you’re at it, get a haircut too. This tip also applies to Skype interviews, for which you should wear a complete outfit just in case you have to stand up for some reason or switch locations.

An often overlooked part of the interview process comes after the call ends or you leave campus. In the 24 hours after the interview ends, you should send the PI an email thanking them for their time and reiterating your interest in the position.

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Machine Learning Interview Questions (+ Tips to Answer Them)

Machine learning interviews allow you to showcase your skills, knowledge, and work. Read on to find some of the most common questions you can expect to be asked and find tips on answering them confidently.

Technical and programming interview questions are common for machine learning roles. Recruiters use interviews to assess a qualified candidate's knowledge of fundamental machine-learning methods and concepts.

This is your chance to stand out from the crowded applicant pool and highlight the qualities that make you a great candidate for the job. Experience and certifications in machine learning (ML) can open doors to many jobs, such as machine learning engineer, data scientist, cybersecurity analyst, cloud architect, and more. But to get these roles, you'll need to demonstrate to recruiters that you know your stuff.

If you're preparing for an interview with a machine learning focus, then there are some common interview questions that you should prepare for. To help you get started and build the confidence you need to ace your following interview, here are some of the most common machine learning interview questions you'll encounter and some interview prep advice and tips you should keep in mind. 

What to expect in a machine learning interview

Machine learning interviews allow you to highlight your skills, knowledge, and work beyond what you can put on your resume.

Depending on the role, the interview questions and tasks you're expected to perform may vary. Typically, you can expect a round of live questions to assess your knowledge of machine-learning techniques and your ability to perform under pressure.

Here are four of the most common interview questions, along with tips on how to answer each one:

1. How do you handle missing or corrupted data in a data set?

This question helps demonstrate your problem-solving skills and experience dealing with corrupted data. At the most basic level, this question asks about your process to see how you work.

How to answer: A great way to answer this question is to suggest methods that may solve the problem. It’s a good idea to include examples and more than one solution to help show your understanding of data sets.  

At the same time, ensure you emphasise the concrete steps you take to solve these problems, so your interviewer can get a clearer picture of what you look like when you're in your element.

2. Explain the difference between deep learning, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning.

This question tests your knowledge in the field. The interviewer may want to know that you can explain the subtle differences between each concept to ensure a strong grasp of foundational machine learning knowledge. 

How to answer: Make it clear that you understand that machine learning is a subset of AI and that deep learning is a subset of machine learning by describing each. Rather than just stating the obvious, use examples in your response to show that you have entirely mastered these important concepts.

3.  Describe your favourite machine learning algorithm.

This question allows you to show your preferences and individual skills while showing a deep understanding of various ML algorithms. Whether you like the simplicity of a common classification algorithm or a more complex one that acts as the basis for a predictive model, this is your chance to show your passion for your field. 

Some common machine learning algorithms you might consider mentioning include:

Linear regression

Logistic regression

Naive Bayes

Decision trees

Random forest algorithm

K-nearest neighbour (KNN)

How to answer: The exact algorithm you mention is only as important as your reasons for selecting it. You can use this question as an opportunity to showcase your knowledge of the field by drawing direct comparisons to other algorithms. Hence, it’s clear your expertise extends further than the ML algorithm you are highlighting.

As you answer the question, use examples from your career and studies to support your answer. Focusing on concrete examples will also allow you to highlight the work you've already done that can prepare you for the job.

4. What's the difference between unsupervised learning and supervised learning?

This is another common question to assess your understanding of foundational machine learning techniques, which will likely undergird much of your future work.

How to answer: Make it clear that you know the distinction between labelled and unlabelled training data sets and how they're used to create different machine learning models, such as classification or linear regression. Also, highlight any machine learning projects you have undertaken and explain how you used supervised or unsupervised learning to accomplish them.

Tips to help ace your machine learning interview

The best way to ace an interview is to prepare in advance. Aside from practicing the above interview questions, here are some additional tips to help make a great impression and show your suitability for the role:

1. Apply concepts and work on your relevant skills.

Throughout your interview, connect your answers with real-life examples, especially ones that reference your work. Recruiters are usually looking for experience and knowledge, and the more experience you can demonstrate while discussing machine learning concepts, the more you'll be able to highlight your preparedness for the job. 

It’s also beneficial to show that you continuously learn and develop your skills. During the interview, show how driven you are to improve yourself and your expertise. A recruiter may be impressed that you always strive to improve and grow. 

2. Focus on what you know.

If you mention a method in your answer, chances are the interviewer will ask you more about it. You can set yourself up for success with relevant answers on your expertise and experience.

3. Research the company. 

Researching the company will allow you to tailor your responses and examples to the business. It can also help you learn more about the company's values and work culture and share how you align with them in the interview.

One way to get an insider's view of the company or industry is to conduct an informal informational interview or read employee reviews online.

4. Be sure to write clearly.

Part of the interview might include specific tests or written tasks. If this is the case, write clearly and thoroughly explain your answers. You may be tested on your scientific rigour, so include charts and citations and introduce notions when necessary.  For example, whether you're tasked with creating a simple or complex model, showing every step of the process is essential so your potential employer can see your work.

5. If you’re unsure of an answer, it’s okay to say so.

You may be asked a question you don’t know the answer to. A straightforward approach is to say, ‘I’m not sure of the answer, but here is how I would find out ...’

Take your time answering. In this situation, work through your answer out loud. Discussing your thought processes may allow the interviewer to ask more questions. Remember, they want to help you reach an answer and understand your problem-solving skills.

Brush up on your machine learning expertise with a self-paced course from an industry leader, like SAS' Machine Learning Rock Star , or hone your skills through Andrew Ng's three-course Machine Learning Specialisation offered by Stanford and DeepLearning.AI. Upon completing each course or Specialisation, you’ll also have a certificate to add to your resume, portfolio, or LinkedIn profile—a potential indicator of your skills and job preparedness.  

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Module quiz: Introduction to the coding interview Quiz Answers

In this article i am gone to share Coursera Course: Coding Interview Preparation by Meta Week 1 | Module quiz: Introduction to the coding interview Quiz Answers with you..

Also visit:   Coding Interview Preparation Final graded assessment Quiz Answers

Question 1) What should be done when presented with a technical problem where the solution is not immediately obvious?

• Move the conversation along and try not to draw attention.
• Ask the interviewer how they would solve the problem.
• Ask questions.

Question 2) During a technical interview, is it better to rely on the work of others, or code everything yourself?

• Use code written by others.
• Write as much code as you can to show off your skills.
• Use the data structures, but don’t use any other external implementation.

Question 3) Given an array that represents sock colors: Sock_colors = [3,3,2,1,1,3,5,1,4,2], how many pairs of the same color socks exist?

Question 4) It is best to remain silent when writing code during a technical interview.

Question 5) Should I ask questions in an interview?

• Yes, but only when the conversation looks like it is going to help the interviewer along.
• Yes. Asking questions can run down the interview clock and so avoid awkward questions.
• Yes. Ask questions for clarity or during an appropriate time.

Question 6) What is the STAR method?

• A coding practice with 4 key components.
• A stellar answer to a good question.
• A structured approach to answering questions.

Question 7) What is meant by transfer rate in relation to a CPU?

• The rate at which memory is transferred into cache.
• The rate at which instructions are processed.
• The rate at which a processor can convert input from a terminal.

Question 8) When engaged with a coding interview what sorts of tests should you aim to include?

• Functional tests
• Integration tests

Question 9) Which memory location is closest to the CPU?

• Secondary memory
• Main memory

Question 10) When designing a solution it is best to:

• Planning an outline, engaging the main obstacles, looking at the potential solutions and constantly reviewing.
• Doing a quick sketch then implementing everything on the page.
• Tackle every problem as it arises.

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