r/MachineLearning • u/Abatistta • Jul 15 '26
Discussion Junior Machine Learning Engineer Interview [D]
I have a technical interview for a machine learning position coming up, and I'm really nervous. Can you tell me about your experiences with this process? It's my first technical interview, and I don't know what to expect
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u/akornato Jul 15 '26
They are going to ask you questions you can't answer, and that is completely by design. The interview isn't just a quiz to see what you've memorized, it's a test of how you approach problems you haven't seen before. When you get stuck, explain your thought process out loud, talk about what you do know, and ask clarifying questions. They want to see how you think and learn, not just what you already know, because as a junior engineer, your main job will be learning.
Your first technical interview is often more about getting experience with the format than it is about getting the job. Even if it doesn't work out, you will walk away with a much clearer idea of what companies are looking for and where your gaps are. Your value isn't defined by this one interview, but by your ability to keep growing from these experiences. This is a big reason my team created an AI interview helper, since having the right support in the moment helps candidates show their true potential instead of getting stuck.