ChatGPT Prompt for Coding Interview: 10 Practice Prompts

The best ChatGPT prompt for coding interview practice makes ChatGPT act like an interviewer, not a solution machine: it gives you one problem, waits, answers clarifying questions, offers hints only when you ask, and scores your code afterward. That builds the skills interviews actually test, talking through an approach, handling edge cases, and stating complexity. Below are 10 copy-paste prompts for practice, plus a flagship mock interviewer prompt with a hint ladder and rubric.

Use these prompts to prepare. Do not use AI during a real interview or online assessment unless the company says you may.

Prompts for problem practice

1. One problem, then wait

Give me one [difficulty] coding interview problem on [topic] for a [role] interview, with one example. Do not show a solution. Wait for my clarifying questions.

2. Hint ladder

I am stuck on [problem]. Here is my thinking: [thinking]. Give me only the first hint: a question that nudges me. Wait before giving the next hint.

3. Pattern drill

Give me 5 short problems that all use the [pattern, such as two pointers or sliding window] pattern, from easy to medium. After each answer, tell me how I could have spotted the pattern faster.

Prompts for reviewing your code

4. Interviewer code review

Here is my [language] solution to [problem]: [code]. Trace it on the example and on two edge cases I did not test. Point to the line of any bug, but do not rewrite my code.

5. Complexity check

What are the time and space complexity of this code: [code]? Ask me to answer first, then explain where I was right or wrong, line by line.

6. Cleaner second version

My solution works: [code]. Suggest three changes an interviewer would like to see for readability and naming, without changing the algorithm.

Prompts for the full interview loop

7. Timed mock with rubric

Run a 45 minute mock interview in [language]. Remind me at the halfway point. At the end, score me 1 to 4 on problem solving, correctness, complexity, code quality, testing, and communication, with evidence.

8. System design warm up

Interview me on designing [system] for a [level] role. Ask about requirements first, then push on one bottleneck at a time. Keep it to 30 minutes.

9. Behavioral question practice

Ask me a behavioral question about [conflict, failure, or ownership] for a [role] interview. After my answer, tell me what was missing from the situation, action, and result.

10. Study plan from my results

Here are my last 5 practice sessions and scores: [notes]. Build a two week practice plan that targets my weakest areas, with one timed mock at the end of each week.

Run a full mock coding interview

The Coding Interview Prompt: Mock Interviewer With Hints, Rubric combines prompts 1, 2, 4, 5, and 7 into one session. You give your target role, language, interview format, practice topics, known weaknesses, and hint policy. ChatGPT presents a problem, handles clarifying questions, asks for complexity before you code, reviews your code by tracing edge cases, scores you on a six part rubric, and asks a follow up. The example catches a nested interval bug and an empty input crash in a Python merge intervals solution.

Tips for coding interview prep with ChatGPT

• Say your approach and complexity out loud before you type.
• Always test empty input, one element, and duplicates.
• Ask for hints one step at a time so you still do the thinking.
• Practice under a timer at least once a week.

Related prompts and guides

Prepare the behavioral round with the STAR Interview Answer Builder. Sharpen debugging with the Python Traceback Debugger, and practice thinking in tests with the Automated Unit Test Generator or ChatGPT Prompt for Test Cases. Find more in the Coding prompts hub, browse all prompts, or share a prompt that helped you prepare.