Are you passionate about tech and love to grow your career in Andela?
We understand that acquiring a skill is one thing, then finding a place to grow and develop that skill is another thing.
Building your career in a work environment that fuels your passion, challenges you, and provides a room for you to grow is the dream of every skilled person. Building your tech career in a top tech company like Andela will open you up to a world of opportunities.
It is not enough for you to wish to be in a great team, it is important for you to actually take steps that will help you find yourself in your desired team.
Finding yourself in the Andela team may not be as difficult as it seem if you prepare well and follow the recruitment steps.
If you want to be part of the Andela team, you may likely not get a mail from Andela asking you to join their team of experts. Even if that can happen, it happens in rare occasions and for top positions too.
If you want to start building your career, and would want to do that in Andela then you have to research and find out about Andela and what it will take for you to a part of their team.
Before we take you through Andela’s recruitment process, we would love you to know what Andela is all about;
Andela is one of the top tech companies in Africa that identifies and develop African software engineers. Andela help companies solve the technical talent shortage and build high-performing distributed engineering teams.
Andela bridges that gap, solving the global tech talent shortage while catalyzing the growth of tech ecosystems on the African continent.
Over the past four years, Andela has identified and hired the top <1% of over 130,000 applicants to work as full-time distributed team members from our tech campuses in Lagos, Nairobi, and Kampala. Leveraging a proven, data-driven approach, Andela build high-performing engineering teams with Africa’s top developers to help companies build better products faster.
Finding your way into Andela starts from your ability to search and apply for job opportunities at Andela. Just like every other company, Andela frequently publish their vacancies online.
So to take advantage of job opportunities at Andela, you have to look out for and consciously search for opportunities that best suits you.
So we will run you through Andela’s interview to help you better prepare:
The first thing you have to do to eventually find yourself in Andela is for you to search and apply for job opportunities at Andela.
To see job opportunities in Andela that you may be interested in, you can check the Andela career page on their official website or subscribe to job publishing platforms in Nigeria to catch up with opportunities.
After you must have searched for job opportunities at are available on Andela, then you can go ahead and apply to those job opportunities.
If you want to join Andela as a software developer, there are two ways you can go about it and the steps you will need to follow.
For a starter, you could either join Andela as a;
If you are joining Andela as a fellow, then you have to know what Andela fellowship is all about, to see how you can fit into the system.
I know you must be wondering if the Andela fellowship is a school, or some of certificate awarding institution that admits software developers?
This is what the Andela fellowship is all about;
The Andela fellowship is a four-year program that opens you up to a new kind of work experience, where you work as an integral part of the global engineering teams while getting mentorship from senior software engineers as you grow in your career.
We know that this question will be ringing on your mind; does it mean I will not get any pay since it is program?
You need to eliminate all of your fears because the Andela fellowship is a full-time job. Soft ware engineers are referred to as ‘fellows’. Fellows are employees who are part of a globally distributed team. Andela have a well distributed in areas like; Lagos, Nairobi, Kampala, Kigali, Newyork city, SanFrancisco, and Austin.
Andela fellows leverage technology to work from their city while collaborating with team members.
To become a fellow, you have to follow these steps:
1. Andela Home Study Program
Andela designs a soft ware development curriculum to introduce applicants to programming. The curriculum contains materials to help you understand the essentials of computer science and to also help you build a foundation in programming.
The aim of this curriculum is to help and encourage applicants that don’t have a formal background in programming. Andela always encourage people to build their skills in programming even if they don’t have prior experience.
Even if applicants that don’t have a foundation in programming are encourage to learn it, it is easier for applicants that have a knowledge of programming to scale through the second phase of the Andela fellowship program.
Applicants are advised to take study the home study curriculum seriously before applying to the Andela fellowship to improve their chances of scaling the second phase of the fellowship process.
The Andela curriculum is available for free online, and applicants can take as long as they need to learn and master the concepts taught in it before moving onto the Assessment Test.
See link to Andela home study program
2. Andela Assessment Test
If you applied for the Andela fellowship, at the second stage of the interview you would go through an assessment test to determine if you are a right fit. The assessment test are in three phases:
Test 1: Saberr Test: This is a (Psychometric test) personality test to see if you are the best fit for the position.
Test 2: Technical Assessment Test: At this point, this test requires you to build an app. It takes about 3 business days to get a response after you must have carried out the task.
Test 3: Second Technical Assessment: At this stage, if you have passed the first technical assessment, you will get an email inviting you to take another technical assessment. The second technical assessment is a mix of quizzes and practice tests, and you will get a response for this test in 10 business days.
3. Code Review and Face-to-face Interview
At this stage if you pass the online assessment test, you will be invited to a one-on-one interview where you will be further assessed on your assessment with Andela’s EPIC values and your understanding of relevant technology.
The interview may be less than an hour, and you would have to expect questions that are built around Andela’s EPIC values.
This is a common question, but a lot of people still get this question wrong. See sample answer that can help you answer this question perfectly.
These statements will guide your response to the question;
Sample Answer
“I am an innovative software engineer with almost 2 years’ experience in building soft wares. Recently, I led a 5 man team that won the state prize for innovation few months ago. I am someone that thrives in a fast paced environment and I am currently looking for an opportunity to apply my technical experience and my creative problem solving skills at an innovative tech company like this.”
If you are applying for the post of a software developer, then there is a great probability that you would likely be asked this question, so you need to prepare well for this question.
When you are answering this question, you should focus on your process, implementation and final result on the project.
Sample Answer
“In my previous employment, I worked on developing software and website for the state. In order to get the website set up and the software for specific analysis on the site, I found out people that have a good knowledge of what the state wants to achieve with website and got their input on different project at different times.
I also identified different milestones that would be involved in completing the project, and I often went back to treat some bug issues at different stages of the project.
I thing that stood out for me on that project, was the fact that I was able to overcome all the challenges that I encountered during the course of the project, and was able to deliver on time even before the set finish date for the project. That was one of my most memorable projects.”
When you are answering this question, you should be sensitive enough to know that the interviewer is trying to see how well you can work in a team and to also see if you can thrive in a collaborative environment.
So your answers should emphasize how well you can work in a team.
Sample Answers
“In my previous place of work, I worked in a team of 10 people, and I was the team lead for a particular software project that we were working on. One of the major challenges that I experienced being the team lead for that particular project was that I had to deal with a team member that did not have the same enthusiasm that I had for the project.
Dealing with a particular team member made me take on more responsibility that was not very convenient for me. So at the middle of the project, I had to to call that particular team member and made sure I really explained to him the importance of the project to the company and why it has to be a success. He understood me and started being more result oriented.”
To answer this question successfully, you need to prepare for the interview before hand. You should always have something to show online. Even if you have not worked in a company before as a software developer, you can embark on personal projects. This will help emphasize that you are actually who you say that you are.
Approach to Answering this Question
There is no need to talk too much when you are answering this question. All you need to do is to simply respond to the request as polite as possible and also go ahead to walk them through the features of what you have created.
You should also be enthusiastic to answer any question that you may be asked regarding the works that you have shown them.
To answer this question correctly, you can start by stating the full meaning of the acronym EPIC, the relation of the entire values to Andela and give your opinion on what each of the values mean to you.
Sample Answer to part 1
“First of all, I understand that the word EPIC is actually an acronym which stands for;
E - Excellence
P - Passion
I - Integrity
C – Collaboration
Just as the acronym implies, I believe that these values that this company have held seriously and for a long time as well.
Sample Answer to pert 2 of the question
“E – Which stands for ‘excellence’ is a mindset for me, even if it means to do things well and with care, I believe that excellence is a mindset that people have to put to be able to achieve desired result in any project. I also believe that excellence is what makes a person or organization stand out among others.
P- For me I believe that passion is one thing that is needed to thrive in any position and also needed to achieve set goals. For me I also believe that passion is one thing that anyone that wishes to succeed will have to find and for me I think that is what I have found with technology.
I – Integrity is a core value for anyone that has something to protect will have to acquire or build. Integrity is something that will help you build a name or brand in whatever field that you find yourself in.
C – Collaboration to me is achieving greater result. I believe that everyone has something to offer or to contribute, so creating a synergy with everyone in a team is a way the team as a whole can move forward and achieve collective goals.
See Other Questions that You may Likely be Asked
This question is one of the most important questions that you have to answer well. When you are answering this question, you should be conscious of the fact that ‘passion’ is one of Andela’s EPIC values.
When an interviewer ask you this question, the interviewer wants to find out the following:
You have to factor all these things into your response to create a good answer.
Sample Answer
“To be honest, I am passionate about many things, but one underlining factor for me is technology. Technology is one thing that drives me to think of how I can do anything that I am doing faster and better. How to do something better and faster is the beginning of an interesting story for me. What I really find fascinating is the fact that at the end of the day is that I have found ways to make an impact. I really think that it is my drive to always do things faster and better, that made me find my way to being a software developer."
Most times interviewers ask this question because they want to know how enthusiastic you are about being a part of the team. Sometimes they also use it to know their most effective channel of communication.
Sample Answer
“I have always wanted to be part of a top tech company, so I did my research and found out that this company is one of the foremost tech companies, so I decided to follow this company on all the social media platform to stay up-to-date.”
To answer this question well, you have to do a research about Andela to see what you would probably gain if you are a part of the team looking at the existing structure
Sample Answer
“If I finally get this job, I know that there are many things that I would probably learn, but one thing that I am sure that I would learn is “collaboration” which one thing that I look forward to because I have been used to working alone for a long time.”
If you are applying to become a fellow or applying as a senior software engineer, then it is assumed that you have a level of interest in technology and want to grow your tech career.
The interviewer expects you to share you interest in tech as a tech enthusiast or expert.
Sample Answer
“My interest in technology dates back to my childhood. As a child, I always wondered why things happen the way they happen and how I can make things better. At age 6, I made a tin cutter with crude materials that I could find because I wanted to make opening tins easy for my mom.
As I started growing up, I started developing interest in the use of computers to solve problem and create models, and that is how I finally got to where I am now as a software developer.”
You should understand that OOP concept is referred to as ‘objective oriented programming’. All you need to do here is to write a program to describe this process.
When an interviewer ask you this question, you should know that the interviewer wants to find out if you have had any challenge in the cause of your work and how you were able to deal with the challenge/challenges.
Sample Answer
“Yes, I have made several mistakes especially when I was still learning how to code. One mistake I made when I was developing a software was the fact that I made a mistake with one particular code and instead of me to ask or search online what the problem was, I kept on repeating the process which took so much time.
From my experience I have learned to always ask questions, to be open minded and to also seek help when necessary.”
Many interviewers ask this question because they want to know how profound your experience is a software developer. The interviewer will assume that the more projects that you have handled the higher probability that you must have encountered some challenge and found the solutions.
Sample Answer
“So far in my career as a software developer, I can say that I have handled about 50 projects”
The interviewer understands that conflict is a part of life, and would love to know how well you manage conflict from your past experience.
Sample Answer
“Earlier in my career, I discovered that I make quick decisions when there is a conflict, but now I have learned to calm down and understand the reason of the conflict critically before making any decision.”
The interviewer wants to know your strength from this question, so you should pay attention to the JD to answer this question directly.
Sample Answer
“I noticed that this company needs someone that is passionate about technology and software development. I know that I am really passionate about technology which is something that drives me to do what I do every day. So my passion for tech is what I think makes me a good fit for this job.”
When recruiters’ ask this question, they are not very much concerned about the answer, but they are more concerned about how you answer the question.
Sample Answer (weakness)
“I am really impatient working in a team, I love to work independently and so it is difficult for me to rely on others to complete a task. That was why I pursued positions that makes it possible for me to work independently. However, I have also worked to improve this weakness by enrolling in team building workshops. While I work independently, it is important I learn how to trust my co-workers better. I understand that collaboration is one of the core values here”
Sample Answer (strength)
“Over time, I have learned not to be overwhelmed by a problem, I have learned to be patient when it comes to solving problem which I can say is one of my strengths. I also feel that my communication skill is top-level because I relate with senior executives on the same basis that I relate with junior executives without being rude or playing down on my position as well”
The interviewer wants to know what interest you when you are most relaxed. The interviewer also wants to know what you love doing.
Sample Answer
“I love reading and researching. Researching has made me know so many things today and that is what I love doing at my free time.”
The interviewer wants to know when you would be ready to start work. Be careful not extend the date so much, and also free to request for some days to prepare.
Sample Answer
“I would love to start in a weeks’ time to be better prepared for the job.”
See top 100 interview questions and answers to help you prepare well.
Code Review
At this stage, you would be asked to review the code that you sent to Andela during your online assessment.
At this point, software engineers in Andela will ask you to review your codes. The essence of this is for you to actually explain what your code means and what it can do. The interviewer would love to see how effective your codes are.
If you have copied and pasted codes during your online assessment, you may likely find the code review process quite difficult.
At this stage, you may be asked to write some codes or solve some problems on the computer.
4. Boot Camp
Applicants that pass the one-on-one interview will be invited for a 2 week boot camp. The boot camp will be spilt into two.
Take this 30days work challenge to help set your feet right in Andela.
If the option of becoming an Andela fellow is not for you, then you can get into Andela through the senior software engineer program.
Andela hires senior software engineers to work as team leads with partner companies around the world. As a senior software engineer in Andela, you would lead teams with partner companies around the world.
Also as a senior software engineer, you would serve as a coach to junior software engineers. It is also important for you to know that as a senior software developer, you are very important as you would help to forge Andela’s mission which is to advance human potential by empowering today’s team and investing in tomorrow’s leaders.
How to Apply for the Senior Software Engineer Program
To apply for the senior software engineer program at Andela is quite easy. If you have at least 4 years’ experience in software engineering and you feel that you would make a great fit, then quickly apply for software and web developer jobs in Nigeria.
Tips to succeed at Andela’s Interview Proccess
If you are reading this post, then it is assumed that you would love to be a part of the Andela team.
Sure everyone wants to be in good place, but being in a good place will require you to do some good works!
And that is why we put up this post in the first place; to help you start doing some good works that will help you find your way to the Andela team.
As much as this post will help you understand Andela’s recruitment process, it is also advisable for you to be passionate about what you are doing, and open your mind to learn new things.
Don’t forget to drop your comment if you found this post helpful, and share with others that will find the post useful.
We wish you all the best in your career journey to Andela.
Also see GTB INTERVIEW PROCESS, QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Thanks a trillion
You are welcome Nator. Thank you for your comment.
i like this , it is really helpful expecially for the first question, it challenges many people. thank you so much, i am student at ALU, i like visiting this cite for the kinda help you provide.