Express Employment Professionals Software Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

Express Employment Professionals is a locally owned franchise backed by an internationally recognized corporation with over 38 years of experience in staffing.

As a Software Engineer at Express Employment Professionals, you will play a pivotal role in developing and maintaining the company's healthcare technology platform. Your key responsibilities will include collaborating with cross-functional teams to create technical solutions, mentoring junior developers, and enhancing the capabilities of software products. A strong emphasis will be placed on optimizing existing code, performing root cause analysis of issues, and documenting best practices to ensure high-quality software delivery.

To excel in this role, candidates should possess expertise in programming languages such as Java and React JS, and have strong database skills with MySQL and MongoDB. Familiarity with AWS services, version control systems like GIT, and health IT standards including FHIR and HL7 will be essential. Personal traits such as strong communication skills, a collaborative mindset, and a commitment to continuous improvement will align well with the company’s values and operational processes.

This guide will help you prepare for your interview by providing insights into the expectations for the role, key skills to highlight, and the company’s focus on innovation and teamwork.

The interview process for a Software Engineer at Express Employment Professionals is designed to assess both technical skills and cultural fit within the organization. It typically consists of several stages that allow candidates to showcase their abilities and experiences.

1. Initial Screening

The process begins with an initial screening, where a recruiter reviews the candidate's resume and application materials to ensure they meet the basic qualifications for the role. This step may involve a brief phone call to discuss the candidate's background, career goals, and interest in the position.

2. Phone or Video Interview

Candidates who pass the initial screening are often invited to participate in a phone or video interview. This conversation is generally informal and focuses on the candidate's technical skills, relevant experiences, and understanding of software engineering principles. Expect questions that gauge your problem-solving abilities and how you approach software development challenges.

3. In-Person Interview

Successful candidates from the phone or video interview may be invited for an in-person interview. This stage typically involves a more in-depth discussion with members of the hiring team, including technical leads and managers. Candidates may be asked to demonstrate their coding skills, discuss past projects, and explain their approach to software design and development.

4. Technical Assessment

Depending on the specific requirements of the role, candidates may be required to complete a technical assessment. This could involve coding challenges, debugging exercises, or system design tasks that allow candidates to showcase their proficiency in relevant programming languages and technologies.

5. Behavioral Interview

In addition to technical skills, the interview process often includes a behavioral interview. This part of the process assesses how candidates handle various workplace situations, their teamwork and communication skills, and their alignment with the company's values. Expect questions that explore your past experiences and how you’ve dealt with challenges in a team setting.

6. Final Interview

Candidates who perform well in the previous stages may be invited for a final interview with senior management or key stakeholders. This interview is an opportunity to discuss the candidate's vision for the role, their long-term career goals, and how they can contribute to the company's success.

7. Reference Checks and Job Offer

If a candidate successfully navigates the final interview, the company will conduct reference checks to verify the candidate's previous work experience and performance. Following this, a job offer may be extended, detailing salary, benefits, and other employment terms.

As you prepare for your interview, consider the types of questions that may arise during this process.

Here are some tips to help you excel in your interview.

Embrace the Conversational Nature of the Interview

Interviews at Express Employment Professionals tend to be more conversational than formal. Approach the interview as an opportunity to engage in a dialogue rather than a strict Q&A session. Be prepared to discuss your experiences, preferences, and what you seek in a workplace. This will not only help you feel more relaxed but also allow the interviewer to see your personality and how you might fit into the company culture.

Highlight Your Technical Proficiency

As a Software Engineer, you will need to demonstrate your expertise in programming languages such as Java and React JS, as well as your database skills with MySQL and MongoDB. Be ready to discuss specific projects where you utilized these technologies, focusing on your contributions and the impact of your work. Additionally, familiarize yourself with AWS services and version control systems like GIT, as these are crucial for the role.

Prepare for Problem-Solving Scenarios

Expect to encounter questions that assess your problem-solving abilities. Be prepared to discuss how you approach debugging and troubleshooting issues in your code. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your responses, providing clear examples of how you identified problems, the steps you took to resolve them, and the outcomes of your actions.

Showcase Your Collaborative Spirit

Collaboration is key in this role, so be ready to discuss your experiences working in cross-functional teams. Highlight instances where you mentored others or contributed to team discussions. Express your willingness to learn from others and share your knowledge, as this aligns with the company’s emphasis on teamwork and continuous improvement.

Understand the Company’s Values and Culture

Research Express Employment Professionals to understand their values and how they operate. This knowledge will help you tailor your responses to align with the company’s mission and culture. Be prepared to discuss how your personal values resonate with those of the company, and how you can contribute to their goals.

Be Ready for Technical Assessments

Depending on the interview process, you may be asked to complete a technical assessment or coding challenge. Brush up on your coding skills and be familiar with common algorithms and data structures. Practice coding problems that require you to optimize and refactor existing code, as this is a critical aspect of the role.

Follow Up with Thoughtful Questions

At the end of the interview, you will likely have the opportunity to ask questions. Use this time to inquire about the team dynamics, ongoing projects, and the company’s approach to professional development. Thoughtful questions not only demonstrate your interest in the role but also help you assess if the company is the right fit for you.

By following these tips, you will be well-prepared to make a strong impression during your interview at Express Employment Professionals. Good luck!

In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during an interview for a Software Engineer position at Express Employment Professionals. The interview process will likely focus on your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and how you collaborate with team members. Be prepared to discuss your experience with software development, coding standards, and your approach to debugging and optimizing code.

Technical Skills

1. Explain the difference between Java and JavaScript.

Understanding the distinction between these two languages is crucial, as they are often confused due to their similar names but serve different purposes in software development.

How to Answer

Highlight the primary uses of each language, emphasizing that Java is a statically typed, object-oriented programming language used for building standalone applications, while JavaScript is a dynamically typed scripting language primarily used for enhancing web pages.

Example

“Java is a robust, object-oriented programming language used for building complex applications, while JavaScript is a lightweight, interpreted language that is primarily used for client-side scripting in web development. They serve different roles in the software ecosystem, with Java focusing on backend development and JavaScript enhancing user interfaces.”

2. What are the key principles of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)?

This question assesses your understanding of fundamental programming concepts that are essential for software development.

How to Answer

Discuss the four main principles of OOP: encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and abstraction, and provide brief explanations of each.

Example

“The key principles of OOP are encapsulation, which restricts access to certain components; inheritance, which allows a new class to inherit properties from an existing class; polymorphism, which enables methods to do different things based on the object it is acting upon; and abstraction, which simplifies complex systems by modeling classes based on essential properties.”

3. How do you approach debugging a piece of code?

This question evaluates your problem-solving skills and your methodical approach to identifying and fixing issues in your code.

How to Answer

Describe your systematic approach to debugging, including steps like reproducing the error, using debugging tools, and isolating the problematic code.

Example

“I start by reproducing the error to understand the conditions under which it occurs. Then, I use debugging tools to step through the code and identify where it deviates from expected behavior. Once I isolate the problematic section, I analyze the logic and make necessary adjustments, followed by thorough testing to ensure the issue is resolved.”

4. Can you explain what RESTful services are and how they work?

This question tests your knowledge of web services and APIs, which are critical in modern software development.

How to Answer

Define RESTful services and explain their principles, including statelessness, resource-based architecture, and the use of standard HTTP methods.

Example

“RESTful services are web services that adhere to the principles of Representational State Transfer (REST). They are stateless, meaning each request from a client contains all the information needed to process it. RESTful services use standard HTTP methods like GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE to perform operations on resources, which are identified by URLs.”

Collaboration and Communication

5. Describe a time when you had to work closely with a team to complete a project.

This question assesses your teamwork and communication skills, which are vital in a collaborative environment.

How to Answer

Share a specific example that highlights your role in the team, the challenges faced, and how you contributed to the project's success.

Example

“In my previous role, I worked on a project where we had to develop a new feature for our application. I collaborated closely with designers and other developers, holding regular meetings to ensure everyone was aligned. By facilitating open communication and addressing any roadblocks promptly, we successfully delivered the feature ahead of schedule.”

6. How do you handle feedback on your code from peers?

This question evaluates your openness to constructive criticism and your ability to learn from others.

How to Answer

Discuss your perspective on feedback as a valuable tool for growth and improvement, and provide an example of how you’ve implemented feedback in the past.

Example

“I view feedback as an essential part of the development process. When I receive feedback on my code, I take the time to understand the perspective of my peers and consider their suggestions seriously. For instance, after receiving feedback on a recent project, I refactored my code to improve readability and efficiency, which ultimately enhanced the overall quality of the project.”

Problem-Solving

7. How do you prioritize tasks when working on multiple projects?

This question assesses your time management and organizational skills, which are crucial for a software engineer.

How to Answer

Explain your approach to prioritization, including how you assess deadlines, project importance, and resource availability.

Example

“I prioritize tasks by evaluating deadlines and the impact of each project on the overall business goals. I use tools like Kanban boards to visualize my workload and ensure that I’m focusing on high-priority tasks first. Regular check-ins with my team also help me adjust priorities as needed.”

8. What strategies do you use to stay updated with the latest technology trends?

This question gauges your commitment to continuous learning and professional development in the fast-evolving tech landscape.

How to Answer

Discuss the resources you utilize, such as online courses, tech blogs, and community events, to keep your skills current.

Example

“I stay updated with the latest technology trends by following industry blogs, participating in online courses, and attending local tech meetups. I also engage with online communities where I can share knowledge and learn from others in the field.”