Thoughts & Insights

After time was called for the challenge, the nerves were still there, but I was happy I made it through. The whiteboard challenge is intended to be difficult, I feel, hence why it’s called a challenge.

1. I’ll continue to iterate on this concept to flesh out what the other screens would look like within the triage at the school, as well as what the Parent would see and use on their end, either via mobile, tablet, or desktop.

2. When thinking about the (sometimes dreaded) whiteboard challenge, we have to remember that we can only control what we can control. There’s basically no way to know what prompt you’ll be given, so try not to worry so much leading up to the day of the challenge.

3. Have a framework in place. Or, what I really mean is to keep everything organized while acquiring context about the challenge. There are numerous frameworks out there, but even if you have sections for Business info, the User(s), and a space to Ideate on your solution(s).

4. It’s important to ask for time checks throughout the challenge, as well as to keep your interviewers engaged, whether there is roleplaying involved or not.

5. Breath. No, seriously, remember to breath throughout the challenge. Deep breathing and relaxation activate the the parasympathetic nervous system, which sends a signal to your brain to tell the anxious part that you’re safe and don’t need to use the fight, flight, or freeze response. Deep breathing also gets more oxygen to the brain, enabling us to think clearly.

6. There isn’t necessarily a ‘right’ answer - the interviewer(s) want to know your approach and thought process when it comes to problem solving.