Get to know you - Interview Flashcards
Tell me about yourself
My name is Maria Paz Abarca, and I am a passionate Frontend Web Developer from Chile.
I’m very passionate about creating products or beautiful web applications that bring value and meaning to others.
My journey into programming began with Laboratoria, an innovative educational institution that changed my life and implant in me the belief that with the right team, ambitious vision, and a solid business model, any project can succeed.
Attention to detail is one of my key qualities, as I strive to deliver pixel-perfect designs and smooth user experiences. Collaborating in multidisciplinary teams and applying my basic knowledge of UX/UI principles allows me to contribute effectively to intuitive and user-friendly interfaces.
As a developer, I specialize in React, JavaScript, NextJS, and CSS. and I have gained experience in various industries, including e-commerce, PropTech, HealthTech, and airline software. My past roles have given me the opportunity to work on diverse projects, sharpening my skills and expanding my expertise.
I really enjoy a cup of a good tea while I watch a good movie or TV show (which I love to discover new ones from different cultures) or do some activity that releases the stress of the daily routine like a workout at the gym lifting weight or swim or do bouldering with some friend.
So, With my present skills, past experiences, and future aspirations, I am excited to contribute to the success of Shape and become an invaluable member of the team.
How was your weekend ?
Well mine was very normal, nothing special, except for the part that the weather was too hot here in Bremen Germany. So showered with cold water too many time :)
Why are you applying for this position at Shape ?
In my country, the way that maybe everyone think
When it comes to ..
Choose the right company plus filled all the requirements for the job
You only choose the company that gives you more benefits or pays you more money, and you don’t even think about how good match is that company based on your values or your identity or your purpose in life. Is just because of the necessity.
But when I moved out to other countries outside of Latin america, I realize how close minded I was in that aspect and how unhappy is the life in that way. So in that moment I decided that my next job will be the one that aligns my principles and it could allows me to work on the skills that I want to excel.
Shape stands out to me as the perfect company that aligns with all that.
The company’s culture, values, and commitment to technical excellence and innovation truly impress me. Shape’s emphasis on delivering outstanding design and a smooth user experience resonates with my goal as a developer.
I have often experience situations where time limit compromised the quality and attention to detail in product development, but Shape’s focus on quality over speed sets it apart from other companies in the industry. This aligns with my belief that quality requires time, organization, and been meticulous . Shape’s emphasis on growth and challenges excites me, and I am enthusiastic about contributing my skills and energy to this role.
Why do you think you would be the best fit for this role?
Without sound arrogant …
I could say that I’m the perfect fit for this role, not only because I have the skills and qualifications, but also because of my collaborative nature and dedication to teamwork.
STRENGTH
As an introvert, I have discovered a true passion for working in multidisciplinary teams. I take pride in assisting struggling colleagues and new team members, despite my own shyness.
For example, during my early years as a junior developer, I faced the challenge of transitioning from frontend to full-stack development without a mentor or guidance. To overcome this, I invested my personal time to understand complex concepts, creating diagrams, and discovering patterns in the code. Once I mastered those concepts, I became the go-to person for onboarding assistance and issue resolution, not because I always had the answers, but because I paid attention to details and tried to understand the whole scenario.
From that experience, I have actively look for teams that allows my to grow and master new skills, with the aspiration of becoming a mentor in the future.
While I continuously strive for attention to detail and strive to deliver pixel-perfect designs and smooth user experiences, I recognize that joining Shape presents a new level of challenge where I can excel and expand my expertise. I embrace mistakes and constructive criticism as opportunities for personal improvement and learning.
Ultimately, my commitment to teamwork, hunger for growth, and dedication to excellence make me an exceptional candidate for this role.
What are your biggest weaknesses?
One area where I continuously strive to improve is in my initial speed during onboarding. I tend to take some time to familiarize myself with new processes and systems. However, once I have a solid understanding, I become highly efficient and I can navigate through tasks without some much effort. This has often led to me assisting colleagues and junior team members with their onboarding, upgrading my knowledge and experience.
Another aspect that I’m working on is overcoming my shyness in larger group settings. While I may not be the most outspoken or talkative person in meetings, I actively listen and contribute when I have valuable insights to share. Presenting my work in front of a larger audience has been a confidence challenge for me. However, as I settle into a team and become more comfortable, I find that I can showcase the best of my abilities.
Recognizing these areas for improvement, I embrace them as opportunities to grow and develop. By adopting a growth mindset and taking steps to enhance my skills, I am committed to continuously improving myself.
Why change your current job?
The main reason I am currently seeking [sii-king] a new opportunity, particularly interested in the role at Shape, is because I am looking for a place to settle down and grow both personally and professionally.
While I am comfortable with my current team and proud of the projects we have worked on, I feel that there is limited potential for growth and new challenges.
Additionally, the current situation in my home country has been challenging, and I am seeking for a new place that provides a greater sense of safety and stability. And I know that denmark is that country, at least copenhagen.
And Shape has become my dream company since I discovered it on Instagram a year ago. The company culture and the opportunities it offers for me to excel as a developer are truly inspiring. I have done extensive research and believe that Shape aligns perfectly with my aspirations and the skills I have developed throughout my career.
I am excited about the potential to contribute to the success of Shape and be part of a team that shares my passion for creating exceptional web experiences.
And I also stand for companies with a friendly, respectful, and team-focused culture and I know that Shape is want of them.
Tell me when you faced a conflict or challenge and how did you handled
So When I joined the team, that I’m part of it right now, that is responsible for the platform handling customer complaints at LATAM Airlines, I was faced with a challenging situation.
In my second week of onboarding, We were tasked with upgrading the design system and app skeleton, which affected the entire company’s frontend repositories.
The project was initially estimated to take two weeks but ended up blocking other features for almost six months because it showed a lot of errors and we had incomplete documentation. And we were only three frontend developers in that moment.
The main conflict started when the project managers expressed frustration about the delays and perceived lack of communication. And the other developers were already burned out, leading to a less motivated environment, because of previous experiences very similar from this one.
To address this issue, I initiated a meeting with my technical lead to discuss the issue and proposed starting over with the project managers.
We provided them with a comprehensive introduction, highlighting how the changes would improve website performance and user experience. Additionally, we re-estimated the stories using scrum methodology and we asked for help to a sister team that relied on our artifacts and they were blocked as well because of all this issue, and also we ask for help from the team resposible for the design system and skeleton as well because the documentation for this change, as I told you, was incomplete since this team responsible was still working on it.
I also encourage open communication, I actively engaged with the development team, listening to their perspectives and offering assistance where needed.
And finally, After four months, we successfully completed the upgrade, becoming one of the first teams in the whole company to do it. Our improved motivation, organization, estimation, and communication resulted in our team being chosen for new initiatives involving new technologies.
This experience taught me the importance of listening to others, accepting different viewpoints, and prioritizing the needs of the business. I realized that conflict, when handled constructively, can lead to positive outcomes and stronger team dynamics.
What is the project/assignment/company you enjoyed the most working at and why?
When we start a project from scratch in Toctoc
Context
Action
Result
Learning
Where do you want to be in five years?
Mentoring - senior
If you need to start a new project, what technologies would you use? and why?
nextjs
react
javascript or typescript
styled component + tailwind
jest + react testing library
What is the hardest technical problem you have run into? and how did you solved it ?
update design system and skeleton
How do you stay up to date with the latest technologies?
On Medium and podcast
What is your experience with React and CSS?
4 years as experience
How comfortable are you working with REST APIs and building beautiful frontend?
What do you know about TypeScript and how have you used it in the past?
Have you ever worked on a project using StyledComponents, Tailwind, or a similar technology?
Are you familiar with NextJS?
