Code Review Exercises That Actually Work: Java Edition (Junior to Senior)
In Part 1 of this series, we explored a practical, respectful approach to engineering interviews - focusing on real-world skills like code reviews, GitHub project walkthroughs, and collaborative coding. In this post, we'll dive deeper into the code review portion of the interview. You'll get: A neutral Java code style guide to use during interviews Three code review examples, tailored for junior, mid-level, and senior candidates Tips for interviewers on how to run this part effectively Why Code Reviews Belong in Interviews Code reviews aren't just about syntax or formatting. They uncover how a candidate: Thinks about design and readability Communicates technical feedback Prioritizes bugs, maintainability, and best practices Balances tradeoffs and pragmatism It's one of the most real-world ways to assess software engineers - and works across all levels of experience. Java Style Guide for Code Review Exercises This is a neutral guide to share with candidates during the exercise. It helps structure their review without giving away the "answers." ✅ Code Style & Structure Use descriptive class and method names Break down large methods into smaller, testable pieces Follow consistent indentation and spacing

In Part 1 of this series, we explored a practical, respectful approach to engineering interviews - focusing on real-world skills like code reviews, GitHub project walkthroughs, and collaborative coding.
In this post, we'll dive deeper into the code review portion of the interview. You'll get:
- A neutral Java code style guide to use during interviews
- Three code review examples, tailored for junior, mid-level, and senior candidates
- Tips for interviewers on how to run this part effectively
Why Code Reviews Belong in Interviews
Code reviews aren't just about syntax or formatting. They uncover how a candidate:
- Thinks about design and readability
- Communicates technical feedback
- Prioritizes bugs, maintainability, and best practices
- Balances tradeoffs and pragmatism
It's one of the most real-world ways to assess software engineers - and works across all levels of experience.
Java Style Guide for Code Review Exercises
This is a neutral guide to share with candidates during the exercise. It helps structure their review without giving away the "answers."
✅ Code Style & Structure
- Use descriptive class and method names
- Break down large methods into smaller, testable pieces
- Follow consistent indentation and spacing