How did you first learn to program and what was the first thing you built?

Interviewers often ask about your programming journey to assess your passion for coding, your ability to learn new skills, and your problem-solving approach. They are looking for insights into your background, the resources you utilized, and how you apply your knowledge in real-world situations. Additionally, discussing your first project highlights your creativity and the practical application of your technical skills.

Start by sharing how you got introduced to programming, whether through formal education, online courses, or personal exploration. Then, describe the first project you built, focusing on the challenges you encountered and how you overcame them. For example, "I initially learned programming through online resources like Codecademy, and my first project was a simple to-do list app. It helped me grasp the fundamentals of JavaScript, and I learned to implement functionalities like adding and deleting tasks, which sparked my interest in building interactive applications."