Why do I freeze in coding interviews even though I can solve the same problems on my own?
I’ve been working as a developer for a few years now, and this has been bothering me lately. when I’m solving problems on my own or working on real tasks, I usually don’t struggle much. I can think through the logic and get to a solution without too many issues. but interviews feel completely different. I’ll understand the question and sometimes even know the approach, but once I start explaining, my thoughts just fall apart. if the interviewer asks follow up questions while I’m still thinking, I lose track and start second guessing everything. what’s confusing is that right after the interview, I can usually solve the same problem without much trouble. this has happened more than once, and it’s starting to affect my confidence a bit. I’ve tried practicing more and talking through problems, which helped a little, but real interviews still feel much more intense. what am I doing wrong, and how can I get better at staying clear and focused during interviews?
Posted May 1, 2026, 9:20 PM UTC