How to Prepare For Succeed In a Coding Interview

How to Prepare For Succeed In a Coding InterviewHow to Prepare For Succeed In a Coding Interview Software development is a highly competitive and rewarding job market. Besides accumulating the necessary technical skills, the first barrier to entry is the technical bewerbungsgesprch. A typical technical interview will include introductions and discussions about projects in your background, in-depth questions regarding frameworks you have worked with, and coding challenges to test problem solving skills and algorithm-writing chops. Here are five key tips to nailing the interview Do your research on the company . Find out what technologies and frameworks they use. What are their five year initiatives? What markets and domains do they work with? Research gives you not only good talking points and shows your interest in the company, but also helps you pinpoint where your skills align with the job requirements. While researching the company, look up your interviewer on LinkedIn. Knowing a little bit about this individual can help you tailor your answers in a way the interviewer will best understand. For example, an HR director may not understand technical jargon whereas a lead software engineer would welcome it. Lastly, know the interviewers name and use it somewhere in the interview. Remember that youre speaking to another human being, and using someones name shows respect and expresses interest in possibly working with this person. You never get a second chance at a first impression. Remember to exude confidence and present yourself with high levels of energy and enthusiasm. A perfect handshake and consistent eye contact give a good impression of you and will set you up for a successful interview. In the modern software development world, software engineers will be working closely with stakeholders, other developers, and business teams. Interviewers will place just as much importance on communication skills as they will on your technical capabi lities. With social and professional interactions with other individuals, body language can be a window to the soul. Always maintain good posture, avoid distracting behavior, and use hand gestures appropriately. Dont forget to smile If you can, notice body language cues in your interviewer. For example, you may find your interviewer clear their throat or become impatient during a long-winded answer. If you can dial in on the interviewers body language cues, you can keep your interviewer engaged, maintain good momentum, or even turn the tide of a poor interview. Technical interviews will gauge your ability to talk about software from both high-levels and low-levels of detail. A typical interviewer will see a project on your resume and probe into that project with a question like Tell me about this project. Remember high-level questions deserve high-level answers. You should departure from the front of the application where the user inputs into the system, then move along to the vario us tiers and modules within the application- all the way back to the database where information is persisted. Note each technology along the way at a high level. For example, you might say, My front-end was a website written in HTML and CSS that sent HTTP requests to a server using AJAX. On the server-side, I leveraged Spring MVC controllers to capture the request, process it using Java, and persist data into an Oracle database using Hibernate. My application was deployed onto AWS using EC2 and RDS services and a Tomcat container. Using the right technical terms, frameworks, and buzz words in your response will show a deeper understanding of how all of these components fit together in a software architecture. If you are applying for a position that requires you to write software, dont be surprised when your interview asks you to write software Sometimes these coding challenges will be on the whiteboard, and other times you may be using a collaborative editing tool over the Web. Mo st coding challenges will be simple enough to write within the timespan of the interview. Other interviewers will send you home with a mora complex problem to solve and ask that you return the completed project within a certain timeframe. Classic coding questions include Before you start writing code, always ask questions. Clarify the requirements and write them down somewhere. Draw diagrams, process flows, and other documentation to show you fully understand the problem before you start coding. This is the approach a developer will take with real-world problems, so show the interviewer that you dont cut corners for simple problems. Always look for the quickest solution so you dont lose the interviewers interest, but always discuss the ways you would refactor the solution, such as using fewer loops or renaming variables for clarity. Throughout your career, you will go through many interviews- both good and bad. Each new interview is a learning experience, and there is no magic bulle t solution that works for every interview. To fully prepare for your technical interview, you should always know the company, give a good first impression, understand body language, learn to talk about your projects, and be ready for a coding assignment. If you be yourself, prepare well, and bring your best to the interview, you are one step closer to landing that dream jobRevature is a technology talent development company providing a turn-key talent acquisition solution for corporate and government partners and no-cost coding programs for university graduates. We recruit, develop and deploy enterprise-ready technology talent, enabling our corporate partners to succeed and grow. Through in-person, online and on-campus coding immersion programs, we create a pathway for university graduates with diverse backgrounds to build the knowledge, skills and abilities to reach their potential as technology professionals.

Common Interview Questions and Answers Guide

Common Interview Questions and Answers GuideCommon Interview Questions and Answers GuideQuick NavigationResponding to bewerbungsgesprch questionsTell me about yourselfWhat is your greatest strength?What is your greatest weakness?What are your salary expectations?Why do you want this job?Why are you leaving your current job?Why should we hire you?If you are preparing for your upcoming interview, you will want to take a look at some common interview questions and prepare your responses. Use these sample responses as a guide to help you show your interviewer your skills and knowledge.Responding to interview questionsIt is helpful to prepare a plan for how you will answer common interview questions before an interview so you can create a positive first impression when meeting employers. Follow these example answers to respond with confidence and clarity.Tell me about yourselfMany hiring managers will start off the interview by asking you to tell them about yourself. Not only does it help the hiring managers see why you are a good fit for the job, but it also sets the tone for the rest of the interview. When you are answering this question, try to give a concise response that highlights your current location and includes two to three experiences or accomplishments.ExampleI have been in the customer service industry for the past five years, and my most recent position was handling incoming calls for technical support. I truly enjoyed this position because it allowed me to help and connect with people. It also let me use my problem-solving skills. I am looking for a company that has a strong team where I can continue to have a positive impact on customer service.Learn More How to Answer Tell Me About Yourself Interview QuestionWhat is your greatest strength?Hiring managers ask about your greatest strength because they want to know why they should choose you over someone else. Take this opportunity to discuss a skill that relates specifically to the job you want.Exampl eI am organized, which is an important trait to have for a project manager. When I am working on a project, I do not just want to complete it by the deadline. Instead, I want to have it done ahead of schedule so I can make sure everything is correct.Learn More How to Answer What Are Your Greatest Strengths and Weaknesses Interview QuestionWhat is your greatest weakness?While it might seem difficult talking about a weakness when you want to highlight your strengths, showing that you are modest and aware that everyone has areas that could be improved upon is a trait hiring managers look for in candidates.ExampleMy greatest weakness has been procrastination. While I have never missed a deadline, I could tell I was making my supervisors nervous. As a result, I started situation a personal deadline two days before the actual due date so I know my projects will not be late.Learn MoreHow to Answer the Whats Your Greatest Weakness? Interview QuestionWhat are your salary expectations?You mig ht be asked about your salary expectations to make sure your compensation goals line up with the budget the company has in place for the position. It helps to research the average salary ranges in your area for candidates with similar experience so you have a good idea of what to expect for your experience and location.ExampleBased on my research, my salary expectation is between $35,000 and $40,000. However, I am open to negotiation if other incentives are available.Learn MoreSalary Negotiation Tactics That WorkWhy do you want this job?Hiring managers will sometimes ask this question to see if you have taken time to research the company. When you are crafting your answer, consider including cultural aspects of the company that appeal to you to show you understand its values.See alsoHow to Answer Tell Me About Yourself Interview QuestionExampleI have admired this company and its mission for years. By focusing on creating a relationship with the community, you have been successful in opening several new offices in different locations. I admire these values and want to bring my five years of experience in sales to help you continue your growth.Learn MoreHow to Answer Why Do You Want to Work Here Interview QuestionWhy are you leaving your current job?You might be asked about why you are leaving your current job to see if you are a good fit for the company. While you might have several reasons for leaving, try to focus on the positive reasons and what your future looks like.ExampleI have been very fortunate to work at ABC Company for the past five years. I have always been a leader, and I am interested in transitioning to a management role. However, ABC Company already has several talented managers who will not be leaving their positions anytime soon. Since I am ready for a bigger challenge to grow my career, I need to look for a position at another company.Why should we hire you?Employers want to know how you will present yourself as the best candidate to hire fo r the job. It is in your best interest to prepare an answer that will highlight your unique skills and qualifications in a confident and concise way.ExampleI believe you should hire me because this company wants to be an industry leader in marketing. Working with the highest-paying clients at Acme Marketing Company has given me valuable experience in that area. I would love to bring my diverse skills to this company to help it grow.Learn MoreHow to Answer Why Should We Hire You Interview QuestionLike any skill, practice is the best way to prepare for an interview. By reviewing these common interview questions and answers, learning about the company and researching your desired salary, you will have an informed guide to forming your responses.

Avoid These Career Regrets for Job Satisfaction

Avoid These Career Regrets for Job Satisfaction Avoid These Career Regrets for Job Satisfaction 0In the 21st century, we have more freedom than ever in terms of how we manage our careers. Theoretically, this should lead to fewer regrets when it’s all said and done. But these five regrets remain career pitfalls for many, and you would be wise to reflect upon them before making your next career move. Avoiding these career regrets will help you find job satisfaction. I should have given my dream a fair shot: Those who yearn to pursue a talent or launch a business often don’t take the plunge because they fear risk and/or failure. This feeling is legitimate, but it can be countered by taking one small step toward your dream at a time. I should have quit a long time ago: You might be holding on to an unsatisfying or emotionally draining job because the economy has limited your options and you need the money, but be wary of staying in such a position for years. You spend more time working than doing anything else, so it shouldn’t make you miserable. Heres how to quit your job. I should have taken responsibility for my own happiness: Passive individuals pursue the path of least resistance. However, they later wish they’d taken control and been more proactive about their professional growth. If you’re waiting around for your boss to appreciate you or another employer to hand you a better opportunity, you should remember that no one has the power to change your life or reinvent your career for the better but you. I should have focused less on money: It’s terrific if a job pays well, but that job must have other positive attributes as well. It doesn’t matter how much money you have in the bank: If there’s no time to spend it and nothing meaningful to spend it on, it’s worthless. Among professionals, this tends to be one of the largest career regrets. I should have spent less time working: At the end of life, you rarely hear seniors saying they wish they had spent more time at the office. Rather, they regret lost weekends with their families and missed childhood milestones. When managing your career, always keep in mind what’s truly important. Readers, do you have any career regrets? How have you overcome them to find job satisfaction, or what would you do differently in the future?

ASME Video ASME and Glasnost

ASME Video ASME and Glasnost ASME Video ASME and Glasnost Video: ASME and Glasnost ASME had an important seat at the table as the Soviet Union started opening up to the West during the Gorbachev era. But there were fits and starts in the relationship between U.S. and Soviet Engineering organizations. In March, 1988, ASME President-elect Ernest L. Daman enjoyed drinks and caviar in the Atlanta Hilton with Konstantin Frolov, the Vice President of the Soviet Academy of Sciences. Also present was David Belden, ASMEs executive director, and the mens wives. They were in town for an ASME manufacturing conference, with Frolov scheduled to speak two days later in Washington, to the ASME Industry Advisory Board. As Daman recalled in his oral history, Frolov never showed up for his speech. This was a period when the United States and Soviet governments were striving for improved relations after General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev introduced the political reforms known as perestroika and was calling for new openness and transparency in government, or Glasnost. Read more about ASME and Glasnost © The copyright of this program is owned by ASME.

Interview Questions that Reveal Your Employer Brand

Interview Questions that Reveal Your Employer Brand Interview Questions that Reveal Your Employer Brand Interview Questions that Reveal Your Employer Brand Rossheim When youre interviewing candidates, its easy to simply scan their resumes and ask for more detail on relevant roles, responsibilities and accomplishments. But thats no way to sell your company and the career opportunity. And in 2016s tight market for top talent, effective selling is critical to the recruitment goals of yourinterview process. So how do you know what interview questions to ask to burnish your employer brand? We spoke with a few experts who offered many great suggestions about how to conduct brand-promoting interviews. Invite candidates to air their perceptions of your employer brand. Ask candidates about their impressions of your company; if you dont, youll risk them spreading wrong ideas about you. Whether interviewees have a good experience or a bad one, they may immediately post their reactions on Facebook or Instagram, says Richard Mosley, global vice president of strategy at Universum Global in London, England. So dont settle for candidates fawning compliments; dig in for detail. Building an employer brand has become a much more personal, social process, Mosley says. Sample Interview Questions: How would you describe our company? What is attractive about working here? Do you have any negative impressions? Ask questions that invoke your employer brand. Dont just tell the candidate what drives your organization lead themwith the questions you ask. Companies tend to emphasize their employer brand with new hires, but less so with applicants in the midst of the candidate experience, according to Mosley. Its good to plan to bring out the companys brand signatures in interviews, he says. Sample Interview Questions: How would you feel about working in a place where everyones voice is heard? How would you feel about working in an open environment? Could you see yourself being a mentor to others? Illustrate your company culture through the type of questions you ask. We ask candidates to talk about an experience where theyve received feedback and how theyve responded to it because its part of our organizational culture for everyone to be able to get and give feedback, says Rod Adams, U.S. recruitment leader at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Sample Interview Questions: We like to keep communication channels open at our company. How do you feel about working in that type of environment? Go deeper than the conventional trappings of startup culture. If youre lucky enough to interview a candidate who probes for what is unique about your company, dont respond with cliches. Everyone is trying to copy everyone else; everyone has free snacks and a hammock, says Matuson. Experienced workers know they wont have time for a nap anyway. Instead, savvy candidates want to know what kind of people they will be working with, how the company might react to emerging disruptions in their market space, and so on. Shape questions to experience level. Show that you respect the candidates career arc by posing questions that demonstrate your understanding of the candidates current situation and long-term potential. We ask different questions of someone with 10 years of experience versus a campus recruit, says Adams. But all the questions are looking for the same underlying attributes. Sample Interview Question: For an experienced candidate: In your experience, how would you handle a situation in which your team tookthe wrong approach with an important project? For a new-to-the-job candidate: How would you handle a situation in which you realized that the work you did on an important assignment was wrong? Vary your line of questioning according to the candidate. Start with a basic set of questions, but respond to candidates answers with more questions. A lot of companies have actually made their interview process less flexible, because they want to apply metrics in hiring and deliver consistent results but this becomes counterproductive, says Mosley. If you dont show flexibility, it affects your employer brand. Adams adds: We take cues from each candidate about which parts of our value proposition are most important to the individual. Encourage candidates to ask substantive questions. Find out whats on candidates minds by probing for any reservations they might have about the opportunity youre offering. And use your response to brand the career opportunity. Its important to impress on hiring managers that the interview process is a two-way assessment, that they need to sell the candidate on the job, says Mosley. Sample Interview Question: Based on what youve heard in our interview,Im interested in hearing how you feel about this job opportunity. Offer interactive activities that candidates will value. Remember that directed interaction can have a bigger branding impact than a simple exchange of information. We do experiential activities, hold on-campus workshopsin how to get feedback, how to project confidence, says Adams. This frames our firm as focused on development. We try to show them, not just tell them. Train all interviewers. Remember, for most recruiters and hiring managers even those with good interpersonal skills effective interviewing doesnt come naturally. We do training and provide a lot of prep for anyone involved in the interview process, so hopefully everyone is delivering the same messages, says Adams. Teach everyone in your organization about your employer brand. Your recruiters and hiring managers cant ask questions that reveal your employer brand if they cant articulate what that brand is. I dont think the employer brand is on the radar screens of most people at small and mid-sized companies, says Roberta Matuson, author of Talent Magnetism: How to Build a Workplace that Attracts and Keeps the Best. You need to teach your people the importance of creating a connection with the company brand.

New Facebook, Instagram tools to curb social media addiction

New Facebook, Instagram tools to curb social media addiction New Facebook, Instagram tools to curb social media addiction For those of us who mindlessly scroll through our social media feeds, looking at who posted what becomes less of a fun pastime, and more of an addictive binging habit. Well now, two of the biggest social networks that contribute to this time suck - Facebook and Instagram - are offering up their services to help you wean yourself off of them.This week, the companies officially announced that they were introducing new screen-time management tools to help us know how much time we spend on their apps, and give us nudges when we stay too long. The announcement follows Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg promising to ensure “the time we all spend on Facebook is time well spent” at the beginning of this year.Instagram and Facebook will now let you know how much time you waste on themOn Instagram, you can soon tap “Your Activity,” and on Facebook, tap “Your Time on Facebook” to see a dashboard calculating how much time you are spending within the app. You can see the average amount of time you spend each day and each week, and if those numbers are shockingly high, you can also decide to do something about it. You can now curb your behavior through daily reminders that will notify you when you have gone past the allotted time you set for yourself. If you’re the type of person who cannot help but click when you get a push notification, you can also now disable these notifications for 15 minutes and up to eight hours.“Our hope is that these tools give people more control over the time they spend on our platforms and also foster conversations between parents and teens about the online habits that are right for them,” Facebook and Instagram said in a joint statement. The updates are “rolling out soon,” the companies said.Of course, if you want to go a step further with taking back control of your time, you can always delete the apps entirely.

The complete beginners guide to intermittent fasting

The complete beginner’s guide to intermittent fasting The complete beginner’s guide to intermittent fasting Over the past 4 years, I’ve been practicing the ancient method of fasting, and  I can now say without a doubt that intermittent fasting is the most effective and natural method for  improving health.Aside from the weight and fat loss benefits (during my first three months of fasting I lost 22 pounds of weight), intermittent fasting has significantly improved my ability to focus and get important things done, my quality of sleep, happiness and much more.In this brief and simple beginner’s guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about intermittent fasting and how to get started, in the easiest way possible.Let’s get started.What is intermittent fasting?In layman’s terms, intermittent fasting is simply a pattern of eating: It’s not a diet plan, it’s a conscious decision to skip meals on purpose.You would “intermittently” eat during a short time window of the day and “fast” for the rest of the day.For example, I typically eat my first meal around 11 am and f reely eat till 7 pm that evening. After 7 pm, I purposely don’t eat till 11 am the next day.According to intermittent fasting expert, Dr. Jason Fung, intermittent fasting is an effective way to correct imbalances of hormones responsible for weight gain and obesity.In his book,  The Obesity Code  (audiobook), Dr. Fung makes a strong case that intermittent fasting is a proven scientific method for weight loss and healthy living.In a nutshell, intermittent fasting is a lifestyle choice of when to eat.How does intermittent fasting work?In order to understand how intermittent fasting works and how it affects the brain and body, it’s important to learn the differences between the fed state and the fasted state.When we eat food, the body absorbs energy for immediate use and stores excess amounts away in our liver and fat cells through a storage hormone called insulin.Because insulin rises whilst we’re in this “fed state,” the body is unable to burn fat at the same time.Once we st op eating, the insulin levels start to fall, and the body begins to burn the stored energy for up to 24 hours, after which it will begin to burn fat during a “fasted state.”In a nutshell, our bodies are either in this fed or fasted state.If we spend more time in the fed state than the fasted state, we’ll gain weight. Conversely, if we spend more time in the fasted state than the fed state, we’ll lose weight and burn fat.Intermittent fasting is simply a fancy term to explain spending more time in the fasted state.The 4 benefits of intermittent fastingAside from the weight loss and long life expectancy benefits of intermittent fasting, here are 4 major benefits of intermittent fasting:1. Intermittent fasting saves precious time and moneyOn a normal diet plan, you’d spend a lot of time and money, shopping, prepping and cooking up to six meals a day.Intermittent fasting saves you valuable time and money, because you’d eat less meals each day, and spend much less time thinkin g about what you should eat.2. Intermittent fasting simplifies your lifeTo piggyback off the previous point, intermittent fasting reduces the number of decisions you’d have to make each day, and creates more energy for you to tackle your most important tasks.Whilst most diet plans are complex, expensive and overwhelming, intermittent fasting is free, extremely simple and convenient.3. Intermittent fasting strengthens your willpowerThere will be many periods during intermittent fasting when you’d crave to eat food and resist the urge to eat.Each time you do so, you’ll develop your willpower muscles, and strengthen your ability to resist temptations and distractions in other areas of your life.4. Intermittent fasting improves focus and concentrationStudies  have shown that intermittent fasting doesn’t have any negative effects on our memory, focus and concentration abilities. In fact, intermittent fasting may actually improve our focus and concentration.Think back to the last time you were hungry. You’d probably recall how mentally alert and sharp you were.Intermittent fasting frees up valuable energy to avoid distractions and stay focused on your most important goals.The 4 cons of intermittent fastingWhilst there are a lot of benefits to intermittent fasting, there are also some potential disadvantages:1. Intermittent fasting may cause discomfortDuring the first few weeks of intermittent fasting, you may experience some uncomfortable reactions from your body including: Right-sided shoulder pain Abdominal pain and feeling bloated Burping, Belching Nausea Fortunately, these symptoms should subside over time. The best remedies to manage these symptoms are lemon in water and apple cider vinegar.2. Intermittent fasting may cost a lot of moneyDepending on how much weight you lose during the intermittent fasting protocol, you may have to buy new clothes that fit your new body shape.Although this may seem like a good problem to have, it may become problematic if you stop the intermittent fasting routine and regain the weight you had lost.3. Intermittent fasting may interfere with your social lifeThe dilemma is: what do you do when your friends, family and work colleagues invite you out for lunch, dinner or drinks?Do you decline the invite, turn up to the event and refuse to eat, or break your fast?This was by far the biggest challenge I struggled with during my first year of intermittent fasting, and it created tension in some of my relationships because people were offended whenever I declined to eat.4. Intermittent fasting is not suitable for people with eating disordersPeople struggling with eating disorders could worsen their condition by intermittent fasting, because it makes it harder to break out of bad eating habits.Types of intermittent fasting schedulesThere are different intermittent fasting plans you could try, however, here are the recommended fasting protocols:Daily fastingThese are fasting protocols that don’t exceed 24 hours of fasting.1. 16/8 fasting protocolThe 16/8 protocol is an effective fasting method popularized by  Martin Berkhan, and it’s the one I’d highly recommend.It’s extremely simple: for 16 hours you’d fast, and afterwards, eat your meals within a specific 8-hour eating ‘window.’For example, you may eat all your meals within the time period of 11:00 am and 7:00 pm, and fast till 11:am the next day.The 16/8 fasting protocol is extremely flexible and you can choose any 8 hour eating ‘window’ that suits your lifestyle.The downside of the 16/8 protocol is that it may take a while for your body to adjust to eating larger meals within a shorter time window.For example, if you’ve been eating three meals a day from 7 am till 7 pm, cutting down to two meals a day from 11 am till 7 pm may be challenging, especially if you want to eat the same number of calories.On a final note, there are other intermittent fasting protocols that are slight variations of the 16/8 method.For example, the 20/4 fasting protocol involves fasting for 20 hours and then eating one or two small meals within a 4-hour eating window.2. 24-hour fastThe 24-hour fast is typically the first thing that pops into our minds when we think about fasting.It simply involves fasting from one meal to another in the next day.For example, if you eat lunch at 3 pm today, you won’t eat your next meal until 3 pm the next day.You can repeat this process as often as you’d like to do so each week.Weekly fastingThese are intermittent fasting protocols that exceed 24 hours of fasting, or don’t requir e fasting on a daily basis.1. The 5:2 fastThe 5:2 diet is an intermittent fasting method popularized by physician,  Michael Mosley, and it involves 5 days of eating as per usual, followed by two days of eating a maximum of 500 calories each day (usually two meals).For example, if you ate 1,000 calories in a single meal on day one, you’d have to give up your meal in day two.2. Alternate day intermittent fastingAlternate day intermittent fasting involves fasting on alternating days throughout the week.For example, if you eat dinner on Tuesday evening, you’d fast for 24-hours and eat your next meal on Wednesday evening the next day.But, on Thursday, you’d eat throughout the day as per usual, and then after dinner on Thursday, you’d repeat the cycle and fast for 24-hours until Friday evening.Is intermittent fasting good for women?In general intermittent fasting has similar effects on both males and females, however, due to the complex reproductive system in a woman’s body, int ermittent fasting could cause problems if not done correctly.These include: Potential extreme hunger and reproduction issues as per this  study. Extreme swings in hormones and menstruation problems. Worsened eating disorders. Fortunately, these problems can be prevented through a gradual fasting method called  crescendo intermittent fasting.In a nutshell, you’d simply fast for two or three days each week, for up to 16 hours each time and build up slowly.This will ensure you enjoy the benefits of weight loss from intermittent fasting, without any negative effects on your hormones.Here’s an inspirational  success story  of a woman who lost 50 pounds in 7.5 months using intermittent fasting.3 common myths about intermittent fastingHere are three common myths and misconceptions about intermittent fasting:1. Intermittent fasting causes muscle loss.During a fast, our body burns fat and sugar for energy, but not our muscle tissue.Studies  actually show that intermittent fasting preserves muscle mass, whilst burning fat.2. Intermittent fasting causes malnutrition.Fasting reduces the total amount of calories consumed, but not the nutrients absorbed by your body when you eat.3. Intermittent fasting is unhealthy .For thousands of years, humans have used fasting as a natural method of healing the body and mind, so there’s nothing unhealthy about fasting.5 tips to make intermittent fasting easierHere are 5 things that will make it easier for you to get started with intermittent fasting: Don’t tell your friends, family or colleagues you’re on intermittent fasting until you’ve built up the habit. Stay busy and occupied during your fasting periods. If you haven’t fasted in a long time, build up slowly to your desired fasting protocol. Eat a lot of vegetables in between meals to prevent hunger and binge eating. Avoid chewing gum or biting on anything, as this would make you even hungrier. Common intermittent fasting mistakes1. Rushing into intermittent fastingOften, we’re quick to rush into our new plans and goals, but down the line, this leads to procrastination, burnout and quitting.The best way to avoid this problem is to gradually integrate intermittent fasting into your lifestyle.Start with three meals a day with no snacks, then build up to two meals a day with no snacks and so on, until you’re fasting for at least 16 hours each day.2. Fasting on a high carbohydrate dietAccording to  Dr. Berg, intermittent fasting on a high carbohydrate diet could put major strains on your brain and nervous system because of a significant drop in blood sugar levels.As a result of this, you’ll feel grouchy, moody and irritable during your fast.The best way to avoid this problem is to ensure that you’re eating a good amount of fats in your meals, and consuming larger quantities of low carbs like vegetables, instead of high carbohydrate foods like rice.3. Binge eatingAfter 1 6 hours plus of fasting, our natural tendency is to devour anything within sight, especially if we’re extremely hungry.The problem with binge eating is that you may end up consuming more calories than you’ve burned that day, and actually end up gaining weight during your intermittent fasting protocol.The best way to avoid binge eating is to prep your meals in advance, so that once its time to break your fast, you know exactly what you’ll eat and how many calories you’d consume.4. Giving up too quicklyMost people who try out the intermittent fasting protocol give up within the first month. Unfortunately, this isn’t enough time to see the benefits of fasting.Intermittent fasting won’t get rid of your excess weight and fat overnight, it’s going to take time for your body to adjust.As a rule of thumb, expect to wait at least three months to see significant results of weight and fat loss. Common questions and answers about intermittent fastingIs intermittent fasting safe?Yes, intermittent fasting is safe, however an intermittent fasting protocol may not be suitable for the following people: Pregnant women Extremely underweight individuals Children People using strong prescription medication People with type 1 or type 2 diabetes What’s the best way to start and break my fast?What you eat leading up to a fast could make a huge difference on how hungry you are during the fasting window.The best way to ensure that you don’t struggle with hunger during your fast, is to eat a high fiber and fat meal prior to starting your fast i.e. broccoli and coconut oil.Finally, the best way to break your fast is to eat vegetables and meals in small portions.  Avoid eating carbohydrates and fats at the same time because this may trigger an insulin spike and affect your results.How long should I fast?Start off with the 16/8 fasting protocol and then increase, or decrease your fasting window depending on how your body responds.In general, the younger you are, the faster your metabolism and the shorter the duration your fast should last.What should or shouldn’t I eat or drink whilst intermittent fasting?As a rule of thumb eat lots of vegetables and meals high in fiber and fats. That aside, the same rules that would apply to any healthy diet plan would also apply during an intermittent fasting protocol.In small quantities the following liquids are okay to drink during intermittent fasting: Tea Coffee Bone broth Apple Cider Vinegar Milk As a rule of thumb, you should avoid the following liquids as much as possible: Alcohol Coconut water Juices Diet soda Is being cold in intermittent fasting normal?Yes the core body temperature decreases during fasting because the body is adapting. It’s nothing to worry about.When should I exercise during intermittent fasting?You can exercise at any point before, during or after your fasted state.As a general rule of thumb, you will feel weaker towards the latter periods of your fasting window, than in the earlier periods.So, it’s usually recommended that if you choose to exercise during the fasted state, exercise during the earlier periods- just ensure you wait a few hours after your last meal before exercising.This way you can enjoy the extra benefits of fat loss, whilst maintaining your level of performance with your workouts.I personally prefer to exercise during my fasted state, as I’m much more alert and have seen better results that way. Plus, several  studies  show that exercising during a fasted state burns significantly more fat than otherwise.What types of exercises should I do durin g intermittent fasting?You can use any exercise routine during intermittent fasting, however pay close attention to how your body reacts to the exercises.If your body feels more tired than usual during exercise, simply reduce the volume and intensity of the workout.In my experience,  high intensity interval training  (HIIT) - any exercise done with short rest periods and high intensity- is the fastest way to burn fat during intermittent fasting.What are some of the best intermittent fasting books?I’d recommend these two books: The Complete Guide to Fasting: Heal Your Body Through Intermittent, Alternate-Day, and Extended Fasting (Book  /  Audiobook) Eat Stop Eat: Intermittent Fasting for Health and Weight Loss (Book/  Audiobook) What if I can’t stick to intermittent fasting on the weekends?That’s fine, you can eat normally during the weekends and still enjoy the benefits of intermittent fasting.Mayo Oshin writes at  MayoOshin.Com, where he shares the best practical ideas based on proven science and the habits of highly successful people for stress-free productivity and improved mental performance. To get these strategies to stop procrastinating, get more things by doing less and improve your focus,  join his free weekly newsletter.”A version of this  article  originally appeared at  mayooshin.com  as  â€œThe Complete Beginner’s Guide to Intermittent Fasting.”