Bombed a pair programming round because I went silent for four minutes trying to look competent

The problem honestly wasn't hard. I just wanted to present a clean finished answer instead of a messy process, so I sat there thinking in silence while the interviewer watched a blank screen.

The feedback afterwards was almost entirely about communication. Not one line about whether the code worked.

Changed how I practise since. I now solve problems with a voice recorder running and force myself to narrate, wrong turns included. Feels ridiculous sitting alone in a room talking to yourself. It's still the single thing that's improved my interviews most.