So your dream job has just come up and while your experience is a great fit your interview skills are somewhat rusty. Here’s what you need to know to boost your chances of nabbing the role.
The scarcity of talent in the tech sector means candidates with a good mix of skills and experience have plenty of opportunities. But you’ll need to demonstrate more than just technical prowess. Our top companies are looking for good communication, people and team work skills to boot.
Here are our tips to help you sail through your next interview with flying colours.
Before you start applying for new roles, review your CV and make sure it reflects your current experience. This should include any new software and programs you’ve worked with and training or education you may have undertaken since you last pulled out your CV. You can find more tips for writing a winning tech resume here.
2. Practice problem-solving
If you’re going for a technical role, you’ll definitely be tested on your technical skills. To prepare, practice solving programming problems, writing out and talking through your solutions as you go. Interviewers will want to follow your thought processes and this also helps to demonstrate your communication skills.
3. Ask questions
Get clarification when you need it, for instance, to fully understand the requirements and constraints of a technical challenge; and if you don’t know the answer just admit something’s outside your sphere of knowledge. It’s far better than attempting to fumble your way through a response.
4. Get personal
You may feel 100 per cent comfortable articulating complex algorithms but you need to be equally at ease discussing how you deal with failure and resolve conflicts, and what your strengths and weaknesses are. These behavioural questions are designed to illuminate your personal traits and how you’d cope in certain situations – the key is to be genuine, honest and show a commitment to continuous improvement.
5. Show you’ve done your homework
Increasingly, companies are looking to hire people who are aligned with their values and mission. Learn about the company, understand its point of difference and products, and give convincing reasons as to why this all resonates with you. Ideally refer to your own interests and experiences to give weight to your answers.
6. Practice makes perfect
Whether it’s in front of a mirror, with a friend or your partner, practice articulating answers to the sort of questions you think you’ll get. Identify any weak spots and use all the resources at your disposal to fill any gaps. The more prep work you put in, the more confident you’ll feel.
Seek feedback after each stage of the interview process and let your recruiter know how you found the interview experience.
If you’re looking for your next big opportunity, take a look at our current job openings.