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Interview Tips From a Technology Professional

July 19, 2019
By
Kevin Williams
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Job searching can be a tedious and stressful process. It is practically a job on its own. You need to prepare a resume, find job openings, and send out your resume to companies in hopes of landing an interview with them. Then comes the most stressful part of the job hunt for me, the interview.

Over the years I have had the pleasure of working with some great people who have been mentors and helped guide me through my professional career. Part of that guidance included tips on how to have a great interview. With their guidance I was able to land some great positions in my professional career and have even been on the other side of the interview table. Through these experiences here are a few interview tips to help you stand out.

Pre-Interview

Before you even get to the interview there are some basic things you need to do to prepare yourself. To start with, do your research on the company with which you will be interviewing. Being prepared to answer the question, “What do you know about our company and what we do here?” shows that you are truly interested in the job and company. This makes the interviewer feel like this is not just another pit stop for you in your job search. You should at least have an idea of what industry the company is in and what about them sets them apart from other companies in their industry. You can get some bonus points by knowing some things about community or other initiatives of the company. For example, if they do community volunteering, donate to charities, or have some type of green initiative that they take pride in. These are good talking points.

Occasionally you will know ahead of time who you will be interviewing with. It is also a good idea to research them some as well. Sites like LinkedIn are great resources to find out about other professionals and their experiences. If the interviewer is upper management or an executive, you possibly can find out more information about them on the company’s website as well.

Another thing you should do before going to an interview is have some questions prepared for the interviewer. The interview process is not only for the company to see if you are a good fit for the position, but also for you to determine if the company is a good fit for you. Here are some common questions that I have encountered through the years.

  • What is the on-boarding process like here and what should I expect for the first 30 – 90 days?
  • What are the expectations of me in this role?
  • What do you (the interviewer) like about working here?

Also, make sure you have a copy of your resume and at least two spare copies of your resume. While interviewers are generally prepared, sometimes they are running into your interview from another meeting and didn’t have a chance to print out a copy. At the very minimum, it shows you are prepared. Also make sure to bring a notepad and pen to take notes.

Some other things that you want to make sure you have prepared are things like an explanation for lapses in employment. Usually lapses in employment are red flags for employers, but if you have been called to an interview, then they are still interested in you. This gives you a chance to ease any reservations they have about your employment history. This includes why you left former employment, whether it was a family situation or some other circumstance. If the circumstances were around a problem with your former employer, do not talk bad about your former employer in the interview. Take the time to come up with a good explanation that describe the problem but does not shine a negative light on the employer. If you are talking bad about a previous employer, what stops you about talking bad about the company you are going to interview with if they hire you and then you leave there?

The Interview

On the day of the interview, make sure you show up early. Usually it is a good idea to aim to be there about fifteen to thirty minutes early. This way you will have time find where you are supposed to be, and it also shows promptness and initiative. You likely will still have to wait until your interview time, but it is better to be there early and have some time to spare as opposed to showing up late due to not giving yourself enough time to get there. The person interviewing you likely has a lot on their plate as well. It is a professional courtesy to not hinder the interviewer’s schedule by showing up late. They likely have other meetings they will be attending before and after your interview.

Remember that you only get one chance to make a first impression. Make sure you look well-kept that you dress appropriately. You don’t necessarily need to wear a fancy outfit, but you should make an attempt to make a lasting impression in a positive way. There have been places I interviewed where the interviewer told me to, “lose the tie”. It is very dependent on the culture of the company. It is always better to caution on the side of dressing nicer, though.

Once you meet the interviewer, always greet them and introduce yourself. They likely know what your name is, but once again, it is a professional courtesy. If you want to take notes, which is recommended, ask the interviewer if they mind. Most of the time they don’t, but some places discourage it.

The number one thing to remember is to be polite and positive. If you have interviewed at other places, it is wise to let the interviewer know this. This is helpful for them to know. This can also work in your favor as it shows that there is interest in you from other companies.

Be sure to remember that during an interview is not the time to discuss salary or other pay. That is something to be discussed in the process of a job offer if the interview leads to one. You might get asked this question during an interview, but it is not commonplace.

Another great piece of advice that was passed on to me about interviewing is, during the interview, if you start getting restless and start to fidget, curl your toes. It helps reduce the fidgeting and makes you not look so nervous. This has helped me out a time or two.

After the Interview

After the interview has concluded, always thank the interviewer for taking the time to interview you. This applies even if you don’t think the interview went well. In the next couple days following the interview, you should send a thank you email if you can get the email address of the interviewers. This just shows that you are interested enough in the position to follow up.

While I cannot promise that these tips will land you a job, they should help you in your search for that job. Interviewing is a skill set that is developed and like any other skill set, it takes time and practice. If you know someone in the professional world, ask them to help you with a mock interview where you can practice and sharpen these skills. If you are attending a school, most of them have job development departments or other resources that will help you with mock interviews. Be sure to utilize these types of resources.

Kevin Williams