We know how daunting it can be to walk into an interview. Whether it’s through conference doors or hitting the “join meeting” button, it’s common to feel like a bundle of nerves leading up to the meeting. However, being prepared and showing up as yourself are key ingredients to successfully navigating your tech job interview and leaving a good impression on the hiring manager.
Your resume and cover letter have got you this far. Your experiences and qualifications outmatched other candidates, so you’ve already got your foot in the door. The important thing here is to continue building your brand and showcasing your accomplishments to your prospective employer. Brush up on all your skills – including soft skills and technical skills – and know the company and role inside and out.
Interview Tips to Ace Your Next Interview
Follow along for some additional tips to keep your nerves in check and stay confident during your tech interview.
Tip #1: Practice makes perfect
When preparing for your interview, you want to practice the technical skills they might ask to see how you find solutions. Practice writing code, be diligent in solving problems and make sure to cover all necessary topics that could be asked during your interview. You want to brush up on your skills and practice them ahead of time to ensure that you show the interviewer that you know your stuff. Get started ahead of time and don’t wait until the night before your interview.
Tip #2: Be prepared to talk about past accomplishments
You always want to come prepared with a “highlight reel” of all your successful projects, accomplishments and examples of when you have found solutions during challenging times. Interviewers want to see how you navigate problems and difficult situations and whether you work well in a team. A good method to keep in mind is the STAR method – describe the situation, talk about the task, mention the action you took to solve the problem and reflect on the result.
Tip #3: Show off your personality
The interviewer wants to get to know you! Always keep it professional, but don’t be afraid to be yourself and show off your personality. You’ll want to talk about your experiences and what drives you to be a part of the industry. Show your determination and enthusiasm and share your related personal experiences if they shine more light on why you are the perfect fit for the role. The hiring manager is also looking to see if you are a good culture fit, so ask them questions about the company culture and talk about what you look for in a company and a team.
Tip #4: Understand the company and their customer
One of the most important ways to prepare for an interview is to research the company, its customers and competitors. You want to know everything you can about the company, especially its mission, vision and values. This demonstrates your interest in the organization and shows that you care enough to do research ahead of time to understand what the company does and how your role will relate to the operations. Be in the know about current news and updates as you might get questions related to the company and the tech industry during the interview.
Tip #5: It’s okay to think
It’s not uncommon to get difficult questions thrown at you during the interview. The first rule of thumb is to not panic. Know that it’s okay if you need to think about the answer – you can always come back to it. The interviewer wants to hear your thoughtful answers rather than a rushed one. Sometimes, problem-solving questions can also take time to solve, and the interviewer wants to see how you react, how you think and how you would approach the situation.
Tip #6: Ask thoughtful questions to the interviewer
Make sure you come prepared with thoughtful questions for the interviewer. If culture and values are important to you, ask about the company culture and what the day-to-day looks like. You can ask about the company’s goals, leadership structure and growth opportunities for someone in your role. These questions will show your interest in the company and that you cared enough to come prepared with questions, and will also help you determine if the role is a good fit for you personally and professionally.
Looking for your next opportunity or technology hire? Contact one of our Ledgent Technology recruiters today!
