Are you looking for a new
and exciting position?
Do you have
an interview lined up?
Here are a
few steps you can take before your interview to get you started on the right
track:
1. THE RIGHT MINDSET
First, and MOST
importantly, walk into that interview with the right mindset. Being prepared and confident will
help. If you are comfortable,
relaxed, and imaginative people will enjoy talking with you – and they will be
more likely to want to meet with you again!
2. DO YOUR HOMEWORK
Making time to research the
company is essential, especially since you want to be able to explain what
excites you about their products and why you are interested in working
there. Prepare some interesting
questions to ask the people you will be meeting (and make sure to have
different ones if you will be meeting with both hiring managers and engineers).
Researching their team can
also pay off. If you can find
“soft data” on the people you are meeting (from LinkedIn or Facebook or the
company website), you may find some mutual interests and find a way to click
with the team.
3. REFRESH YOUR MEMORY
Go over your resume
carefully (before every interview) and make sure that you can tell a compelling
and interesting story about every single bullet point. Also, make sure that you can discuss a clear
example of how you used EVERY SINGLE technology or tool that you have mentioned
in your resume. Try to make an illustration
or diagram to go with your stories – if you can illustrate your accomplishments
you can impress your interviewers.
This may take quite a bit of your time initially, but since you can
re-use these diagrams for other interviews, it’s time well spent.
4. DRESS FOR SUCCESS
How should you dress for
your interview? Since different
companies have different “clothes cultures” it isn’t easy to know what to
wear. It’s perfectly fine to ask your
recruiter (or the HR manager) what is common at the company. In fact, people may appreciate the
question since it shows that you are interested in their company and want to be
prepared.
Be comfortable with your
look, and take extra time for grooming on the day of your interview. When choosing your clothes, think about
whether you will be comfortable eating and drinking in them. Layer items in case you end up in a chilly
office or a very warm one. And
wear layers that are easy to remove if it is too warm – a pullover sweater may
not be a good idea in this case.
5. WHAT TO DO ABOUT FOOD
We suggest that you eat
beforehand, even if you expect to be offered lunch. This way you wont get low blood sugar if the meal is
delayed. Also, you might want to
talk more than dine… so order something easy to eat. And remember: this lunch is still a part of your interview,
so keep your focus on the job and not the food!
In case you are asked out
for “happy hour,” tread carefully.
Watch the culture of the team, don’t drink much, and make sure to keep
your wits about you!
