Some interview tips
As I have some interviews behind me, with some of them in last three months, I'd like to share some of my thoughts.
1. The most important: know the company you're applying to and know the position. Read the job description. Read the company website. Do a google search. Try to find blogs. Re-read the job description and ask yourself some quiestions: knowing what the company does, and knowing more or less about the job, what could be the tasks you will be doing in that job if you get it? What problems can arise? What could be the possible solution for those problems? Are there any tools, processes, paradigms that solve those problems? What are the alternatives? What do you know about the problem area, and - more important - what you don't know? Where to look for those informations? Do your homework - the research. Go for the interview with as much information about your potential job, as you can. Surprise your interviewer with that knowledge. Be prepared to answer why and how you see yourself in the position.
2. Be sure you are the best candidate. Really. If you're not the best candidate, why bother? Go for it. Think about why it is so. Is this your knowledge? Is this your experience? Is this your in-depth, intimate, understanding of all the things related to that job? Is this your teamwork skills? Is this your communication skills? Think about it! You have to be sure, YOU have to be sure, that you are the best. You don't want to trick the interviewer into giving you the job. You just want him to know that he won't find anybody better. But before he would know that, you have to know that. You should be able to tell him why (but without telling directly 'I am the best' - i think it is an arrogance). Let the facts talk.
3. Read and re-read your CV. Think about the questions. Most recruiters will go through your CV step by step, asking you questions about things you've written. Be prepared for them! Try to think what those questions can be, in the context of the position you're applying for. Try to have your answers ready. If there is something questionable - for example, I quit my university after four of five years - be sure you know why is that so. If you worked somewhere for 2.5 months - be prepared for the question why you have left. Try to read your CV as a recruiter.
4. Know your weak points. First, know your weak points which show in the real work. The recruiter can ask you for them directly, and don't be surprised. Make sure to give an impression that you're aware of those problems and try to overcome them. Second, know your weak points which could show during the interview. You have a stage-fright? Practive with a friend, or with a mirror. Interview will be in a language that is not native for you? Read a good book in that language. Write a short article or a blog post. Try to think in that language for 2-3 days before the interview. If you must, take some body-language classes.
5. At the interview: try to be precise and clear. Don't convolute what you want to say. Talk easy, talk simple, don't fall into obscure jargon. Show the interviewer that you will be able to comunicate not only with the geeks like you. Explain your ideas in clear terms. Don't make a speech, be yourself, talk like a human beeing and not like a university book.
6. At the interview: treat interviewer like your partner. Remember: you're not begging for a job. The interviewer wants to find the best candidate (it is you, remember?) and wants that candidate to succeed - because the candidate's success will be the success of the company. It is a win-win situation. You are the best, he wants to find the best, so take it easy. Show your best side, show that you're a person who is nice to work with, think the same about your recruiter. Be kind, be nice, be honest. Show your sense of humor. Tell about your passion. Again: be yourself. Leave the interviewer thinking that he was talking with somebody unique.
7. At the interview: allways tell the truth. Most interviewers are good at noticing lies. It is better to be honest and say that you don't know something, or don't remember something - that to try to find the answer you don't know. If you're asked if you know UML, and you remember that there is something like this and what it is used for - tell this and add that it is all you know and you didn't use it. One specific question from recruiter can expose that you don't know any details. But add that you are strongly willing to learn, just didn't have a need for it yet. It applies only to encyclopedic knowledge! There are open-ended questions which you should try to answer - more about them in the next paragraph.
8. There are some questions that are not about the knowledge, but about your thinking process. Learn to recognize them. It can be the design question. Or a strange question about something totally no relevant to your job. Never-ever say 'I don't know' for that kind of questions. You may not know, but you can also have some thoughts. Show your deduction. Show that you are able to ask for details or clarifications. Show that you can think and find a solution for something that is new for you. Show what a problem-solver you can be. Be creative, but not over-creative. I've seen that some people who try to be creative, try so hard, that their solutions became ridiculous. You have to balance this. Think!