The Interview
Jason Truesdell
Nervous?
Well, that's certainly an understandable reaction. High-tech companies
sometimes have grueling, all-day interview processes which can be more
exhausting than the work itself. Others might talk
to you for 20 minutes and send you on your way.
If you're properly prepared, the interview doesn't have to be a painful
process.
Here are some tips on how to prepare, and what to do when you get
there.
Remember when I said that anything on your resume is fair game for
questioning? Make sure you're ready to answer questions about anything
you've written about in your resume.
Anticipate the kinds of questions you will be asked at the interview.
Learn what managers are looking for when they ask questions, even ones that sound
unrelated to the job.
Avoid fatal mistakes by showing appropriate enthusiasm.
Understand interview formats
Solo? Tag Team? Long-distance phone call? Grueling series of hour-long
interviews? It could all happen to you. Learn the implications of
different types of interviews on what you can say and what you should
focus on.
Think out loud
It's great if you can instantly produce a "right" answer, but
what really matters is how you think through a problem. Learn how to avoid
freezing up and make the right impression. Make it a learning
experience
Even if you flub up an interview, you may have an opportunity to learn
where you went wrong. Here's how to take advantage of an interview gone
wrong. |
