No matter how good a programmer you are, you will need many other skills in a virtual interview. You must be able to quickly resolve small issues under pressure and communicate your thoughts correctly. In this article, we have collected and systematized key tips for a successful interview.
Preparing for an interview
While preparing for any interview, you should start by researching the organization. Ensure that you are well-informed on the organization’s overall objectives, mission, values, and history. Information is available on the business’ website. Check their “About Us”, “Culture”, and “Job/Career” sections in particular. Also, it’s crucial to be familiar with the company’s products when getting ready for an interview. You’ll probably be questioned about their goods, including what you would modify, how you would improve them, and other technical inquiries. This information is available in their product description.
Also, you should make sure that your abilities meet the demands of the organization during this time. Study the job description’s components in detail and attempt to relate them all to your own background. Given that you may anticipate being questioned about these duties and talents in an interview, this is a useful method to get ready for one.
What should be a resume?
Because a resume is the initial thing a company looks at, a well-written one boosts the likelihood of employment. As a result, it’s crucial to not only include your expertise but also examples of projects you’ve worked on, a description of the tasks you completed, and an explanation of how your efforts helped the team reach its overall objectives. A reference to the portfolio is a crucial component of the CV. It allows you to outline graduation and educational projects before gradually adding real-world examples. Don’t forget to carry your contact information with you in case of feedback. The best way to use an online contact number is to distinguish between personal calls and treasured calls from potential employers, you can get a second phone number through VoIP that will give you both a personal and business number.
“Tell me about yourself” question
This question is often asked by hiring managers to get you to present yourself and give you an overview of your career. It is extremely important to give the correct answer to this question because it is one of the first in the interview. Therefore, by effectively and confidently opening the interview, you can leave a positive first impression and set the mood for the rest of the conversation.
1. Focus on the work in question
Always keep the role you are applying for in mind while you write your response. Make sure the narrative you’re crafting leads to the position in question whether you’re a senior candidate or an entry-level candidate. Use brainstorming to carefully narrow your response. Note any particular duties and responsibilities that appeal to you about the role. Finally, list the aspects of the business you admire, such as its mission or growth strategy.
2. Think about what makes you unique.
Finally, compile a list of attributes that distinguish you from your rivals. Consider your professional background and the organizations you have held positions with. Then focus on your personal traits and social abilities, including your capacity for multitasking or your sharp critical reasoning abilities. To find the main competencies the recruitment team is seeking, reread the job description. Next, reduce your selection to a handful of the top choices you mentioned in your response.
3. Overview
A summary of your career, beginning with the latest, should be the first part of your presentation. Saying “I’m an expert software engineer,” for instance, will make it clear what level and position you currently hold. Finish the evaluation by briefly mentioning your experience in the industry and the nature of your work.
4. Highlights from a previous career
Discuss a handful of your career’s high points after the review. For instance, you might explain, “Before taking this job, I worked as a coder for two years and a developer for three.” Even if you’ve had a long career, be careful to give as little information as you can. The recruiting team may ask further questions if they wish to learn more about the subject you stated in your quick introduction.
5. Examples
Examples are crucial when giving a “tell me about yourself” response as a seasoned software developer. Using examples might assist illustrate the breadth of your qualifications and previous work. Also, mentioning facts and figures might help your contribution be understood and set you apart from the competitors. For instance, you might state, “In my present role, I raised our development team’s productivity by 25%.”
6. Conclude your future goals
In the framework of the position you are applying for, state your professional ambitions to close out your introduction. Describe why you desire the position and why you would be a good fit in your conclusion to the hiring committee. You may state, for instance, “I would like to move into the role of Technical Director within the next ten years. I would be able to expand my project management and leadership skills in a role like this senior software engineer.”
Behavioral Interview
Some employers separate the behavioral interview into separate stage, which takes up to 45 minutes. Others, like Amazon, give it 20 minutes as part of other steps. Be that as it may, the behavioral interview is in second place in importance after the technical interview, which tests hard skills.
Often the interviewer asks to talk about a cool project, and candidates begin to describe the case in the smallest technical detail. But this is wrong: in a behavioral interview, they want to learn about the other side of the job. The applicant is expected to describe what role he played in the project, what initiatives he proposed, and where they looked for resources.
Interview with HR
An HR representative works with a manager or department head to coordinate a resume. Call the application and come to an agreement on the call or meeting time if approval is granted. They can do an initial assessment of the candidate’s fundamental technical knowledge during the same conversation. The reasons for looking for a new job and prior work experience can be questioned. You will be required to finish a test task in 30% of the situations before moving on.
Test
You might be required to finish a test job throughout the application process. It can sometimes be done at home, but it mostly happens online. Moreover, businesses may request that job candidates complete algorithmic Olympiad challenges. Such tests are stressful for the one taking them, so, it is preferable to practice beforehand to be psychologically prepared.
Technical interview
Once at a technical interview, you may inquire about all the specifics of the position, such as prospective responsibilities, growth potential, team dynamics, company mission, etc. Your decision-making process will be aided by the information provided.
In advance, get ready for a technical interview. Find out what expertise and abilities the organization values; typically, this information is listed in the job description. Repeat all of these subjects up to the theory in an effort to better grasp the technologies that the place where you apply for a job uses.
A technical interview is necessary for an employer to confirm that the candidate has received the most fundamental training. This does not imply that you must remember all the theoretical material; it is acceptable to forget some of it. After all, encyclopedic information is easily accessible online. It matters less whether you are confused and silent at this precise moment or if you are making an effort to think things through and come up with a solution. Display your mentality and your enthusiasm in progress.
Next step – interview with the head of the department
These three interviews could all take one to two weeks. After that, the hiring department can either respond to the candidate right away regarding whether they are prepared to hire him for the post or ask for an extra week to “consider” so that they can do a similar cycle of interviews with other candidates.