New to Tech and about to have your first interview? Got some tips for you!
Besides kick-ass programming skills, another valuable learning gained from my bootcamp education was how to prepare myself for the jobhunt.
Coming from a completely different professional background (11 years in the Restaurant business), I needed some guidance on how to face this more “corporate” environment. It was truly all new to me, I didn’t even have a LinkedIn account.
Several interviews later and half a year working in tech, I’d like to share some tips that helped me prepare.
First things first: Got invited to a first job interview at that company you dream of? That’s huge, congratulations! Clearly, something about your profile got their attention. So, before getting all nervous, let that sink in: you got invited for a good reason. Now it’s time to let those skills they are interested in shine!
Super important on your priority list: have your application package in top condition. I’m talking about your CV, portfolio, LinkedIn profile and GitHub as the basics, all of them should be up to date. Dedicate some time to maintain an active LinkedIn profile: not only properly filled in with your “About” text, experience and education, but also try to engage, like and comment on other’s posts.
One good tip! GitHub works as a stand in portfolio for developers, so make sure all your repositories README’s are filled in and with a good description of your project.
I assume you already have a pretty good picture of the company you are interviewing with, but I advise you to do a thorough investigation. Don’t limit yourself to just their website: nowadays most companies keep a strong social media presence. Check out their LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Companies are usually a bit more personal on their socials and like to share sneak peeks of their day to day and culture in general, this will give you an insight into what type of company they are.
While you are in the middle of this investigation process, think of any questions you could ask yourself. Interviewers appreciate it a lot when you come prepared with questions. You can be quite specific: ask about the expectations for the role you are applying to, who are you going to be working with more closely on a day to day basis, how have they adapted to remote work now during corona, etc., these are just some examples.
A company I interviewed with did not have much public information on the projects or clients they are currently working with, so I asked them directly about this. This way I could decide if those are also projects I would like to be collaborating with.
Remember: it’s not only you being interviewed, you are also interviewing them.
The first interview will usually be with someone from Human Resources (aka Talent Acquisition). Find out what this interview will be about and if you need to prepare anything. The main focus tends to be on introductions: the company will talk about their vision, what they can offer and explain more in detail the position they think you are a potential match for.
There will come a moment for you to introduce yourself as well, so have your story ready. It is important to be concise and talk about your background, but also touch on what brought you to them. Identify what specifically about this company made you want to work there and also what skills you possess that would make you a good fit for them.
Coming from a different industry, it was important for me at this stage to identify which of my qualities as a Chef would also be valuable within tech. It’s not only about being the best programmer out there, soft-skills are also high in demand. Team work, communication, time management, good planning… your background comes along with you, use it!
I’d like to touch on one more important detail, super relevant nowadays: get familiar with the video call platform that will be used during the interview. Now during the pandemic, most interviews are being held remotely and you’ll be provided with a link to a virtual meeting.
Get some peers to do some test interviews with you, this way you can get comfortable with the platform, learn how to share your screen and know your way around before the time of the interview comes.
Put in some extra time and practice telling your introduction story and replying to some of the most common questions: Where do you see yourself as a developer in five years? Why do you think you are a good fit for this company?, just to mention a few.
It’s a given, the first couple of minutes will be shaky, but the sooner you try and relax, the sooner you’ll get comfortable and the easier it will be to connect with your interviewer. Let your personality shine through! Interviews are about technical skills as much as they are about personality traits. They are looking for someone tech-smart, but that would also be a good culture fit. Show your passion and drive to keep learning and contribute to the team!
I’m hoping these tips will come in handy and make you feel better equipped.
I focused on first interviews on this article, but I know it’s a complete different story once it comes to technical tests and interviews, so I’m hoping to put together an article on how to prep for those (that’s when it gets really fun!)
But for now stay safe and go ace those interviews! More tips soon ~~
