Share This Post
The interview and preparation for it are the “scariest” things in the screening process. Many people thoroughly prepare for it a couple of days or weeks in advance so they don’t lose face and get that coveted job. We have prepared a list of the most important things to consider during the interview to help you get the interviewer’s favor. In this article, we will tell you how to prepare for an interview at an IT company, what employers are looking at, and how to increase your chances of an offer. The article will be helpful to both experienced professionals and juniors who are just starting their careers in development.
1. Study the company in detail.
The interviewer may ask you why you want to work for them. It seems like a trivial question, but a non-trivial answer will allow you to earn more points in your favor. Study the company’s website, description, and history and show that you are interested in working here, not because you are just looking for a job. Learn more about the job and the company. It’s easy – check the corporate website and learn more about the company. This will help prepare you for the question, “What do you know about us?” It will also show your interest in the job and add a few bonus points to the recruiter’s eyes.
2. Prepare your questions.
Have questions you can ask during and after the interview. Don’t be shy to ask questions if you don’t understand something. If you forget to ask anything, don’t hesitate to ask a follow-up question even after the interview – show your fearlessness and interest. Even if you get a rejection, don’t be lazy and find out why you didn’t pass on. If you get an answer, you’ll know what you need to work on in the future.
3. Appearance.
You can only make a first impression once, so every detail is important, including appearance. How you look lets the employer know whether you and the company are right for each other and whether you will fit in.
There’s no need to pretend to be someone you’re not. There’s no point in wearing a formal suit if you don’t usually wear one. It’s enough to look neat. Wear clean, casual clothes, whether the interview is in the office or online. Images and prints can be distracting and irritating, so plain clothes are safer from this point of view.
4. Change the game.
In an interview, the interviewer often takes all the work – talking about the company and the position, asking the candidate questions, and generally leading the dialogue. Don’t be a robot by only answering the questions you are asked. Don’t be afraid to take responsibility and ask something of them. For example, if the interviewer tells you about the company and that they’ve been working here for six years, ask, “Wow, why so long?” Have them tell you why they like it here, and show your interest and respect.
5. Break the ice.
An interview is a nerve-wracking event and a little intimidating. But you don’t need to sit there with a scarred face and tell a prearranged text. Relax, smile, and talk about yourself. A smile solves a lot. If you have been invited to an interview, your candidacy is generally interesting to the employer. It depends on what impression you make. You should behave openly, don’t avoid answering, avoid “I don’t know”, answer honestly and be flexible.
6. Know Your and your Employers’ Wishes and Expectations.
Chances are you know exactly what you want from the interview and from the job – interesting work, career growth, and good pay. Tell about it. Don’t forget about the desires of the company in which you will be interviewed – i.e., long-term cooperation, ROI (return on investment), and quality of work. Show your serious attitude. Any employer wants to see a motivated employee. As a candidate, you need to show that you are not just in it for the money but that you are really interested in the work. The fact that the candidate wants to learn can be understood from what they do now for their own development: whether they read professional literature, blogs and articles, takes courses, attends meetups, watches videos, or follows trends.
7. Be ready for “dangerous questions”.
There are several questions that candidates really dislike because they often confuse them. For example, “what are you good at?” This question can be confusing, and you’ll tell them point by point that you’re punctual, stress-resistant, responsible, and so on. These are great qualities, but they should, and probably all candidates have. Think creatively. For example, how you or a colleague screwed up at work, and you successfully dealt with the problem. Talk about your most successful project or win. Make the interviewer surprised.
8. Don’t make major mistakes.
Among the typical mistakes, we can highlight the following. Sometimes candidates interrupt the interviewer, which looks very tactless. And some rush to answer a question without letting the interviewer even finish a sentence. Often their intuition fails them, and they answer inappropriately. Candidates also allow inappropriate slang or swear words in their interview speech. Others allow themselves to flirt during the interview. And the main mistake is that some people simply don’t show up for their interview without warning.
We hope that our pieces of advice were helpful to you. We wish you the best of luck in finding and getting your dream job!
