Checklist to go Through While Preparing for a Tech Interview
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Job Interview Preparation
Preparing for an interview entails taking the time to deeply consider one's qualifications and how they relate to the position advertised by the employer. In order to accomplish this, a few steps need to be followed to ensure a successful interview session and even employment prospect. The following are some of the steps one can easily follow while preparing for a technical interview.
Top 8 areas to focus on while preparing for a technical interview:
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Prepare an elevator pitch
Take no more than two minutes to answer the question. Considering that technical interviews are meant to test your skill level and how they relate to the job position being advertised, you should mainly speak of your experience and how it relates to the position.
Avoid talking about personal things that are of no use to the recruiters. You may see some examples below:
- Who are you? (Greetings, Name, surname, gratitude for meeting)
Example: Good afternoon! My name is Samantha Burke and I'm pleased to meet you today.
- What do you do? (Briefly explain what do you do in perspective of your position or profession)
Example: I'm currently a technical operational manager in (name of company), focused on managing over 100 people to deliver technical solutions and improvements to our company.
- What qualifications do you have? (Note your experience, achievements and background qualifications)
Example: I've worked 2 years in my current position within technical management, surpassing my goals on a constant basis managing different projects with great success. I have only recently graduated from university in Ireland, achieving a degree in business management and IT.
- What brings interest in you to apply for advertised positions, and what do you want? (Express interest for position that you are eager to get, make a compliment or ask a question if any, to build a stronger connection with interviewer)
Example: I must note that for quite a long time I have wanted myself to work on this specific project for (company name), as I find it to be innovating and refreshing. I was delighted to see it being advertised on your company's page, which I have heard only good of, so I thought it's the best time to give it a try, as I really want to put my expertise to work for this project.
- What is my mission statement? ( Finalise with mission statement, including call for action)
Example: My mission is to improve all possible aspects associated with technology and management for any company, strengthening business possibilities that ultimately generate higher revenue and contribute towards a healthier working environment. How do you feel, if we arrange the next call for the following week?
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Researching the company prior to the interview
This helps you learn more about the organisation such as its culture, technologies, goals and the people. This research will set you up well for the conversations likely to be held during the interview. The details will give you an edge over their competitor as it helps you understand the services the company offers beforehand.
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Pay careful attention to the job description
This is because the description acts as a guide to the qualifications being sought after, the desired qualities of the potential employee, and the background that describes the ideal candidate.
Aligning oneself with these details allows one to rate how qualified they are for the position depending on the skills they possess. The description also gives one an idea of the type of questions likely to be asked during the technical interview.
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Prepare answers to commonly asked technical interview questions
Ensure it’s related to the field in your area of expertise. Some of these questions include, why you'd want to work there, what would be your expected monthly and annual salary, what your strengths and weaknesses are, and why you left your previous job.
These may be trick questions and you may need to be witty to answer them in a way that doesn’t contradict their goals. Online resources may be helpful in getting the right answers to these questions.
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Dress right
Depending on the field of work one is interviewing for, you should dress appropriately. Simple yet formal . First impressions really matter. Arriving a few minutes early, say fifteen to twenty minutes gives you ample time to calm your nerves and be in a better mindset to face the interviewing panel.
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Organise your documents in advance
Have multiple copies of your resume, and copies of all your statutory documents as they may be needed. Having a pen and paper is important as you may be required to answer technical questions that may need rough working areas.
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Ask questions
Prepare the questions you may want to ask the interviewing panel. Most panels give a chance to the prospective candidates to ask any question. You may use this opportunity to clarify grey areas on the position roles and the organisational culture. It is important to remain impartial and courteous.
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Don’t forget your manners!
Finally, be sure to thank the interviewing panel for taking their time to interview you on the skills you possess and how they align with the requirements of the position advertised. Following up is also crucial. You may email or call if they don’t get a response within the agreed time period.
Preparing for an interview is a task in itself, a lot of research and practice goes into the process. But, having this prep under your belt will set you up for success.
Head over to our career insights page for more information on the tech market in Ireland.
