Maybe you have already graduated, or are graduating soon, or maybe you are just ready to start your career in the tech industry. Searching for that perfect job in the tech industry can be tough. You’ve applied to multiple jobs and you have finally landed a job interview. Now what?
We have put together 5 Tips for Acing Your Job Interview. Keep in mind that every company has its own culture and unique approach to how they run their business. We can tell you what we at PS Solutions look for first and foremost. Certainly your experience may differ from company to company but these tips reflect what we use to help us identify who the stars will be on our team as we go through the interviewing process. Several of these tips come directly from PS Solutions’ co-owner and managing partner, Wayne Hippo.
- Passion.
Let’s start here. Passion. Do you have some type of passion for working with software? For writing code? For helping others solve problems? How long have you been at the process? Did you start coding as a child or during your senior year in college? Did you create a game when you were little? Did you come up with a solution to help out your family using technology? What’s on your GitHub? Employers want to see that you have a push to do more than just turn in projects to get a grade. Be prepared to discuss your passion for the job and why it drives you.
- Experience.
Most employers are looking at your experience outside of the classroom. This sort of ties into showing your passion for technology. Did you have any internships (Paid or Unpaid) while in school? Did you participate in any extracurricular groups that allowed you to get real-life experience? Employers want to see that you have both hard skills and soft skills. Even in a technology company you will still be working with others whether that is others on your teams or even working with the clients themselves.
- Hard skills are technical skills and may include your experience using different platforms, tools, or programming languages.
- Soft skills are non-technical skills and may include your ability to work effectively in a team environment or manage time. These skills are often used when working with clients as well.
- Research.
One of the biggest tips we can give is to do your research on the company you are interviewing with prior to the interview. Make sure you have checked out their website to get to know the company. What about their Social Media pages? Who is doing the interview and what do you know about them? Are you familiar with any of the core values of the company? Are there any latest blog posts that spark your interest? This tip, alone, could set you apart from others. It is well known in the first 5 minutes of an interview whether you did some digging or not. Plus, this information may help you come up with some questions on your own.
- The Reverse Interview.
Many forget that this is your chance to interview the company as much as it is their chance to interview you. Come up with questions to ask, you’re making sure this is a right fit for yourself. You expressing interest with questions shows how interested you actually are about the company and position.
- Come ready to learn.
When it comes down to it, employers want a candidate who is ready to get their hands dirty and learn. If you can show that you are willing to learn something new everyday, or even express your interest for professional development, that can go a long way. I was once told by a professor that many employers hire the attitude and train the skills. This seems to be true, employers want to invest in good people. Whether they know how to write code with their eyes closed or not, these skills are something employers are willing to teach if you come with the right attitude.
At the end of the day, be prepared, be ready to have a conversation, and be confident. Good luck. Feel free to drop us an email with any thoughts, suggestions or questions.
