Top 10 Tips for Acing Your Next Tech Interview

---

Here’s what you need to know about nailing your tech interview so you can get through it stress-free. Following are the top 10 tips for acing your next interview:

10.  Get the Interview

 

You have to actually get the interview which means having a purposeful resumé and making sure it gets to the company. Once you’re done, don’t just send it in with the rest, you may use your networking and a bit of creativity to beat that computerized system and get your resumé into the right people. If you don’t get the interview, find out why and use that to help you the next time around

 

9. Be Prepared Ahead of Time

 

Now that you’ve got the interview, you still have a lot of work to do before you walk into the door. Note that the main reason most people fail at interviews is a lack of preparation. So, research as much as you can about the company, know the job description, and it’s good to have a way to stand out in that interview among all the other applicants. Creating a good cheat sheet together and studying it can support you out, too.  

 

8. First Impression: Get to It

 

Your tech interview starts the second you walk in the door, so be set. You may also need to rehearse your walking stance into a room if you have to. More than anything, absorb how first impressions work and do everything you can to make a good one: Don’t  late, be on time, dress and groom yourself soundly, and be mindful of your body language. Put in mind, just giving a damn will go a long way in your first impression—if you don’t want to be there, they’ll know.

 

7. Challenge the Tough Questions

 

Once you’re there at the interview, it’s time for the hard part: responding to the interview questions. It is good to know the questions you’ll be expected to answer backwards and forwards, and do some extra inquiry on answering the really rough ones, like “what is your main weakness,” “have you been fired,” “tell me about an encounter you faced with a colleague,” or even just the ever-vague “tell me about yourself, your experience.” Your answers will probably follow a specific pattern, so when you fall uncertain, fall back on the STAR technique. But most of all: know the reason why they’re asking you each question and style your responses to their hidden reasons. Do not be afraid to hop around questions you’d rather not answer, too.

 

6. You May Ask Questions too

Your interviewer shouldn’t only be the only one asking questions. It is your chance to not only make a good impression but learn a bit more about the job you’re applying for. Ask a few questions that will make you look virtuous, as well as some questions that’ll show you whether this is the precise job for you. With the right questions arranged, you’ll be one step ahead of the competition.

 

5. Let Your Good Qualities Be Emphasized

You will feel the need to be modest but don’t. Be confident, by shy away from blatant self-promotion. Showing your skill is one of the best ways to prove your worth. If you don’t have the experience to flaunt, remember that potential is actually more valuable than experience: if you can show why you’re a talented hire, you’re in.

 

4. Avoid the Common Drawbacks

 

Know that you are prepared with your tech interview techniques, but it’s also vital to know what to avoid. Even something as simple as undesirable body language can disrupt your chances, so make sure you aren’t hurting yourself without knowing it. Do an inquiry of the subjects you should avoid and make sure you don’t overshare, particularly when it comes to your personal background. As long as you don’t raise any red flags, you should be decent to go.  

 

3. Remember to Recover When Things Go South

Optimistically, with the right preparation, your tech interview will go efficiently. But, if you end up answering a question terribly or hit a common brick wall (like claims of “overqualification”), learn how to turn the current quickly so you can get back on a good basis. When you leave the interview thinking the whole thing was a tragedy, you may always turn it into a learning experience for the next interview.

 

2. Follow Up After the Tech Interview

Never let your interview be the last they hear from you. When you follow up afterward, you’ll help them recall who you are, and make sure your resume doesn’t fall into the abyss of the disremembered.  You can send a thank you note or card after your interview, and a short email, later on, to check in if you haven’t received back. Take into account how you’ve been collaborative with them so far, though, as different modes of communication may be more helpful. If you have a follow-up interview, be sure to nail that too.

 

1. If Are Not Hired, Find Out Why

Not every tech interview will be a winner, sadly, even if you do everything precise. If you don’t get hired, the best thing you can do is find out why and apply that information to your next round of interviews. Look back on your interview and think about what you could have done better, whether it’s avoiding the “overqualification” snare or just simply use good grammar. There could be a number of reasons someone might not hire you, and all you can do is use this round as practice for your next tech interview.
For more knowledge on how to ace your Tech Interview get the book “Inside the Tech Interview” .  Available on Amazon on Kindle and Paperback.