What you really need to know right now … Hayesha Somarathne B.Sc(Hons) in IT, MSc in CS, Dip in Psy
What you really need to know right now …
Hayesha SomarathneB.Sc(Hons) in IT, MSc in CS, Dip in Psy
Interview Tips
Understand the concept and purpose ofthe interview
Learn how to prepare yourself for theinterview
Develop strategies and techniques for agood interview
Interview Tips
Any face-to-face contact with anyonewho has the authority to hire orsupervise a person with your skills. Theymay or may not have a job opening atthe time you interview with them.
Interview Tips
1 Prepare
2 Prepare
3 Prepare
Interview Tips
Research the employer
Find out what the job responsibilities are
Find out and record where, when, andwith whom you will interview with
Prepare a resume
Interview Tips
Your goal is to show the
employer why you are
the best person for the
job
Relate your strengths and
experience to the job
Interview Tips
Fully complete the state application without being too wordy. Resumes should be brief and to the point (1-2 pages). Both must be error free!
Application form is available on the Intranet in the HR Forms file. If you do not have a personal computer available to you, please complete the form neatly by hand, preferably typed.
Make sure all information is accurate and captures what you have done in each job.
Document your qualifications. Never assume anything.
The application deadline date is exactly that. Plan ahead!
Interview Tips
Your Resume
Your Application
Your Clothes &
Appearance
Your Body Language
Interview Tips
Even when your interviewer gives you a first and last name,
address your interviewer by Mr. Or Ms. and the last name
Maintain good eye contact during the interview.
Sit still in your seat; avoid fidgeting and slouching.
Respond to questions and back up your statements about
yourself with specific examples whenever possible.
Ask for clarification if you don’t understand a question; and be
thorough in your responses while being concise in your wording.
Use good grammar and good diction. Say yes, not yeah. Don’t
fill pauses with um, uh or ah. Don’t punctuate sentences with
you know, like, see or okay
Interview Tips
Employers want concrete examples
Identify your skills: adaptive, transferable, and job-related
Present a good “story”
Use data - numbers, volume, %, etc.
Emphasize results: what happened as a result of your skills/efforts?
Link up what you’re good at to how you can help the employer out in this job.
Interview Tips
Exhibit quiet confidence
Organize your thoughtsand apply yourknowledge, skills andabilities
Think globally! Relateoutside experiences todemonstrate yourqualifications
Interview Tips
Job skills and transferable/adaptable skills
Flexibility
Dependability
Teamwork
Productivity
Creative Thinking and Problem Solving
Organizational Skills & Leadership Skills
Communication/Customer Service
Ability to continuously learn
Interview Tips
Courteously thank the interviewer(s) for theopportunity to interview with the agency.
Extend a handshake and exhibit enthusiasmabout the career opportunity.
Consider following up with a thank you note ore-mail of appreciation to the interviewer(s) tofurther show your interest.
Interview Tips
Send a Thank You
Call back in a few weeks
Get a second interview
Interview Tips
It takes time and persistence to reach your goal
Consider every interview a learning experience
Interview Tips
What material do you need to learn inclass or on your own?Know what kind of job you wantCreate a resume that looks like the jobyou want
Don’t just list all your skillsTailor the resume for your dream job or awaypoint
Interview Tips
Interview skills to develop
Material to review
Programming problemsPuzzles
Knowledge-based questions, non-technicalquestions
Interview Tips
How to prepare for interview with aparticular company?
Company website
Ask your friends about the company
Review your resume & bring copies with you
Arrive early
Interview Tips
Time pressure
Nerve-wracking
No computer or reference material
They test interview skills
Interview Tips
Learn as much as you can before the interview Make yourself comfortable: water, comfortable shoes, time of the day, etc.Give yourself ample time (arrive 15 minutes prior, plan for 1 hr extra time after)If you don’t know the answer - slow down and thinkGet good night of sleep before
Interview Tips
Background
Programming
Puzzles
Algorithms
System design
Product and industry ideas
Interview Tips
Be prepared to discuss:Past projects (including lines of code)
Debugging
Leadership or teamwork experience
Resolving difficulties with co-workers
Interview Tips
White boardPractice on paper without an IDEIt's okay not to remember library routines
Interviewer wants to evaluate how you thinkThink aloudBalance confidence and humility
Question may be ambiguousMake sure you understandAsk questions
Interview Tips
Make sure you understand problem.
Consider time, space, and other trade-offs.
Test your code.
If you don't know how to proceed
Work through an example.
Start simple, then optimize.
You're not expected to be perfect.
“Find a substring within a given string.”
Interview Tips
Purpose is to test intelligence, logic,problem-solving.
Actually hit or miss.
Approaches
Study puzzle problems beforehand.
Think aloud.
Interview Tips
ProblemsHow would you sort/search/represent/solve ...?What is the efficiency of this data structure/algorithm?
ApproachesAgain, ask questions and consider trade-offs.Review undergraduate algorithms and data structures.Listen carefully to the problem.
Interview Tips
Types of questionClass structureScalability
Example: “Sort a million numbers”Use previous techniques, especially:
Clarifying problemAsking what to optimizeDiscussing trade-offs
Interview Tips
Sample questionsHow could one of our products be improved?What could you contribute to our company?What should we be doing?
ApproachesBe aware of what the company does and the state of the industry.Don't say their products are perfect.Think ahead
Interview Tips
Further Help
Mastering the Art of theTechnical Interviewhttp://community.anitaborg.org/wiki/images/8/8e/Technical-interview.pdf
The Job Interview -https://fc.deltasd.bc.ca/~pmassie/FOV2-0007448C/FOV2-00075DBD/FOV2-0008E5F1/Interviews_Overview.pptx?Plugin=Loft