Job Interviewing Tips?

Off Topic
1

Well my semester long vacation has finished and now I am going to start applying for jobs. I graduated with a degree in Computer Science and I have been visiting websites such as monster.com and other various web sites for interviewing tips.

I was wondering if anyone here has been in the position of hiring new employees or just some general tips you might like to add. For example, I know having a good presentation and confidence is a good thing during the interview and learning more about the company you are applying for is also very important. Also, what are good questions to ask the person who is interviewing you?

If the person interviewing you makes an offer you do not really like, for example, maybe they are offering part-time instead of full-time or salary; which of course I am not going to bring up, what is a good way to respond? Thanks for taking the time to reply.

jet

2

For starters, you’ve got to look good. Be strapping, and bust out your nice professional clothing and look like a million busk. Y’know?

Ask the interviewer how long he or she has been working for the company. Ask what he or she enjoys about working for the company (“What’s your favorite thing about working here?”). Ask about potential for job growth within the company (career development).

Do NOT be shy to ask about pay, you must negotiate that before accepting the job offer. Ask for some tips regarding the job. For example: “What advice would you give to a new hire on how best to perform at his or her job?”

3

Larger photo of your avatar please.

4

[quote]disciplined wrote:
For starters, you’ve got to look good. Be strapping, and bust out your nice professional clothing and look like a million busk. Y’know?

Ask the interviewer how long he or she has been working for the company. Ask what he or she enjoys about working for the company (“What’s your favorite thing about working here?”). Ask about potential for job growth within the company (career development).

Do NOT be shy to ask about pay, you must negotiate that before accepting the job offer. Ask for some tips regarding the job. For example: “What advice would you give to a new hire on how best to perform at his or her job?”[/quote]

I agree with these. Bring a professional looking portfolio with you, something you can write in. Have some questions listed including the ones mentioned above.

After you ask your first question, say “Do you mind if I take notes?” try not to break too much eye contact, the idea is to listen effectively, not stare at your paper and write a novel.

Some of my favorite questions,

  1. What would be a surprising, but good thing that this person could do within the first 3 months of their hire date?

  2. What can I bring or add to the department to really round out the team?

The others I generally use aren’t coming to mind at the moment, but if they do I’ll post them.

Just for some credibility, I recent applied for a position within my company that I absolutely was not qualified for, to my surprise I got an interview directly with the Regional VP of Sales. Not to be anticlimactic, but I didn’t get the job, however, he was extremely impressed with the questions I asked.

Towards the end of the conversation we were talking about the pros and cons of hiring me for the job, and he said one of the cons was that I was green - very new. But then he stated that in the short time he’s spent talking to me, I’ve helped him get over that.

I remained in the running for this position for another month, then they found somebody else. But even so, through this I have gained a VP at my company who will refer me for other jobs, and look for me when other things open up in his department.

Hope this helps - let me know if you have any specific questions, I’m not an expert but I’ve had some success and am well read.

5

[quote]disciplined wrote:
For starters, you’ve got to look good. Be strapping, and bust out your nice professional clothing and look like a million busk. Y’know?

Ask the interviewer how long he or she has been working for the company. Ask what he or she enjoys about working for the company (“What’s your favorite thing about working here?”). Ask about potential for job growth within the company (career development).

Do NOT be shy to ask about pay, you must negotiate that before accepting the job offer. Ask for some tips regarding the job. For example: “What advice would you give to a new hire on how best to perform at his or her job?”[/quote]

Good points all around. Don’t skimp on the threads dude, they don’t have to cost a lot but you have to be put together.

6

Xyience model…

7

[quote]disciplined wrote:
For starters, you’ve got to look good. Be strapping, and bust out your nice professional clothing and look like a million bucks. Y’know?

Ask the interviewer how long he or she has been working for the company. Ask what he or she enjoys about working for the company (“What’s your favorite thing about working here?”). Ask about potential for job growth within the company (career development).

Do NOT be shy to ask about pay, you must negotiate that before accepting the job offer. Ask for some tips regarding the job. For example: “What advice would you give to a new hire on how best to perform at his or her job?”[/quote]

Just to elaborate a bit, you’re asking the interviewer how long he or she has been working for the company in order to get a bit personal. When you ask a question like, “How long have you been working here and what are your favorite aspects of working for this company?”, you’re getting to know the interviewer personally and you’re also showing interest in the job.

When you ask questions regarding mobiblity within the company and opportunities for job development (career growth), you’re showing long-term interest, as companies want to minimize turnover.

As was said above, eye contact is crucial. You must connect with the interviewer or a professional and on a personal level (try to sneak a laugh and a joke in there, somewhere). That means, the interviewer is impressed with you professionally in regards to your abilities to properly perform the requirements of the position he or she is seeking to fill, and the interviewer is impressed with you as a person and thinks your personality is good.

8

[quote]catalyst wrote:

I agree with these. Bring a professional looking portfolio with you, something you can write in. Have some questions listed including the ones mentioned above.

After you ask your first question, say “Do you mind if I take notes?” try not to break too much eye contact, the idea is to listen effectively, not stare at your paper and write a novel.

Some of my favorite questions,

  1. What would be a surprising, but good thing that this person could do within the first 3 months of their hire date?

  2. What can I bring or add to the department to really round out the team?

The others I generally use aren’t coming to mind at the moment, but if they do I’ll post them.

Just for some credibility, I recent applied for a position within my company that I absolutely was not qualified for, to my surprise I got an interview directly with the Regional VP of Sales. Not to be anticlimactic, but I didn’t get the job, however, he was extremely impressed with the questions I asked.

Towards the end of the conversation we were talking about the pros and cons of hiring me for the job, and he said one of the cons was that I was green - very new. But then he stated that in the short time he’s spent talking to me, I’ve helped him get over that.

I remained in the running for this position for another month, then they found somebody else. But even so, through this I have gained a VP at my company who will refer me for other jobs, and look for me when other things open up in his department.

Hope this helps - let me know if you have any specific questions, I’m not an expert but I’ve had some success and am well read.
[/quote]

Good advice and a good story. That’s very interesting, I’m gonna have to try doing that at my job! There are countless internal job postings with my employer (a huge company) and I’m gonna start applying for some positions that I’m underqualified for. As your experience states, at least you made an internal connection!

9

Since you have a technical degree, I assume you are applying for a technical position. You need to prove you can do the work, so have an example of something you have done, a school project or even something you were just messing around with at home. Be ready to present it and why it shows you can do the type of work you are applying for. Even if the interviewer does not ask about it, you need to bring it up to differentiate you from the rest of the crowd.

Depending on who you are interviewing with and what their level of technical expertise is you need to vary your presentation of this project. When you speak to a human resources person, just point out the pretty colors, or the basic function of the program.

When you talk to a highly technical person you need to get into the details of how you accomplished what you did. And never try to bullshit the techincal person, they probably have been doing whatever you are presenting every day for many years and will see through it in a heartbeat and cross you off the list instantly.

10

[quote]catalyst wrote:
disciplined wrote:
For starters, you’ve got to look good. Be strapping, and bust out your nice professional clothing and look like a million busk. Y’know?

Ask the interviewer how long he or she has been working for the company. Ask what he or she enjoys about working for the company (“What’s your favorite thing about working here?”). Ask about potential for job growth within the company (career development).

Do NOT be shy to ask about pay, you must negotiate that before accepting the job offer. Ask for some tips regarding the job. For example: “What advice would you give to a new hire on how best to perform at his or her job?”

I agree with these. Bring a professional looking portfolio with you, something you can write in. Have some questions listed including the ones mentioned above.

After you ask your first question, say “Do you mind if I take notes?” try not to break too much eye contact, the idea is to listen effectively, not stare at your paper and write a novel.

Some of my favorite questions,

  1. What would be a surprising, but good thing that this person could do within the first 3 months of their hire date?

  2. What can I bring or add to the department to really round out the team?

The others I generally use aren’t coming to mind at the moment, but if they do I’ll post them.

Just for some credibility, I recent applied for a position within my company that I absolutely was not qualified for, to my surprise I got an interview directly with the Regional VP of Sales. Not to be anticlimactic, but I didn’t get the job, however, he was extremely impressed with the questions I asked.

Towards the end of the conversation we were talking about the pros and cons of hiring me for the job, and he said one of the cons was that I was green - very new. But then he stated that in the short time he’s spent talking to me, I’ve helped him get over that.

I remained in the running for this position for another month, then they found somebody else. But even so, through this I have gained a VP at my company who will refer me for other jobs, and look for me when other things open up in his department.

Hope this helps - let me know if you have any specific questions, I’m not an expert but I’ve had some success and am well read.
[/quote]

Thanks catalyst for your help. A friend on mine once told me how he once applied for a job that requiered a minimum of two years experience. He didn’t have those years of experience, but applied anyways thinking he didn’t have anything to loose. Well he ended up getting the job since many people did not apply and were discouraged with the job’s prerequisites.

jet

11

Asking what positive you can contribute, is really good. Also, as someone said don’t be afraid to ask about pay and other benefits. It may sound funny too, but sometimes to much confidence is a turn-off. Leave a little lead way for what you can and are willing to learn. Hope this reply helps a little.

12

Oh one more thing be friendly and approachable, show you are a personality as well not just a college degree.

13

[quote]Jetric9 wrote:
catalyst wrote:
disciplined wrote:
For starters, you’ve got to look good. Be strapping, and bust out your nice professional clothing and look like a million busk. Y’know?

Ask the interviewer how long he or she has been working for the company. Ask what he or she enjoys about working for the company (“What’s your favorite thing about working here?”). Ask about potential for job growth within the company (career development).

Do NOT be shy to ask about pay, you must negotiate that before accepting the job offer. Ask for some tips regarding the job. For example: “What advice would you give to a new hire on how best to perform at his or her job?”

I agree with these. Bring a professional looking portfolio with you, something you can write in. Have some questions listed including the ones mentioned above.

After you ask your first question, say “Do you mind if I take notes?” try not to break too much eye contact, the idea is to listen effectively, not stare at your paper and write a novel.

Some of my favorite questions,

  1. What would be a surprising, but good thing that this person could do within the first 3 months of their hire date?

  2. What can I bring or add to the department to really round out the team?

The others I generally use aren’t coming to mind at the moment, but if they do I’ll post them.

Just for some credibility, I recent applied for a position within my company that I absolutely was not qualified for, to my surprise I got an interview directly with the Regional VP of Sales. Not to be anticlimactic, but I didn’t get the job, however, he was extremely impressed with the questions I asked.

Towards the end of the conversation we were talking about the pros and cons of hiring me for the job, and he said one of the cons was that I was green - very new. But then he stated that in the short time he’s spent talking to me, I’ve helped him get over that.

I remained in the running for this position for another month, then they found somebody else. But even so, through this I have gained a VP at my company who will refer me for other jobs, and look for me when other things open up in his department.

Hope this helps - let me know if you have any specific questions, I’m not an expert but I’ve had some success and am well read.

Thanks catalyst for your help. A friend on mine once told me how he once applied for a job that requiered a minimum of two years experience. He didn’t have those years of experience, but applied anyways thinking he didn’t have anything to loose. Well he ended up getting the job since many people did not apply and were discouraged with the job’s prerequisites.

jet
[/quote]

I’m glad you found it helpful. Listen, you won half the battle simply by recognizing that the interview is important.

A lot of people seem to think the goal of the job search is to get the interview, and then spend little time preparing for it.

I would wager than the interview itself carries more weight than any of the other individual factors when it comes to a hiring decision.

14

[quote]dswithers wrote:
Since you have a technical degree, I assume you are applying for a technical position. You need to prove you can do the work, so have an example of something you have done, a school project or even something you were just messing around with at home. Be ready to present it and why it shows you can do the type of work you are applying for. Even if the interviewer does not ask about it, you need to bring it up to differentiate you from the rest of the crowd.

Depending on who you are interviewing with and what their level of technical expertise is you need to vary your presentation of this project. When you speak to a human resources person, just point out the pretty colors, or the basic function of the program.

When you talk to a highly technical person you need to get into the details of how you accomplished what you did. And never try to bullshit the techincal person, they probably have been doing whatever you are presenting every day for many years and will see through it in a heartbeat and cross you off the list instantly.[/quote]

Yeah I agree, there is no way I’m planning on bs the technical person. If they ask me if I am familiar with a certain programming language that I have not used, I’m thinking of telling them that if they give me a small project, I can give it go him to next day in the morning.

jet

15

[quote]unforgiven2 wrote:
Asking what positive you can contribute, is really good. Also, as someone said don’t be afraid to ask about pay and other benefits. It may sound funny too, but sometimes to much confidence is a turn-off. Leave a little lead way for what you can and are willing to learn. Hope this reply helps a little.[/quote]

Yeah I also agree, to much confidence is a turn off. The confidence I am planning on portraying is eye contact, showing interest, sharp presentation, friendly and being a positive person. There’s no way I’m going in like a cocky bastard acting all badass.

jet

16

For any technical job I always use dice.com

I get way more quality hits there than any other site. Most likely a recruiter will pick you up from that site and help you as well. Most guys/gals I know use this for technology jobs.

17

[quote]dswithers wrote:
Since you have a technical degree, I assume you are applying for a technical position. You need to prove you can do the work, so have an example of something you have done, a school project or even something you were just messing around with at home. Be ready to present it and why it shows you can do the type of work you are applying for. Even if the interviewer does not ask about it, you need to bring it up to differentiate you from the rest of the crowd.

Depending on who you are interviewing with and what their level of technical expertise is you need to vary your presentation of this project. When you speak to a human resources person, just point out the pretty colors, or the basic function of the program.

When you talk to a highly technical person you need to get into the details of how you accomplished what you did. And never try to bullshit the techincal person, they probably have been doing whatever you are presenting every day for many years and will see through it in a heartbeat and cross you off the list instantly.[/quote]

this is pretty good advice. I work for a wireless provider and when i went in for my initial interview, the HR person basically wanted to know my goals/determination/problem solving skills. nothing too in-depth, just that i’d be a good worker and show i’m smart.

I’ll be starting training in a week and a half for data support in the same company, and the hiring process was more technical. we had group interviews and the other people i was with could not answer the basic questions that were asked. you gotta show that you know your stuff, but that you’re open to training and new ways of thinking as well.

big up your computer science courses/projects, but don’t neglect mentioning other subjects. for exmaple, relate math to problem solving in different situations; if you had any sociology/english/other arts courses, explain how they’ve helped you see situations from different points of view, etc. 'cause they want to know you have a degree, but the also want to know you’ll fit into the company well.

I halifax here, we have a college, 3 universities in the city, a tech college, and art college and so on with about 400,000 people. it seem slike most people here my age have a degree. you gotta show people what else you have.

18

I strongly disagree with the discussion of pay at an interview.

Unless you have been offered a job you NEVER bring up pay. It is absolutely tactless.

Since they have not offered you a position, you have no leverage with which to negotiate. Wait until you have a concrete offer, then talk dollars and cents.

19

[quote]jedidiah wrote:
I strongly disagree with the discussion of pay at an interview.

Unless you have been offered a job you NEVER bring up pay. It is absolutely tactless.

Since they have not offered you a position, you have no leverage with which to negotiate. Wait until you have a concrete offer, then talk dollars and cents. [/quote]

I agree, however, a hiring manager for sales jobs at my company likes people to ask how much the salary is, and then what the potential for commission is. Sales is in a lot of ways a polar opposite from the type of job the OP is looking to acquire.

That being said, I’ve never been comfortable asking salary figures at interviews. Also, I can’t imagine a job being offered without a salary attached to it, which of course is your cue to negotiate, if you choose to.

20

[quote]vbm537 wrote:
For any technical job I always use dice.com

I get way more quality hits there than any other site. Most likely a recruiter will pick you up from that site and help you as well. Most guys/gals I know use this for technology jobs.[/quote]

Thank you for providing the link. First time I’ve seen it and I know it will help in some way.

jet