You’ve written your resume, applied for the job, and scheduled the interview. Now it’s time to prepare for your interview. In order to accomplish this, here are five tips to nail that IT interview.
1.Research
Research the company: Start by looking at the company website. Read the story, know exactly what the company does, look at the current employees, etc. Do you know any of the employees working there that could give you a great internal reference? Next, move on to research the company culture by looking up any blogs or social media accounts (Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram). This information can provide you with an idea of the personality traits the internal employees have and the overall company culture. Which can help you make sure the values and career path they have laid out align with what you are looking for and what the company is looking for.
Know your audience: Research who will be interviewing you. Look them up on LinkedIn so you get a good understanding of their background, where they have worked, where they went to school, etc. This will help to find common ground — maybe you worked at the same place in the past, went to the same college, or have common connections.
2. Review the Job Description
Use the job description like you would a study guide for a test. The job description lists the responsibilities and the skillsets that the Hiring Manager is looking for. Use that to your advantage. A job description lists all the technologies in the company’s environment. Is there a technology you are not familiar with or don’t know much about? Research it — it’s not uncommon for a job description to list out all the technologies in their environment. Be warned — this can be overwhelming! Find out what the must-have skills are and a few of the pluses. If you feel weak in any, study up the night before!
3. Have Questions Prepared
While they are interviewing you, it’s important to remember you are interviewing them just as much as they are interviewing you. Prepare questions about company culture, company products and/or services, daily responsibilities, and team environment
Below are a few questions to consider asking:
1. Could you walk me through what a typical day looks like for this role?
2. Why do you enjoy working for this company?
3. What does the path for professional development look like for this role?
4. What are some challenges I might face in this role?
5. Can you talk to me about this department and the team members I would be working with?
6. What are the next steps in this interview process? (ALWAYS finish with this question!)
4. Mock Interview
Are you still not feeling prepared? Mock interviews are a great way to get the jitters out of your system and get feedback on what you can do differently in your real interview. Practicing not only relieves anxiety but helps improve your soft skills and promote confidence. Ask a friend, family member, or your recruiter to help you in a mock interview. Working with a recruiter has many benefits and this is definitely one of the BIG ones! Recruiters have been involved in many IT interviews and know what type of questions to ask and how to help prepare you for the real thing. The more you practice the more confidence you will feel going into your interview.
5. Soft Skills
In addition, While the technology stack is extremely important for an IT interview, it’s important to remember soft skills are equally important. This is a great way to stand out from the competition try to exude confidence, strong communication skills, teamwork, leadership skills, and overall interpersonal skills.
Adaptive Solutions Group is an IT Recruiting & Staffing Company operating in St. Louis, Kansas City, and Denver. If you are in our IT market and would like help getting an interview set up for an IT position, let our recruiting pros assist you. Please contact us at info@adaptivesg.com
