Interviewing for a Job
Why would I post an entry on interviewing? Well, it's simple. Interviewing is your only opportunity to tell the interviewer who you are and what you can do for them. Yeah, we all know that, right? Well, not all of us I can assure you. This is not especially important in the current economy where a lot of us are out of work and pounding the streets, well actually, the keyboard. There are some important things about the interview process which so many don't know. How do I know?
First, let me say, I've been in IT for well over 20 years and I'm not very different than most of you reading this. As a software developer and consultant, I interviewed for jobs dozens of times over my career. I’ve also had to interview candidates on occasion when the company I was working for decided to bring on a new person. Still, that's not a lot of experience interviewing and most of you reading this have done this same stuff before. However, since I started Craftlogic, I’ve had the privilege of interviewing thousands of candidates and I have a lot of stories I could tell you. Anyway, I’ve come up with a few important things everyone should consider when interviewing for a job based on my experience.
Emailing your resume
These days, most IT people find out about a job on a company website or a job board. Your very first opportunity to be considered for a job is how you present your resume. Seems, minor, right? Well, I dismiss half or more of the resumes I get because of how they were sent or by the content of the resume itself.
First, read the job requirements carefully. The quickest way to get your resume deleted from my inbox is by not reading the requirements. If your resume or cover letter doesn’t mention that you have the skills the job requirements are asking for, then your history.
Second, send either a cover letter with your resume or an explanation within the email about how your skills fit the job requirements you saw in the job advertisement. When a company or agency posts a job ad on Monster, for example, it’s not unusual to get 100 or more resumes in 24-48 hours. The more difficult you make it for the resume reviewer, the more likely your email will be deleted from the inbox.
Third, make sure your resume itself gives a list of your technical skills at the top. This is a quick review of what you know. For each job you’ve had, list the skills you used in that job. If I have to hunt through your resume to figure out what it is you know and I’ve just looked at my 200th resume for the day, it’s likely your resume will be moved aside for later review or possibly deleted.
Lastly, don’t just blast your emails out to a lot of different companies. It’s obvious to anybody receiving your resume that you’re simply throwing a handful of darts at a dart board and hoping one hits the board. Sorry, but I delete these automatically. If you want a job with my company, then give me the respect to tell me about yourself and how you think you’re a good fit. That’s it.
Consider every conversation about the job to be an interview
This includes submitting your resume by email, talking to a recruiter, the receptionist at the company office, or anybody else that knows you’re looking for a job at that company.
As a recruiter, I’m evaluating you by how you present yourself, how you speak, and what you say in addition to what your skills may be and the results of your technical interview. I once had an interview with a lady who was waiting in a fast food line waiting to order. She even put me on hold to place her order during the interview. Needless to say, she will not be presented to any client I have. The recruiter has a lot of power determining whether or not you get presented to the company so don’t take any conversation with a recruiter lightly. From the first email, to the first conversation, through the completion of our technical interview, I’m constantly asking myself, “Do I want to present this person to my client?” Most of the people I interview never get the chance to talk to my client because they didn’t present themselves well, their skills well, or simply didn’t know what their resume said they knew.
If you get an interview with a company, then be professional. This includes the receptionist at the front desk, anybody you pass in the hall, and of course to anybody conducting the interview. Believe me, it’s not unusual for the receptionist at the front desk to mention to your interviewer afterward how you behaved while waiting in the lobby. Remember, until you have the job, every person you talk to or meet is a potential interviewer.
Go through with the interview
Let’s say you get a job offer but you still have more interviews scheduled or being scheduled. I understand that interviewing is a major inconvenience, but don’t you owe it to yourself to at least take a look? Think about it. You made it this far to be considered for the interview in the first place. It’s in your best interest to go ahead with the interview just in case it’s better than the offer you currently have.
During your interview
This is great. You made it through the worst of it all and now you’re sitting in front of the interviewer. Chances are 10 or 20 or 100 other people applied for this position but it’s you that got the interview. Congratulations and don’t blow it.
If you got the interview through Craftlogic, then chances are you’re qualified to do the job because we know our clients’ needs and we know how to interview candidates for those positions. However, it’s still up to you to land the job.
Don’t come off as cocky or arrogant. Confidence is a good thing but when it comes off as cocky or arrogant then you’ve just hurt your chances. Companies don’t want employees or consultants that are too “proud” of themselves. This attitude makes it difficult to get along on a team or compromise when needed.
Don’t lie about your experience. It’s very obvious when you lie or exaggerate about your experience. I understand you don’t want to tell your interviewer that you don’t know the answer to their question but that’s the best thing to do. When I have a candidate flat out tell me they don’t know, I tell them I appreciate their honesty. Honesty is a big plus for me when interviewing.
Answer completely but succinctly. Interviews are important, but time-consuming. The interview is not the place for you to expound upon all of your knowledge about a subject unless you’re specifically asked to do so. This often comes off as arrogant or trying to show off. At the same time, don’t be so succinct that you’re not fully answering the question.
Body language is 90% of the conversation. Instinctively, an interviewer can tell if you’re lying, uncomfortable, and nervous. Just be yourself.
Be interested in the job. Even if you’re thinking to yourself that you’re not interested, still try to get to the next step. You may have other opportunities you think are better, but work this one all the way to the end and try to get the offer. Then, you’ll have at least this job and hopefully others to compare against. Often, those jobs you think are the one you’re least interested in become the most interesting so don’t blow it before you give it a chance.
After the interview
It’s not over after the interview. Send a thank you email stating you enjoyed meeting everybody and that you’re interested in the position. Follow-up in a few days if you’ve not heard back from anyone about the job. People get busy and your note or call will remind them they need to make a decision. Your interest shows by these follow-ups and gives you an advantage over somebody with the same skills and experience.
Conclusion
As you can see. Interviewing for a job is a long process. A lot of the process is ongoing before you even find out about the job. Understanding your place in the process and being professional all the way through will give you a better chance.