Landing an interview is a huge step toward locking down the job you're looking for. And if you've reached that point, congratulations! Now you just need to make sure the interview process goes smoothly, and for that we have some great tips for you.
Be sure to avoid these common mistakes the next time you interview:
1. Exaggerating your experience
There is a thin line between painting a strong picture of your skill and experience and over exaggerating. "For example," says Jeanine Swatton, Yodlee's Director of Developer Evangelism, "(developers) will list 5 programming languages they know - PHP, Python, Java, C++ and Objective C. When I ask basic questions regarding each of the languages, they cannot answer.”
Try to avoid getting caught in this boat by staying honest about your skillset. Don't be afraid to show off what you know, but be careful not to misrepresent the truth.
2. Selling yourself short
It's rare to find a great developer/programmer who's also a great self-marketer. But when it comes to landing a job, sometimes you have to be willing to speak up about what makes you special.
Tin Thinn, IT talent acquisition specialist for Halogen Software, puts it this way: "One mistake programmers/developers make during interviews is how they communicate their value proposition. For example, candidates can sometimes go too deep into the technical side of things, but in reality, they should be relating their experience to practical examples and how they would be a good cultural fit for the organization.”
3. Showing poor communication skills
You may not be a social butterfly, but it is important that you possess the ability to communicate effectively. Avaishai Weiss, Founder & CEO of Apartable, highlighted this very point recently.
"Sometimes you come across someone who is strong technically," he said, "but lacks the necessary social skills or communication skills to be a good employee. During an interview I will give a candidate a program to write. That exercise is meant not only to verify their coding ability, but to see how they interact with me, if they are communicative and what types of questions they ask. It helps me evaluate how they will work with our team."
4. Being afraid to say, "I don't know"
There are often times in an interview where you're honestly not sure how to answer a question correctly. This is totally ok, according to Enterprise Architect Calvin Brown. His advice?
"It's best to say 'I'd have to look that up' a couple times during the chat and allow them to feel they are capable of technically challenging you." Trying to fake your way through an interview will often leave you looking like a fool.
5. Failing to research the company
It's natural to turn your focus on presenting yourself on a job interview. But from the perspective of the potential employer, it's just as important to determine whether or not you're a fit for the company.
One way to accomplish this is by doing as much research as you can on the background, culture, and business of the company for which you're interviewing. Know what types of technology they're using and what you may need to know to succeed there.
6. Showing your immaturity
According to Jason Hamilton-Mascioli, Founder of Testlauncher.com, there are a few common mistakes that can raise serious questions about a candidate's maturity. These include having a resume that he says can sometimes "look like it was done by a 5 year old." If you're worried that you might fit into this category, take a look at these tips for creating a powerhouse resume.
7. Lack of self-esteem
I've already mentioned several times how important it can be to step forward and show off your skills to potential employers. Yet getting a talented developer to talk at length about himself/herself is sometimes like pulling teeth!
Remember, by the time you've reached the interview stage, the hiring manager already has an idea of who you are and what you can do. This potential employer already thinks highly of you and your skills and is hoping that you're going to turn out to be the perfect fit they're looking for. That alone should give you the confidence to speak openly about work that you've done and the projects you're most proud of.
By Jimmy Winskowski
