Youpid.in is hiring. We’ve been going through resumes and taking interviews. Interviews whether or not they lead to actual job hires, show you what kind of talent exists in the industry. There is definitely talent, specially if you look at the resumes, people have done a lot of varied projects. However, most are not able to bring that out in the interviews.
Want to share a couple of quick tips that are in my mind right now. I think these help the candidate and interviewer too. The tips are loosely from a Startup job perspective.
- Before the interview, look up the company online. All companies have an online presence. Read their blogs. Get an idea of what the company does. If its a website, join it, see what its about. Shows the interviewer that you’ve done your homework and that you are interested in the company’s concept/idea.
- For any question, always refer to your previous projects from the resume as examples and answer. Shows that you have real world experience rather than technical book knowledge.
- If you don’t have a real world example, then refer to your technical knowledge and say so. Interviewers appreciate that though you’ve not worked on a particular issue, you are aware of it.
- If you don’t know the technical answer but have a general idea, think aloud, shows the interviewer your thought process and how you would go about tackling an issue that is new to you.
- If you still don’t know the answer, be honest and say so. No one knows everything.
- Ask questions about your job profile. What all does it involve, the technical perspective, the team. Shows that you are interested in being part of the team or the technology.
- If you’ve followed Tip #1, tell them how you can be part of the company and make a difference.
- This should actually be Tip #1, don’t send in a PHP resume for a ASP.Net job, unless accompanied by a cover letter explaining why you can be the right person for the job regardless of the technology difference. Just sending resumes to all jobs really does nothing for you.
- Show control on the interview, if at any point you see the interviewer getting disinterested, don’t just let it be. Talk about technical stuff that you have learnt by yourself and not through your job. It tells the interviewer that you have drive and you are keen to go over and beyond a paycheck, shows initiative, shows hunger.
- Be clear about why you are changing your job. Is it for money? Is it for better work? Is it for a better title? “Better growth opportunities” is very generic, unless you can be specific about growth in what.
What do you think? Do you agree, disagree, have any other tips that you would like to add?
Youpid.in is hiring, Web Developer (ASP.net) so you if are interested, get in touch!