Tips for Technical Interviews

Worrying about getting a job causes lots of anxiety while studying. Some aspects are in your control like trying to get good results in exams and learning the subjects well. But there are other things that seem very vague. One of them is how to prepare well for interviews with an IT company. Here are some tips based on my experiences:

Don't treat the interview as the last interview you will ever have: Most people get very tense when going for an interview. They keep worrying about what the interviewer will think and whether they will be able to answer questions correctly. Unfortunately, the more you worry, the more likely you will make mistakes in the interview.

It is easy to say, "Don't worry!", but difficult to do it in practice. But one way of calming yourself is to remember that even if your interview does not go well, you still have the opportunity to try at other companies. You can always use the learning experience from the interview to do well at the next interview.

Although sometimes the first interview may seem like a big deal and you may think you will never get another interview, in reality, if you try hard, you will be able to apply to many companies and get more opportunities for interviews. Once you understand this, some of the tension will go away and you will be able to attend the interview calmly.

Make the necessary preparations for the interview well in advance: What I am about to say is obvious, but sometimes people don't follow this and get into trouble. Ensure that you prepare for the interview at least a day in advance. Make sure that you know the route to the company, what buses/taxis to take and add at least 90 minutes to the time you need to reach the place so that you are not late.

Ensure that you have all the necessary documents (mark lists, resumes, etc.) in a good folder. Keep at least 3 copies of your resume so that you can easily hand it over to interviewers. Pick and keep ready a good set of clothes and shoes (and umbrella!) the day before the interview so that you look professional.

If, for some reason, you have an initial interview over the phone, make sure that you are in a quiet place while talking. Also test your phone to see if your voice is clear, otherwise provide a different phone number to your interviewer so that they don't get frustrated when talking to you.

Brush up on important technical topics: First and foremost, make sure that you are very thorough in your knowledge about your college project, such as the technologies, the problem and solution and your role in the project. Most interviewers are very likely to ask many questions about your project and therefore, there is no excuse for not knowing your project well.

Interviewers for freshers are also likely to ask about general computer science topics such as algorithms, data structures, languages and software engineering. While some of these subjects might have been difficult for you while you were learning them, you will be surprised to see that they may be simpler now after you have completed a few semesters. Make sure that you review those old subjects (I hope you haven't given away your textbooks by this time!)

Also go online and search for websites and blogs that cover interview topics. Spending a few hours on such websites will give you an idea about the type of questions that interviewers are fond of asking and you can be prepared for them. Some questions are general and nontechnical in nature (such as "explain your strengths and weaknesses") and knowing them can allow you to be ready with an answer in advance.

Keep your answers between 30 seconds and 2 minutes: If you only answer "Yes" and "No", the interviewer will assume that you don't know much about the subject. Also, the interviewer will quickly exhaust their prepared list of questions and start posing obscure tough questions. When an interviewer asks, "Do you know Java?", they are not simply looking for Yes/No answer. They actually want you to explain what you know.

On the other hand, if you spend a lot of time answering every question, the interviewer will not have enough time to understand your breadth of knowledge, that is, what all areas you know. So when they compare you to another candidate, they may give you a lower grade. Also talking too much turns the meeting into a monologue instead of an interview.

The best option is to answer the question with one example that takes between 30 seconds and 2 minutes. This shows the interviewer that you know the subject reasonably well and also allows them to move onto the next topic that they want to discuss.

Be pleasant and sound interested: Everybody likes happy people. Interviews are not just about measuring your knowledge, but also about assessing your attitude. If you go into the interview looking scared and serious, the interviewer will not like you very much. They may not feel comfortable recruiting you.

On the other hand, if you have a smile on your face and you express interest in the company that is trying to hire you, it will have a pleasant effect on the interviewer. An interviewer will try harder to find reasons to hire you if you seem happy. And if you are the opposite, they will find a reason not to hire you.

Remember that some of the interviewers will be working with you if you are hired. So they will always want someone who is not only knowledgeable, but also someone who is friendly and fun to work with. If you are not that kind of person, they will give you a pass.

At the same time, don't try to fake it. People can see through that. You should really feel the emotions you are expressing. Be sincere. Be honest. Don't try to be somebody you are not. Which means, you have to be a good, happy person in real life, not just in interviews.

Improve your communication: The clearer you are able to communicate your knowledge and capabilities, the better you will do in the interview. Now, some people are naturally good communicators. But most of us aren't and we have to practice hard to communicate better.

It is a skill that can be learnt, but it doesn't happen in one day. You should start with your friends. Talk to them more. Email them. Write long letters. Read books. Listen to English programs and news. Practice mock interviews. Slowly, but surely you will improve.

So, those are some of the main things you need to do. I hope this article has been helpful. Best luck for your career!