Your guide to preparing for a tech job interview

Your guide to preparing for a tech job interview

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Your guide to preparing for a tech job interview

Tech interviews can intimidate even seasoned interviewees. Many companies take candidates through multiple rounds of interviews, each with its own focus. How should you prepare before the interview? And what do tech companies look for during the interview process?

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Your guide to preparing for a tech job interview

Our guide walks through how to prepare for tech job interviews. From common questions to the best interview tips, our guide has you covered.

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What to expect during tech interview rounds

Tech companies use multi-step interviews. What should you expect during each round? And what interview tips will you need for each round? This section walks through what you need to know.

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The first interview: Phone screener interview tips

Tech companies often launch the interview process with a phone interview. During the first interview, the interviewer wants to quickly understand your background, your fit for the position, and whether to continue the interview process.

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The first interview: Phone screener interview tips

A phone interview might be as brief as 15 minutes or as long as an hour. Since you have a limited amount of time, make sure to prepare a "greatest hits" list that showcases your accomplishments. Practice answers to common phone interview questions and make sure to express interest in the position.

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The second interview: Technical interview tips

Whether you're interviewing to become a software developer, information security analyst, or IT manager, the process will likely include a technical interview. During this stage, the interviewer wants to understand your technical qualifications.

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The second interview: Technical interview tips

The technical interview is one of the most intimidating steps in a computer science interview. That's partly because knowing how to prepare for a technical interview can be challenging. Depending on the company, the technical interview might be a phone or video call, a take-home test or problem set, or an in-person screener. You might also talk to multiple people during the technical interview.

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The second interview: Technical interview tips

Research common technical questions for your role. If the interviewer ask you to work through a problem, make sure to show your process clearly. The interviewer wants to see how you think and solve problems.

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The final interview: Onsite interview tips

The onsite interview is typically the final stage in the interview process. The company may have narrowed its list to two to three candidates. By the final interview, the interviewers know you're qualified. They want to decide who is the best fit.

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The final interview: Onsite interview tips

An onsite interview might take place at the job location or virtually. Some onsite interviews involve multiple meetings with different members of the company. You might even talk with future coworkers and get a chance to learn about company culture from your peers.

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The final interview: Onsite interview tips

At some companies, the final interview might be a multi-day process. At others, it might be a brief meeting with senior leadership to sign off on the job offer. Research the interview process at the specific company where you'll interview to learn more about their steps.

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How to prepare for your upcoming tech job interview

Preparing for a job interview might feel overwhelming, especially if the process includes a technical interview. By taking the following steps, you'll be ready for interview day. As you work through the steps, take detailed notes. Consider a note-taking app like Evernote or Notion, or stick with a notepad if that works better for you. Don't try to memorize everything. Instead, focus your energy on the following steps.

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1. Know what your skills are.

This sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people forget this simple rule. Most people start their job search by looking for whatever job titles correspond with their career goals. This sounds good on the surface, but it’s easy to apply for the wrong job this way. Instead, you should be looking for the required skills of the position you are considering. 

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1. Know what your skills are.

That way, you can identify whichever jobs match best with your skill set. At any rate, job titles are too fluid and change every year while required skills sets are more stable.

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2. Research the company.

Start by learning more about the company. You can learn about tech companies on their websites, through LinkedIn, and in the news. Top topics to research: – The company's mission statement – Company products and services – Company culture

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2. Research the company.

– Hiring or interview information – Recent news about the company During your initial research, learn as much as possible about the company, its unique attributes, and its competitors. Pay attention to company values, the leadership team, and current news.

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3. Closely study the job description.

Before an interview, head back to the job posting. Go through the description with an eye toward interview questions. Note key phrases or skills mentioned in the job description and pick examples that show your expertise in those areas.

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3. Closely study the job description.

For example, if the posting mentions project management skills, list specific times you effectively led projects. You can take these concrete examples and integrate them into your answers to interview questions.

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4. Practice your answers to common interview questions.

Certain interview questions come up in most tech interviews. You'll likely face questions about your background, technical skills, and career goals. So prepare answers to these questions in advance. When practicing answers, make sure to include specific examples to back up your claims. Consider in advance how to frame your experience and expertise.

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5 Craft and practice your answer to "Tell me about yourself."

Many interviews start with an open-ended question like "Tell me about yourself." Instead of stumbling over your answer, practice exactly what to say. Keep your answer brief but focused. Give a one- to two-sentence description of your current role, followed by one to two sentences about your background. 

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5 Craft and practice your answer to "Tell me about yourself."

Wrap up your answer with one or two sentences about your future goals and interest in the company. An effective answer might take as little as 30 seconds.

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6. Collect your "greatest hits" stories and practice the STAR method.

Put together a list of your most impressive professional accomplishments. And then get familiar with the STAR method. Start by answering the following questions: – When did you solve a problem at work? – When did you accomplish something impressive? – When did your work have an impact on the company?

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6. Collect your "greatest hits" stories and practice the STAR method.

– When did you try something new with great results? – When did you effectively handle an ambiguous situation at work? – When did you learn something quickly with little preparation time? – What was a challenge you faced at work? How did you deal with it?

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6. Collect your "greatest hits" stories and practice the STAR method.

Use the STAR method to describe these stories. Start by describing the situation. Explain your task. What action did you take to deal with the situation? And what was the result? This method helps break down your accomplishments into clear, interview-ready answers.

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6. Reflect on and review past examples of your work.

The interviewer has your resume and cover letter. Instead of repeating bullet points from your resume, expand on your accomplishments to give the interviewer examples of your work.

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6. Reflect on and review past examples of your work.

Pick out a few of your top achievements and consider your work contributions. Tie these examples into the key phrases you found in the job description. Aim for at least one or more examples for every item in the description.

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7. Practice your answers to technical questions.

Tech job interviews often come with technical questions. The specific questions depend on the role and job title. In addition, interviewers want to know how you approach problems, where you go for information, and how you work with others. Common technical questions include: – How would you solve this particular tech problem?

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7. Practice your answers to technical questions.

– What steps do you take when debugging code? – What's your strongest coding language? Brush up on technical skills relevant to the job. And don't worry if you can't immediately answer the question. With technical questions, your approach and problem-solving often matter as much or more than the specific answer.

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8. Prepare three questions to ask the interviewer.

Avoid walking into the interview without questions for the company. Even if you've done your homework, not asking questions can suggest you aren't invested in the job.

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8. Prepare three questions to ask the interviewer.

As you research and prepare, jot down a list of questions to ask in an interview. If you're struggling to come up with questions, ask about the company's goals, what the typical day looks like for the new role, or the reporting structure.

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9. Test your audio and video technology, video background, and attire.

Leave nothing to chance. Test out your audio and video technology for virtual interviews. Make sure you have service for phone interviews. And double-check your attire if the interviewers can see you.

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9. Test your audio and video technology, video background, and attire.

Consider conducting a mock interview in the same format as the real interview. Ask a friend or family member to give feedback on your video background and the connection quality.

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10. Know how to conduct yourself in a professional interview.

Interviewers can't possibly remember every word you say during an interview. But they absolutely remember how you come across and how it felt to talk with you. First impressions matter. So make a point to come across as a competent, friendly person.

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10. Know how to conduct yourself in a professional interview.

Follow the interviewer's lead and build rapport. The interviewer wants to know what it would be like to add you to their team, so show your collegiality and professionalism. Stay engaged in the interview and project energy and enthusiasm. Be confident about what you can bring to the team while staying humble.

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10. Know how to conduct yourself in a professional interview.

Practice answering in focused sentences to avoid rambling. At the interview's end, thank the interviewer for their time and express your interest in the role.

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11. Review the date, time, and location of your interview, and set a reminder.

Make sure you know the exact date, time, and location for the interview. If it's a video or phone interview, check the time zone. And if it's in person, research how to get to the location and where to park. Set a reminder early enough to review your notes and get into a good mental space before the interview.

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12. Practice interviewing with someone who will give you constructive feedback.

Constructive feedback can make all the difference when preparing for an interview. A practice interview is one of the best interview tips because you'll see the highest return.

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12. Practice interviewing with someone who will give you constructive feedback.

Ask a friend or family member to conduct a mock interview and give you feedback on your answers. Provide a list of common questions and even practice your questions for the interviewer. Positive feedback — or the chance to rework your answers — will boost your confidence going into the interview.

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In conclusion

Your interview might lead to a job offer, or you might not be the best fit. In either circumstance, review the interview tips that helped you the most. Knowing what works for you — and what pays off in interviews — will help you throughout your career.

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