I was recently given the joyful task of recruiting a developer to our team. “It’ll be easy,” I was told: just ask the HR department to put the word out to a few recruitment agents, they’ll send you a few CVs, and you get to pick who to interview.
A few CVs? Two weeks later there were 120. I read each and somehow winnowed them down to nine interviews. Interestingly, the same CV came from two different agencies. HR wasn’t amused when this was pointed out; it’s a bit of a no-no for them. The CVs I favored didn’t just list skills (everyone’s CV does that, right?) but also gave an indication of how long they’d been using each skill and roughly how strong they were at it.
In the subsequent job interview, I gave every candidate a technical test for the programming language we used in our tech stack. From those nine interviews, I realized three candidates were probably better at a career writing fiction, given the gap between their actual skills and what they listed on their CV. Everything came down to two candidates who knew their stuff.
This was a case where it was relatively easy to make a decision, but it’s rarely so cut and dry when it comes to tech hiring, particularly if you’re a team leader who’s trying to move fast to secure specialized talent.
If you’re trying to improve your own chances of landing an interview, here are some key things to keep in mind, particularly when it comes to listing skills:
- Craft a Skill-Focused, Quantifiable Resume:
- Don't just list skills; provide context. Indicate your proficiency level and the duration of your experience with each technology. For example, "Python: 5+ years, advanced proficiency in data analysis and API development."
- This shows recruiters not just what you know, but how well you know it, and for how long.
- Avoid resume bloat. Be accurate. False claims will be discovered in technical interviews, like whether you actually know a programming language or not.
- Prepare for Rigorous Technical Assessments:
- Expect technical tests and coding challenges. Practice regularly in the languages and frameworks relevant to the job.
- Be ready to explain your code, its logic, and its performance implications.
- If possible, prepare by researching the companies tech stack.
- Be prepared to explain your problem solving process.
- Demonstrate Your Skills with Tangible Projects:
- Create a compelling demo: Like the author, prepare a short, engaging demo showcasing your projects. Use video or a local setup to avoid reliance on internet access or company resources.
- Highlight relevant projects: Choose projects that align with the job requirements. Explain the technical challenges you overcame and the solutions you implemented.
- Showcase diversity: Present a range of projects to demonstrate your versatility. Include complex projects and simpler ones that highlight specific skills.
- Prepare to answer deep dive questions about your projects.
- Bring Supporting Materials:
- Code samples: Print out clear, well-commented code samples of your best work. Be prepared to walk through them.
- Portfolio pieces: If you've written articles or contributed to open-source projects, bring physical copies or links.
- Prepared questions: Have a list of intelligent questions to ask the interviewers, demonstrating your genuine interest and engagement.
- Be Prepared to Explain Your Thought Process:
- Technical interviews are not just about getting the right answer; they're about understanding your problem-solving approach.
- Clearly articulate your reasoning, even if you encounter challenges.
- Practice explaining your code and logic out loud.
- Prepare for All Scenarios:
- Anticipate potential technical issues. Charge your devices, bring necessary peripherals (mouse, adapters), and have backup plans.
- Don't rely on the interviewer's resources. Bring your own pens, paper, and any other materials you might need.
- Prepare for in person and remote interviews. Test your tech beforehand.
- Stand Out with Passion and Enthusiasm:
- Show genuine interest in the company and the role.
- Communicate your passion for technology and your eagerness to learn.
- Show that you are a good team player.
- Age is Just a Number:
- The story shows that skill and ability are what matter. Prepare to show your skills, regardless of your age.
Think About Putting Together a Demo
When I applied for my current job, I decided I’d try and make sure I stood out at the interview. I dug out an old laptop that wasn’t much good for anything and put together a one-minute-long demo video.
In this video, I showed three applications that I’d written. One was a financial project which had lots of tables of figures and charts for pricing futures and options. I wrote this a long time ago for a client on contract, and a couple of years ago spruced it up for them; I used a video-editing tool to zoom in to some of the tables. The second program was an Asteroids game I’d written for an online tutorial. The third was a command-line utility for generating source code from binary files.
I asked the interviewer if I could bring the laptop along to the interview. That was fine. I’d charged it up previously, so no power leads were needed, and brought just a mouse with it.
During the interview, I ran the video and gave a quick bit of background as it played through, pausing at relevant bits while making points. Game programming may appear something of a trivial application, but technically it can be quite advanced code.
In addition to the video, I brought along some of my better coding examples, which gave the interviewer something to ask questions about. On the laptop, I’d preinstalled Visual Studio and had the full source code of all three programs available, just in case anybody wanted to ask questions about any of them. All of these tools helped me demonstrate the true extent of my skills quickly.
Conclusion
Ultimately, success in a job interview for a tech position hinges on more than just a list of skills; it requires you demonstrate your proficiency, that you know how to solve problems, and that you care about the field. Preparation is paramount. Crafting a skill-focused resume, practicing technical assessments, and showcasing projects through compelling demos are essential steps.
