Three IT Interview Strategies to Adopt Today

Job interviews can make even the most experienced IT professionals nervous. Many times, job interviews feel more like interrogations, where you’re put into a room with a hiring manager or engineer and pelted with a series of questions that you’re expected to answer instantly. Luckily, that’s changing! More managers are asking open-ended questions in the hopes of getting a sense of who you are and how you think. Here’s what to expect:

Ask to demonstrate your skills

Say you’re asked how you would solve a particular technical problem. Have paper on hand so you can write out the steps you would take to solve it. Even better, you may be given a whiteboard to do so. Either way, you can share your thought processes as you work and hopefully start a discussion. Your evaluators may offer feedback as you go. This can offer interviewers a great preview of how you would interact with teammates and clients.

Ask questions

If you feel like the interview is too scripted or isn’t giving you the chance to really show your stuff, ask for more details before responding to a question or ask them for their responses. For example, if you’re asked about test protocols, say, “I usually customize mine based on the timeline and the needs of the business owner. Can you describe your typical scenario? Then I can discuss a solution.” If they ask you to name your favorite wireframing tool, give them your answer, and then ask what they like and how that tool works in their environment.

Be realistic.

Don’t just sit there with your hands in your lap. When you’re having a regular conversation, you’ll gesture, you’ll smile, you’ll move in your chair. This should happen in interviews, too. Don’t go overboard, but don’t be afraid to let your body language show your passion for your work.

Interviews don’t have to be nerve-wracking Q&As. If you can turn your interview into a professional discussion, you’ll not only impress the interviewers, but you’ll be more comfortable and more able to decide if this is the company for you. For more tips on IT interviewing, contact the technical recruiting team at Triumph Services. We’ll be happy to share our expertise with you.