5 tips for a job interview in tech

Are you preparing for a job interview in the IT industry? Lisbon Nearshore’s HR Department compiled the following tips so that you can ace it and get the offer you deserve:

#1 Clear communication is a must

Come prepared to tell a little bit about yourself, your education (formal and informal) and your employment history. Anticipate potential questions from the interviewer about your past mistakes and successes and be clear on why you are the best one for the job.

#2 Organize your tech stack

Summarize your skills, and the technologies and frameworks you feel most comfortable in, and write them down. It also adds value if you insert the ones you wish to learn in the future (or the ones you’re working to master in your free time).

#3 Do not mistake knowledge for experience

Nowadays, due to the ever-changing dynamics of the tech industry, it is important to have amassed knowledge in a numerous amount of technologies. However, there is a big difference between learning something in your own free time and applying that learning in a business setting. Therefore, be aware that whilst being an auto-didact is key if you want to keep pace, do not mistake that self-taught knowledge with the battle-hardened experience that comes with applying it on the job.

#4 Be prepared logical reasoning questions

Some interviewers like to test the candidates’ ability to think under pressure. Prepare yourself to answer the following type of question:

Write a code that lists all the prime numbers from 0 to 100 in which: if the number is multiple of 5 it prints ping and if it is multiple of 3 it prints pong. If the number is multiple of 3 and 5 it prints ping pong.

These kind of questions are usually not too difficult, however, they can create some anxiety if the candidate is not mentally prepared to face them.

#5 Research

Don’t forget to research the company’s history and try to understand its market positioning as well. It is important for you to analyze if it has a clear strategy, cool and interesting products and clients that are satisfied with them. This will not only give the interviewer the impression that you are a well prepared and eager candidate but will also contribute to ease possible doubts you may have of becoming a part of the organization.

These are our top 5 picks (without a preference order) for tips in a job interview at our place. As cliché as it may sound, the most important thing to do is to just be yourself, because everybody can code (granted, some better than others), but what really matters to us is if you are a team member, treat others with kindness and respect, self-learner and with the flexibility to help where needed.