THE BORE

General => The Superdeep Borehole => Topic started by: bluemax on September 17, 2007, 02:07:13 PM

Title: Real Talk, first real job interview
Post by: bluemax on September 17, 2007, 02:07:13 PM: So after a resume binge last week I got a phone call on Friday afternoon from a small software developer in Pasadena wanting to extend a phone interview to me. Naturally I accepted being as its mid September and I graduate in December. This Wednesday I am scheduled to interview with the lead programmer for the company and I have no idea what to expect. Since we have many veterans of the work force I was wondering if anyone here could give me some tips and advice for this interview.

Note it is a phone interview so dress isn't an issue at this time. I have interviewed for student jobs before, and for one position with some random ass company that gave me no time to prepare for a programmer position, but still I consider this my first real job interview experience. Thoughts, tips and tricks would be appreciated. After the short phone interview I had with random corp I feel like I need to review all the obscure stuff from my freshman CS classes.
Title: Re: Real Talk, first real job interview
Post by: Mupepe on September 17, 2007, 02:14:38 PM: I hire people but I've never conducted phone interviews but i have one piece of advice...

be confident. being meek and modest is NOT attractive for an employee to me. I want them to be sure of themselves and their abilities.

if you're confident in yourself, he'll be more confident that you can handle what he throws at you.
Title: Re: Real Talk, first real job interview
Post by: FlameOfCallandor on September 17, 2007, 02:15:32 PM: Remember that you are trying to sell yourself. Dont be over confident and dont lie. Be yourself and be confident in yourself.
Title: Re: Real Talk, first real job interview
Post by: tiesto on September 17, 2007, 03:07:02 PM: Make sure you are clear and articulate, be prepared to explain theoretical concepts over the phone, you might have to describe how you'd approach a particular problem (i.e. comparing two strings without using strcmp), be ready for this. You know what language they work in?
Title: Re: Real Talk, first real job interview
Post by: bluemax on September 17, 2007, 03:28:00 PM: Quote from: tiesto on September 17, 2007, 03:07:02 PM
Make sure you are clear and articulate, be prepared to explain theoretical concepts over the phone, you might have to describe how you'd approach a particular problem (i.e. comparing two strings without using strcmp), be ready for this. You know what language they work in?

I don't but based on the industry I'd guess C++. The last interview I had the guy asked me what the fundamentals of OOP were.
Title: Re: Real Talk, first real job interview
Post by: Robo on September 17, 2007, 03:46:22 PM: I've relied on the George Costanza "opposite" method and have been thus far recieved with moderate success, but I can't advocate its usage.
Title: Re: Real Talk, first real job interview
Post by: MrAngryFace on September 17, 2007, 04:13:17 PM: Make sure you come off as sounding confident, not like a cocky jerk. Also, keep self deprecation to a dull roar. No one likes fix-er-uppers.
Title: Re: Real Talk, first real job interview
Post by: hyp on September 17, 2007, 05:37:10 PM: ^^^ like maf said, confidence. in addition, come off as friendly, personable and willing to "take one for the team". although the interview is solely about you, it's always good to come off as open minded with a willingness to compromise.
Title: Re: Real Talk, first real job interview
Post by: Madrun Badrun on September 17, 2007, 05:49:03 PM: Quote from: hyp on September 17, 2007, 05:37:10 PM
^^^ like maf said, confidence. in addition, come off as friendly, personable and willing to "take one for the team". although the interview is solely about you, it's always good to come off as open minded with a willingness to compromise.

Is that subtext I sense?
Title: Re: Real Talk, first real job interview
Post by: Mr. Gundam on September 17, 2007, 05:55:42 PM: Play up your strengths, and never admit you're unable to do something. Find a positive way to spin it, without lying.
Title: Re: Real Talk, first real job interview
Post by: Mupepe on September 17, 2007, 05:57:29 PM: Quote from: distantmantra on September 17, 2007, 05:55:42 PM
Play up your strengths, and never admit you're unable to do something. Find a positive way to spin it, without lying.
spot on

if it's something you don't know, tell them you're more than happy to learn or you will find out the answer.
Title: Re: Real Talk, first real job interview
Post by: Mr. Gundam on September 17, 2007, 06:00:57 PM: Quote from: Mupepe on September 17, 2007, 05:57:29 PM
Quote from: distantmantra on September 17, 2007, 05:55:42 PM
Play up your strengths, and never admit you're unable to do something. Find a positive way to spin it, without lying.
spot on

if it's something you don't know, tell them you're more than happy to learn or you will find out the answer.

My mother-in-law used to run an HR department for a large insurance company, she said that more than just saying you're more than happy to find the answer, you should try to tie in a skill you already have.
Title: Re: Real Talk, first real job interview
Post by: Mupepe on September 17, 2007, 06:05:25 PM: that's hot shit. thanks!
Title: Re: Real Talk, first real job interview
Post by: Van Cruncheon on September 17, 2007, 06:15:31 PM: also work the balls AND the shaft, and don't try teeth without asking

edit: and if you interview with a woman, go light on the clit at first and get those lips good and engorged
Title: Re: Real Talk, first real job interview
Post by: hyp on September 17, 2007, 07:08:03 PM: Quote from: Father_Mike on September 17, 2007, 05:49:03 PM
Quote from: hyp on September 17, 2007, 05:37:10 PM
^^^ like maf said, confidence. in addition, come off as friendly, personable and willing to "take one for the team". although the interview is solely about you, it's always good to come off as open minded with a willingness to compromise.

Is that subtext I sense?

:-*
spoiler (click to show/hide)
NO HOMO
[close]
Title: Re: Real Talk, first real job interview
Post by: bluemax on September 17, 2007, 07:26:07 PM: Quote from: Professor Prole on September 17, 2007, 06:15:31 PM
also work the balls AND the shaft, and don't try teeth without asking

edit: and if you interview with a woman, go light on the clit at first and get those lips good and engorged

My phone sex skills are good, but not that good.

Thanks for the tips guys. I'll of course report back in 2 days on how it went.
Title: Re: Real Talk, first real job interview
Post by: Fresh Prince on September 18, 2007, 12:05:27 AM: Good Luck.

You probably know this but they'll ask questions like, "Describe a time when you displayed leadership attributes and skills,' and 'What are you personal and professional goals within the next few years'.
Title: Re: Real Talk, first real job interview
Post by: T234 on September 18, 2007, 01:16:06 PM: Good luck, Trojan-man, and godspeed!
Title: Re: Real Talk, first real job interview
Post by: xnikki118x on September 19, 2007, 03:09:32 AM: Pretend you're confident, dress nicely, and make sure your breath isn't terrible. Also bring a nice-looking folder with another copy of your resume and any other documents you might need.

When you get through it, treat yourself to something nice, whether you get a callback or not. :)

Good luck!!
Title: Re: Real Talk, first real job interview
Post by: bluemax on September 19, 2007, 10:03:12 PM: Well its over and naturally I knew exactly what to expect and was still pretty meh on my answers.

Things I need to be 100% confident in answering for the future:

Dot product (I know what it is but couldn't come up with an example of when to use it in games)
Cross product (ditto)
Quaternions (only sort of know what they are)

I guess I did okay on everything else, although I fucked up the C++ question he asked, I totally got confused when he said sizeof, thinking he meant something about Big O type shit instead of whether the sizeof operator in C++ is compile time or run time.

He called me out on listing 68000 ASM on my resume, but said he appreciated my honesty in answering about how much I knew on it.

I think part of my problem was nerves, and the other part was preparation, sigh.
Title: Re: Real Talk, first real job interview
Post by: T234 on September 20, 2007, 09:58:58 AM: I wouldn't have been able to answer a single question in that interview lol
Title: Re: Real Talk, first real job interview
Post by: bluemax on October 30, 2007, 02:47:24 PM: Had another interview today. This time it was with HR only, screening interview. I think it went really well, the chick I talked to is an Alum of my university so we got to talk about how sad last weeks football loss was and homecoming this weekend.

As for questions she asked me all those HR things:

"Where do you see yourself in 3-5 years"

"Why do you want to work here?"

"On the team project you're working on, what would you say your greatest weakness is?"

"Are you a good communicator"

Etc etc. I'm excited, I hope I don't blow the actual interview.