23
votes
I’ve landed my first interview! Any advice?
After a hiatus of applying for jobs, I got an email from Indeed that really caught my attention. It’s for a programming job in a new-ish framework that has quickly become my favorite to work in.
I applied for that and got back to work on applying to other jobs, different languages and frameworks.
This morning I got a message from that first job opening, the one I wanted! They reached out to schedule an interview.
I’ve got really bad social anxiety and a lack of interviewing experience. How do I prepare?
My dad owns a small business and one of his pet peeves is people not having done their research in an interview. If they ask you what you know about the company, you should be able to do more than parrot their “About us” page from the website. Spend some time googling the organisation, see if you can find news stories about them, or any charity work, foundations, etc that they may be involved in.
A job interview is also an opportunity for you to make sure that the job is a good fit for you, so try to think of some questions you can ask your interviewer about the job and company to get a good feel for what it’s like to work there. Ask about the routine of a normal day, the office culture, if there is much socialising outside of work, that sort of thing. Your mileage may vary, but I’ve had good responses from asking what my interviewers’ least favourite aspect of the job is as well. Use caution with this though, because it may make you come across as negative.
Mock interviews are great if you have access to them, but if not, spend some time with a pen and paper, write down common questions and script your answers. Take the Reservoir Dogs approach and be able to tell the same story a few different ways, so it feels more natural for you. Bullet points are your friend here.
Best of luck!
But you should at least be able to do that. I’ve interviewed people who had no idea what we did. My thought was, “How can you possibly want this job or know if you want this job or if it’s even a good fit?” I don’t really want to hire someone who doesn’t know what the job entails.
I interview software developers at work all the time. I will give you a mock interview if you want over VoIP, Zoom, whatever. I’m not available the next few days, though as I’ll be camping. If you’re interested please DM me.
It depends on what kind of interview it is. In any interview, it's really key to be calm... but that's not very helpful.
If it's a "technical" interview, wherein you are asked to solve a technical question, my advice is to never stop talking - keep a constant stream of consciousness going. It gives the interviewer a glimpse into your thought process, which is a major part of what they're looking for - oftentimes more than getting the correct answer (Also, there's like an entire industry of interview prep for programming technicals now - leetcode, CTCI, elements, etc.)
For behavioral interviews, well, you can look up the STAR method. Never really got into it. In general these are going to be more variable depending on who is interviewing you. Stay calm (not that that's useful advice), and on a slightly unethical note, you don't really have to fully truthful so long as you're consistent.
I'd add to the STAR method, to actively go through several scenarios now: a time you were overwhelmed, a time you had to resolve conflict etc. and have them ready to go in your pocket. Most scenarios can be moulded to fit multiple questions, so you will at least have a proper foundation for answering the question without stumbling for thought, or umm-ing and ahh-ing your way through the response.
This is exactly what I would say too.
Think up 2 or 3 really good cases from your past, where you just did a really good job of solving an issue. Have these examples ready to go in your mind, and have spent time thinking about all the things you did that made it a good outcome, so you have these answers ready. Then all you need to do on the day is sort of "make the answer fit the question".
I think it's okay to be honest with the interviewer and tell them if you're nervous. It's in both of your best interests for you to be relaxed when you interview, and being vulnerable with them and seeing how they respond is a good way to get to know the interviewer, as well as the company culture. A bad interviewer experience qualifies as 'bad press', so generally interviewers want interviewees to have a good experience, even if the decision is no-hire.
Also, interviewing is about picking up signal; that applies for both you and the interviewer. The interviewer is trying to determine if you have the requisite skills to be a successful employee, and you should be trying to feel out if the company is worth working for. Acing a technical challenge is great, but it's still possible to make a good impression if you think out loud and showcase your approach(es) to solving problems, and if you ask good clarifying questions.
In addition to technical questions, it's possible that you'll get a question about 'soft skills'. You can probably find lists of questions in that category and do a bit of thinking in advance so you don't get caught with a question like "Tell me about a time where you disagreed with a colleague", or "Teach me something new"
There's plenty of good advice above and easily searchable, but here's what I've gleaned from years of interviewing under my own cloud of social anxiety, as well as having to hire people for technical roles. [As a footnote, I've received an offer for every position I've had an in-person interview for, about three dozen to date.]
It sounds like you're well-prepared to do the job on a technical basis - take that as a given. You can use the other technical interview prep tools for extra confidence, but no one is hiring for a perfect fit to their wishlist.
They want to know you've got foundational skills, team fit, discipline, reliability, effective communication, and the adaptability and enthusiasm to meet their desires quickly. It's expected that interviewees are nervous, but you can honestly convey your anxiety as a strong desire to work at this job. You've got two of the biggest advantages any manager could hope for - genuine enthusiasm for the work, and manifest desire to learn more.
You can transform any anxiety into brief spells of acute situational awareness. Redirect that energy into paying attention to other people, rather than your own internal monologue. Be attentive, courteous, considerate, and friendly to everyone you meet from the moment you arrive. Remember the human - all these people have wants, needs, hurts, fears, and joys just like you, regardless of their titles and positions. You can learn a great deal by listening and observing before you even get to meet your interviewer. Leave people with a general impression that you'll have a positive impact on their experiences at work.
Be physically and mentally prepared for your interview. Maintain your normal routine as much as possible. Don't skip meals/exercise or lose sleep (meditation before bed helps), don't drink or use heavy drugs for at least a day or two before, and avoid excess caffeine. If you have a time of day that you feel sharpest, try and schedule your interview for that period.
Take action to minimize your decision stress on interview day. If possible in advance, model what you're planning to wear to your interview for someone else, and take their advice on fit and presentation. Pre-prep coffee/breakfast/lunch. Lay out what you're wearing the night before - check for wrinkles/stains/scuffs/odors, and fix them. Have plenty of grooming supplies. Make sure your transportation is in good order, that you've got your destination mapped, and enough transit slack to overcome anything that might keep you from arriving at least 30 minutes ahead of time. (You should wait in a spot other than your prospective employer's lobby 'till 15 minutes before, though. That's a good time to find a bathroom and use it before the interview, thereby eliminating another social anxiety source.)
You're interviewing them as much as they're interviewing you. You are not powerless in the prospective employer/employee relationship. Let your interviewer begin with their questions, but you should ask questions too (bring a list!). Learn as much as you can about the business, your expected duties, training, working conditions, remote work expectations, pay/benefits, opportunities for growth, your interviewers' management style, and meet your proposed coworkers in their working environment if it's in an office. [I've turned down otherwise attractive offers based on this information, or used it to negotiate better starting pay/benefits.]
Build confidence by doing meticulous homework. Know enough about the business that's interviewing you that you're aware of any recent news, can speculate about their revenue trajectory, understand why they're hiring for your position, what your interviewer's career path was [thanks, LinkedIn, for your library of professional stalking...], their likely present/future platforms, frameworks, and services, their customer base. Think about how your work might contribute to your manager's goals, and those of the overall business. Look at other positions they're hiring for, Glassdoor and Monster reviews, SEC filings if they're publicly traded [this presumes U.S.-based]. You are delivering a pitch for why you're the best candidate for the job, above and beyond why you're qualified. Bring notes to the interview with you, as well as extra paper copies of your resumé, since you may find that you're facing the whole team.
Always write a follow-up message after your interview. If you want the job, briefly reiterate why you're a good fit, your (positive) impressions of the people/process, and thank everyone for their time. If you don't want the job, don't burn your bridges - express your regrets, briefly explain (positively) why it's not suitable, and thank everyone for their time. [When I was hiring, I did pay attention to who bothered and who didn't, because courtesy, commitment, and follow-through are important soft skills. The company kept track of interviewees - serious soft-skill failures were among the issues which could block consideration for future positions.]
I wish you all the best in your job search - go knock 'em dead with your talent!
I really appreciate the write-up! I thought about having a notebook handy, but would it not be strange to stop to take notes mid-interview? Or is that expected?
I had recently heard the “pay attention to the other person” advice and I thought damn, am I really that self-centered that I’ve been focusing so much on myself in conversations? I really needed to hear that, apparently, because I didn’t even think about it that way.
Also, you said in the follow-up message to reiterate why I’d be a good fit, but wouldn’t that be pushy? I understand sending a follow-up message to thank them, but shouldn’t that be the extent to it? And how soon/long after should I send it?
Jotting and referring to notes is fine, I've found. It can provide a healthy respite if too much eye contact is an anxiety trigger, too.
It's not a matter of self-centeredness, it's just that social anxiety is like a roaring river rushing through your head, endless self-criticism to avert others' rejection. It's helpful to force your attention outward, and make your good intentions towards others manifest.
The follow-up message can emphasize what you've learned through the interview process - what you think you would enjoy and can contribute. I've sent these notes the same day as the interview or the next, both so that I don't overthink them, and so I can convey enthusiasm for a position that excites me. It's natural to be concerned about perceived pushiness, but understand that your concern about being seen as pushy is a facet of social anxiety again. Don't let what you think about other people's interpretation of your actions get in the way of acting, if that makes sense.
This discussion on HackerNews is a couple years old, but has some pointers to places you can do mock interviews. Doing some of those might help with the anxiety a bit.
Thank you for the link! I didn’t even think to look for a service to do a mock interview. Just scheduled with Pramp.
edit: Pramp seemed to have technical difficulties while trying to do the interview, but the customer service is excellent.
Prepare a few questions that you would like an answer to from the company. When I do interviews I usually leave some room for those so the interviewee can get some additional info about the job/company It might be that the people in the interview won't be able to answer some, but it does show that you are actually interested in the job if you've done a bit of research about the company/product. This of course won't be the main focus of the first interview, but can be helpful.
Especially if the company is filling a position that was recently vacated. Knowing why the previous person isn't there anymore can tell you a lot about the culture and how higher ups treat their employees.
My boss likes to tell me to fake confidence. I’m inclined to agree with that.
What did you put on your resume? Any hobbies or volunteering? My interview we discussed that a bit (almost more than the actual job).
Did they say what kind of interview it would be? Mine was a panel of three engineering managers. If they didn’t elaborate, be ready for anything from a one-on-one to a panel to a rotating interview.
I put some volunteer work on there, but it’s only vaguely relevant to the position, if at all (probably shouldn’t have included it). No clue about how it’ll be conducted, but a panel sounds frightening.
You’d be surprised. The volunteer stuff I put was completely unrelated, yet we ended up talking about it a good bit. What kind of volunteering?
One other thing to keep in mind is that the interviewer is human, too. They may also be nervous, unprepared, etc. Knowing that may make it easier to stay calm. It might explain some of their reactions that otherwise don’t make sense. I say that because I have interviewed some people when I didn’t feel ready to do the interview because my workload was high and I didn’t have as much time to prepare as I’d like.
Here is an interview guide that I have used with great success over the years. Write out all your answers to the questions then say the answers out loud a couple of times to practice saying the words.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/11VznpNw9NjLcH1K44tU8K_LVd-5TXK9w/view?usp=drivesdk
For background, I work in an HR adjacent field and this guide was put together getting my graduate degree in Industrial Organizational Psychology.
That doc is great, probably would have struggled had I been asked any of those on-the-spot without preparation. Thanks!