Eric Wise

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Things NOT to do in an Interview

In the spirit of the interview discussions going around recently, and because I'm involved in the hiring process at my company, I figured I'd jot down a quick list of things not to do during an interview.

  1. Talking bad about former employers/coworkers- While it's fine when we ask you why you are leaving to say that the environment wasn't to your liking etc, do not start listing off all your personal problems with various people in your former company.  This always reminds me of someone who has been divorced 5 times and it's always "the other person's fault".  You can also give the feeling that you can't deal with conflict.  If you feel you must talk specifically about behavior and traits that upset you, also talk about the mitigating steps you took and would take now if faced with a similar situation.
  2. Arrogance- There's a fine line between confidence and arrogance.  Sometimes during interviews an interviewer will challenge your position on something just to see how you react.  If you're hostile, get flustered, etc it can score some pretty big negative points.  Show that you can have a mature dialogue and agree to disagree, since you'll never work a job where you get everything your way all the time.
  3. Eye Contact / Confidence- Many people come into interviews very very nervous, to the point where they can't express themselves.  This is something that you need to practice and get over because it interferes with your ability to impress the interviewer.  Remember to make eye contact and speak clearly.  If you have nervous problems then try to practice by getting out in public and talking to strangers.
  4. Be clear about the salary and benefits level you expect- Negotiation is somewhat of an art form, but a big no-no is to say you're happy with X range and then when the employer offers X come back and counter with a much higher number.  Lowballing your requirements to get into the interview then hoping to impress and ask for more money usually backfires since you were dishonest in the start of the negotiation process.
  5. Don't be afraid to say "I don't know"- The .NET framework is huge, no one knows it all.  You have areas of strengths and weaknesses, don't be afraid to tell the tech interviewer that you don't know, but it's a good idea to tell them how you would go about finding the answer on your own.
  6. Show some personality- You will end up working with/for the people in your interview.  Don't be afraid to let some of your personality out (within reason).  We're hiring a human being, not a robot.  Try to take the lead from your interviewer, if they are jovial and humourous, don't be afraid to throw some tasteful humor back at them.

Posted Mon, Jul 31 2006 5:39 PM by Eric Wise

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Comments

Steve wrote re: Things NOT to do in an Interview
on Mon, Jul 31 2006 8:22 PM
Sahil Malik wrote re: Things NOT to do in an Interview
on Mon, Jul 31 2006 8:43 PM
How about farting? Is that considered okay in an interview?
Jason Haley wrote Interesting Finds: July 31, 2006
on Mon, Jul 31 2006 11:04 PM
Dan wrote re: Things NOT to do in an Interview
on Tue, Aug 1 2006 8:59 AM
On the fifth point, i would add something like...
"Well, i never used that... but in some project we did something similar".

Like when asked if you know AJAX, you could say no, but i've used an hidden IFrame and javascript to update a progress bar, and it behaved similar to AJAX.

It shows that you can make links between things you know and new stuff.
Eric Wise wrote re: Things NOT to do in an Interview
on Tue, Aug 1 2006 10:17 AM
Farting is fine, as long as it smells like roses.
Technical Related Notes » Blog Archive » links for 2006-08-01 wrote Technical Related Notes » Blog Archive » links for 2006-08-01
on Tue, Aug 1 2006 9:31 PM
Derik Whittaker wrote re: Things NOT to do in an Interview
on Wed, Aug 2 2006 7:53 AM
These are great, and should be common sense for most, but as I know this is not always the case.  How about a post on Ways to tell if the Company/Team is ‘Immature or Poorly Managed’?

I will help you get started with the list below (and yes, these are from real life examples with a former company).

1) When the interviewer walks in carrying a bag of McDonalds as asks if it is ok he has lunch during the interview. – Good to know that I am taking you away from your busy schedule.
2) When you’re interviewers all bring in laptops (3-5 people worth) and conduct the entire interview with their nose pointed toward their screen.  BTW, they are LOOKING for questions to ask you. – Good to know that you don’t come prepared.
3) When you get an offer from the VP before you have actually done the interview or meet with HR.  – Good to know they are organized.
4) When you get an offer, then receive a call a hour later for another round of interviews with a different team in the department (oh, this actually happened.) to see if they want you instead. – Good to know they are organized.
5) When the interviewer will continue to asking you questions about a subject that you have clearly stated you don’t have much knowledge, then ding you for the fact that you could not answer all the subsequent questions.  – Good to you are going to work for a bunch of tech minded egomaniacs.
6) When the interview is conducted in a storage room (which doubled as the VP’s office) in the basement of the building because there are only 2 conference rooms in a building with 225 people.  -- Good to know that the company wants to give a good first impression about the work environment.

Anyway, I could continue, but this is not my blog, it is your……

Eric Wise wrote Yet another thing not to do in your interview process
on Thu, Nov 2 2006 6:57 AM

Having been going through a lot of hiring lately at the company I work for, I have been once again been

Cam wrote re: Things NOT to do in an Interview
on Mon, Apr 9 2007 12:37 PM

I think...... every one lies on there job interview... and there mom helps them.....

thats what happened to me....    <:(

randi wrote re: Things NOT to do in an Interview
on Tue, Apr 24 2007 9:39 AM

this helped a lot for my class work. keep putting more up

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