[xeg]

Nasao sam nesto sto se savrseno uklapa u ovu temu, saveti Interviewer-a iliti coveka koji ispituje i vrsi odabir kandidata za posao.

Tips from an Interviewer

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A big part of my job is interviewing candidates. Over the past 3 or 4 years I have interviewed dozens of candidates not to mention hundreds of phone screens and resumes. I thought you guys might be interested in some of the stuff I've learned.

Resumes
When I look at resumes, I am looking for a few specific things:

Recent, relevant experience in the area we are looking for
What has the candidate been working on for the last couple of years? I will always favor a candidate who's recent experience matches what we're looking for.

Reasonable tenures (at least a couple of years) at each employer.
Since I'm in tech, short tenures are common, but I want to avoid red flags like 3 jobs in 3 years.

A pattern of progression in responsibility and scope over time.
I want to see a guy go from entry-level to senior. I want to see him learning new skills and getting increased responsibilities. I don't want someone who's been doing the same job for 7 years.

Appropriateness of the candidate vs the role.
This is a tough one. I don't want a guy with 25 years experience for mid-level developer job just like I don't want a new grad for a senior job. Too much experience means a bored worker. Too little - they can't get the job done.

Phone Screens
99% of potential candidates get passed on after a phone screen. Since I'm in tech, we typically do some technical Q&A to make sure the person has the knowledge they say they do. Specifically, I want to see:

Candidate should validate the resume.
If the resume says "built an order management system", I don't want to hear that the candidate was only peripherally involved in the phone screen. I am going to ask about the stuff you put on your resume - be prepared to talk about it.

Admit when you don't know the answer
I don't expect anyone to get every single question on the tech screen right. But you need to know how to say "I don't know" when you don't. That means no stammering and hemming and hawing as you try to fudge an answer.

Know the questions everyone will ask you
There are some questions everyone in the industry asks. You can go to any number of web sites and find out what they are. You absolutely, must nail these.

Ask questions to the interviewer
This is an important factor in the phone screen. You must show interest in the company and the position. This is your opportunity to develop a rapport with me. Ask as many questions as you need to - I appreciate it. Too many candidates say "I don't have any questions"!

The Interview
Contrary to popular belief the actual interview is more about fit and personality than ability. Sure, we are looking for your aptitude but moreso we are looking to make sure you fit in and will work out. A good candidate may be a little weaker in terms of skills and experience but has the attitude and personality that can push him in the other direction.

Appearances DO matter.
No matter what you want to believe, I am judging you by your clothes, hair, hygiene, and demeanor. I won't get too far into it here, but it's always better to err on the side of caution and conservatism if you are unsure of what is appropriate.

Don't argue, don't interrupt.
You're in the hot seat and you need to come off well. My job is to test your demeanor a little bit and see how you respond - make sure to keep your cool at all times - and if you need to disagree - be tactful and professional.

Sell Yourself
You are here to sell me on how great a person and an employee you'll be. I want to hear about it. I want you to tell me how good you are at what you do, and I want to believe it!

Remember I want to fill the position as badly as you want to get the job. I have spent hours and hours going through this process again and again with different people. Nothing will make me happier than finding the right person!

I could rattle on endlessly but that's enough for now - I hope this info has been helpful to some of you job seekers out there.