Self Improvement Through Technology

When I first involve in hiring process long-long time ago….I knew less.

I had too high expectation of the college graduates. I over estimate their minimum knowledge. I ended up interviewing a lot of candidates with blank stares when I asked questions. I learned my lesson. I proposed a simple over the phone interview to screen out those “no hope” candidates. Over time our department even trained the human resource staff on how to conduct the technical interview.

As a result, our “hit rate” of passing candidates for our on site interview improved. But still occasionally I still end up with candidates that I just wonder how they went through the 4 or 5 years of college without learning anything. To the candidates out there, normally the interviewers want to let the candidate pass, but it has to be reasonable - because the interviewers is putting their neck on the chopping board when they agree to take in certain candidate in. But still they willing to take the risk if they think find reasonably good candidate. Why? It is because interviewing and hiring process is a painful process for a hiring manager. It takes their valuable time. So if they can find the candidate early, they will take the chance.

Even with this said, my passing rate for candidates that I interviewed is only 2%…means only 2 out of 100 candidates that I have interviewed make it. Am I too picky? Yes and no…again as I mentioned its my neck is on the chopping board. My reputation (as hiring manager), and also in the future as project lead is on the risk.

My advice to job interview candidates:

(1) Understand or learn about the job that you are interviewing for

(2) Get details from the person who is arranging the interview -

+what type of interview (technical or cover soft skill),

+what type of test will be there (written test? ),

+who going to be the interviewer(s)

+contact number in case you get lost, or need to postpone the interview

+any special preparation needed

(3) If you’re a recent graduate, please review your final year project and also other projects that you want to highlight during the interview. It is just amazing how many times I’ve encountered candidates that dont really know the details of their projects. Remember most interviewer want to dig out your thinking process. Do you know why certain things are done in certain ways in the project - if you really the one doing the project you should know it.

(4) If you already have working experience, then go through the most recent projects and accomplishments.

(5) For recent graduates - please go through basic of your domain. I have interviewed candidates who graduated in computer science that dont even know how to properly initialize a variable in any programming language of their own choice. I also have interviewed electronic graduates who dont even know the V=IR relationship.

(6) Watch your attitude - balance it between lack of initiative or complacent or lazy and ego and over confident.

(7) Ask relevant questions to show that you did your research about the job and the company. Dont ever asked about the compensation and benefit on your first interview.

(8) If you are not ready for the interview ask the person who is arranging for the interview if you can reschedule the interview. Most of the time coming for an interview unprepared is worst than postponing or even miss it.

That are all that I can think off for the time being.

Hope this help those job seekers out there.