Thousands of engineers are preparing to re-enter the workforce following the economic devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic. When applying for a new job, many employers will be looking for technical skills and soft skills. Often, the technical interview is the most challenging part of the process. But with the right preparation, you’ll nail it! Follow these tips:
Get to know the interviewer
The point of a technical interview is to measure your strengths and weakness, but different skills stand out to hiring managers. For example, some hiring managers may be looking for a more traditional approach to problem-solving, while others may want a unique, out-of-the-box approach.
That’s why it’s important to get to know the team you’re interviewing with and understand their thinking. Be ready to market yourself and showcase your skills as a problem solver. Before your interview, research the company and try to learn everything you can about their approach to business and company culture.
Stick with the fundamentals
When you get nervous in an interview, it’s easy to overthink or overcomplicate things. That’s why your fundamental knowledge is important to fall back on. If you have the right knowledge, you can build upon any thought and solve most open-ended problems. Take this example from The Muse:
“You may be asked something like: You’re given a binary tree and two nodes in the tree. Find the lowest common ancestor of the two given nodes on time.
Through this question, the interviewer is looking to see how well you can communicate your thought process and solution. How you think through the problem, organize your thoughts, and communicate your answer is often as important as your conclusion. We work in complex and ever-changing environments and need people who can both solve tough problems and effectively communicate them to their technical and non-technical teammates.”
Practice with another person
When finalizing for the big day, avoid the urge to practice technical interview questions on your computer. Instead, put on something nice, get out of the house, grab a coffee, and practice in-person with a friend or family member. When answering questions, be sure to practice sounding confident and looking the interviewer in the eye.
Good luck with the interview process. If you’re ever looking for new networking and employment opportunities, joining ACEC Utah is a safe bet. Visit our website for more information.