Previously, we published an article entitled “5 Tips for Developers Conducting Interviews” gleaned from my experience as a recruiter working with technical hiring managers. Then I thought, what about the candidates? What should they be looking out for when landing that interview?
Here are some tips to consider when you’re about to go for a job interviews as a developer. Some points may appear quite basic, but I cannot count the number of times they were not respected, making a challenging encounter downright unpleasant. Most of them, as you will see, are easy to implement. Here, then, are some basic practices to remember the next time you go for an interview.
1. Show up on time.
Nothing demonstrates a lack of professionalism or motivation like showing up late for an interview. If you do see that you are running late, by all means send a text. Sometimes unforeseen circumstances arise that really are beyond our control, and recruiters can be understanding. On the other hand, showing up late is better than not showing up at all.
2. Charge your phone and buy load.
When unforeseen events happen, you may arrive late or not make it at all. It is very important to at least text or call to inform that you will be coming in late! This shows you respect the person and company interviewing you and that you have good work ethic.
3. Anticipate traffic.
One of the main reasons people are late here in Cebu City is because of traffic jams. Since this problem is on the rise in the city, you can already anticipate it! A few years ago, Cebu was quite laid back and traffic-free. Today, with the growth of the BPO industry, Cebu experiences an influx of migrant workers causing heavy traffic in the city center. For this reason, you should anticipate the time it takes for you to get from point A to point B, your interview location. Better be a bit earlier than late. Showing up 5 to 10 mins before your interview is ideal. However, being an hour early can cause an inconvenience for the recruitment team as they may have meetings at that time. Use common sense and judgement.
4. Make sure you have the correct address.
Usually, recruiters will provide you with the details of your interview, including venue, time, and requirements. However, it is also your responsibility to double check. Recruiters may forget to do so. After all, they are human too!
5. Do some research on the company.
You can easily check the company website, Facebook page, LinkedIn, Twitter, and other company social media accounts. It always makes a good impression to show you have done your research before coming for the interview or even applying. Doing so will allow you to ask questions about the company and shows how interested you are with the position.
