What Are Some Interview Tips

Explain What Some Of The Keywords Mean In Cucumber

Hiring managers ask this question to further gauge your knowledge of Cucumber and the Gherkin language that it uses. They’re looking for an answer that demonstrates a thorough understanding of the language and showcases your confidence in explaining its primary components. Demonstrate your competence by explaining what some of the most common keywords mean and how you can use them. Consider using examples to make it easier for your interviewer to understand how to use the keywords.

Example:”There are many keywords in Cucumber that have different meanings and functionalities. The purpose of ‘Feature’ is to provide a thorough description of a software feature. ‘Scenario Outline’ allows you to test a scenario multiple times. This can be especially useful because it allows you to consider all different types of users when developing a sign-in feature. ‘Background’ enables you to define a single step or set of steps that are the same for all software tests. It executes the steps before performing the actual tests.”

Think Of Two Reasons Youre Interested In The Company

Use the company research youve done to come up with a business-related reason youre excited about them. It could be a new business model, new clients, new partnership, etc.

Actual example: I recently had a phone interview with a tech company that was built as a review/info website. They recently started handling transactions instead of sending the buyers out to other websites to complete the transaction. I read this in the news and mentioned it as an exciting development and a really good business move. The interviewer was extremely impressed that I had read the news, and understood the implications. Total time spent researching: less than 3 minutes.

Along with one business reason, try to come up with a secondary reason too. Maybe community involvement. Or company culture. Almost every company has a blurb about their culture on the website. Read it and mention what you read as a secondary reason for being interested.

Youll seem extremely well-prepared and well-rounded for having two very different reasons.

Dont Forget About Your References

Dont let your references be the last to know about your job search, or even worse, get an unexpected call from a potential employer. Many offers are withdrawn over bad references. Why take that chance? Get in touch with your references right away to seek help and to avoid surprises on either side.

• Are your references relevant to your current job search? Who should you add or subtract?
• Are there any reference gaps? Gaps that an employer will question? What is your story about those gaps?
• Can a colleague, vendor, customer, or board member be added to replace or enhance the list?
• What is the current status of your relationship with your references?

Don’t Miss: Interview Questions To Ask A Cfo

What To Do Before An Interview

The things to do before an interview are typically a bit more mental than anything else. Usually, the buildup to an interview is much more nerve-wracking than the actual interview itself. With that in mind, shift your focus to preparation and do whatever you can to practice relaxation beforehand! Nerves can be useful if they motivate you to act. So take a deep breath, and read through our suggestions on things to do before an interview that will help you be prepared when you get into the room.

Why Is Anticipating Interview Questions Important

The goal of anticipating interview questions isnt to memorize responses, but rather to get comfortable talking about these topics. This advance preparation will help you feel more confident and less on the spot during the interview.

As you develop your answers, select anecdotes and specific examples from your previous work experiences to share with your interviewers.

Recommended Reading: Best Interview Attire For A Woman

Tips For After The Interview

When the interview is over, give yourself the best chances of moving forward by doing the following:

20. Ask about next steps. After your interview, it is appropriate to ask either your interviewer, hiring manager or recruiter about what you should expect next. This will likely be a follow-up email with results from your interview, additional requirements like an assignment or reference list or another interview.

21. Send a personalized thank you letter after the interview. Ask for the business card of each person you speak with during the interview process so that you can follow up individually with a separate thank you email. If you interviewed in the morning, send your follow-up emails the same day. If you interviewed in the afternoon, the next morning is fine. Make certain that each email is distinct from the others, using the notes you took during the conversations.

Related:

Questions About Your Supervisors And Co

What They Want to Know: Did you get along with your manager? Have you worked with difficult colleagues? How you interact with supervisors and co-workers will provide the interviewer with insight into your interpersonal and communication skills.

I think I get along well with both my manager and my colleagues, because I approach everyone with respect. When issues arise, I try to ask for clarification and find points of agreement we can use to resolve differences of opinion.

More Answers: Interview Questions About Co-Workers and Supervisors

Don’t Miss: How To Prepare System Design Interview

I: Job Interview Preparation

Each step below will prepare you for the actual interview. None of this is very time consuming but it will set you apart from everyone else applying for the job, making it easy for the company to decide who to hire

Here are the basic interview preparation steps to remember. Ive put the estimated time next to each one.

Introducing Your Website In Your Phone Interview

Once youve been able to set up your site, this is how you bring it up in a phone interview

Traditionally, near the end of the interview the hiring manager will say something like, Is there anything else that you want me to know that we havent covered in this interview?

Now is your chance!

Id love you to check out my personal website JeffGillis.com. It will give you a great idea of the work I have accomplished, the experiences Ive had and most importantly, the type of person youll be getting if you decide to hire me for this position.

In doing this you will not only give the hiring manager a much more engaging and interesting experience, but youll also show what an intelligent, dedicated and forward-thinking individual you are.

Sounds like someone I would want to hire!

So there you have it! If you follow the tips above , you can almost guarantee to have the interviewer eating out of your hand even if they arent in the same room as you.

Once thats all done and youve hit send on that thank you note, reward yourself for an interview well done!

And yes, now that youve knocked that phone interview out of the ballpark and youre confident in your tailored answers and thoughtful questionsgo ahead and put those Scooby Doo flannels back on!

Also Check: System Design Interview Preparation

How Do You Handle Stress And Pressure

What They Want to Know: What you do when work gets stressful? Do you stay calm under pressure? Or do you have a difficult time in stressful situations? If you’re interviewing for a high-pressure position, the interviewer will want to know that you can deal with the stress.

Im pretty good at recognizing when Im beginning to feel stressed. When this happens, I take five minutes to focus on my breathing. I also practice guided meditation in the morning before work for 30 minutes and exercise for an hour in the evening. This keeps me on an even keel.

More Answers: Interview Question: How Do You Handle Stress?

Successfully Handle Any Type Of Interview

Review tips on how to handle interviews that are different from a typical one-on-one meeting. These include tips for phone interviews, second interviews, lunch and dinner interviews, behavioral interviews, interviewing in public, and more advice for interview success.

Also review these signs that your job interview went well, so you can see what skills you may need to brush up for next time.

Don’t Miss: Questions To Ask Cfo In Interview

Do Your Research On The Company

You need to know the company like the back of your hand. Make sure to visit their website and collect information about their history and values. In addition, they might ask you why youre applying for this position.

Tip: work on the job offer to be ready to answer questions about the job. Per example: What are the tasks related to the job?

How Do You Handle Conflict At Work

Employers ask this question to gauge how you interact with various stakeholders or colleagues of differing opinions. Often, being the right person for the job involves more than just hard skills, hiring managers also value candidates who can collaborate with others and approach conflict in a productive way.

A good answer will discuss a time you encountered a conflict with a colleague, client or manager and maintained the patience to resolve it. Its important to relay what you learnedhow you grew personally and professionallyas a result of the experience. Use the STAR method to construct your response.

Example answer:I was working as a project manager on an IT project, and one technician was constantly late finishing tasks. When I approached him about it, he reacted defensively. I kept calm and acknowledged that the deadlines were challenging and asked how I could assist him in improving his performance.

He calmed down and told me that he was involved in another project where he had to do tasks that were not in his job description. After a meeting with the other project manager, we came to a resolution that alleviated the technicians workload. For the remainder of the project, the technician delivered great work.

I learned that you dont always know what others are experiencing and by keeping that in mind, I can better navigate conflict and be a more helpful and supportive colleague.

Read more: Interview Question: “How Do You Handle Conflict in the Workplace?”

You May Like: System Design Interview Prep

Tell Me About Your Work Experience

An interviewer may or may not already be familiar with your background. Regardless, this question gives you the chance to detail your experiences that are most valuable to the prospective role. Employers want to know that youve reflected on their expectations for a qualified candidate and that you have directly relevant or transferable skills. Consider these tips for answering:

1. Quantify your experience:I have 10 years of experience in personal finance management, and I have assisted 45 repeat clients in increasing their capital by an average of 15% every year.

2. Illustrate connections to role:As a financial analyst, Ive used visual growth charts to show my clients how each saving plan option can impact their goals. When I became a senior financial analyst, I supervised other analysts and trained them in providing the most helpful experience to our customers.

3. End with a goal statement:”As your senior financial consultant, I aim to integrate my individualized approach to helping clients build the retirement fund they will depend on.

Read more: Interview Question: Tell Me About Your Work Experience

How Do You Work Under Pressure

Many jobs involve moments when, for varied reasons, there are unexpected situations that require swift action. The ability to stay calm, think logically and act correctly in such a scenario is a major asset.

This is another good instance of when to use the STAR method to talk about a specific time you were faced with a challenge, might have succumbed to stress but managed to calmly find a solution.

Example answer:Throughout my career, Ive discovered how to embrace working under pressure. I find that routine can make us complacent, so I try to look for challenges that push me to grow.

One time, I was supposed to deliver a project to a client in five days. A colleague who was working with another client had the same deadline, but he had to take a leave of absence due to personal reasons. I was forced to take up both projects at the same time. While I felt an initial sense of panic, I tried to reframe it as an opportunity to see what I might be capable of. Instead of letting the stress get to me, I came up with a very detailed time management plan and found new ways to boost my efficiency that enabled me to deliver both projects on time.

Read more: Interview Question: “How Do You Work Under Pressure?”

Also Check: Questions To Ask A Cfo

Dont Forget About Nonverbal Communication

Nonverbal communication plays a major role in a job interview. Are you looking at your feet? Do you have your arms crossed? Do you lean on the back of your chair? All these signs will show inward-looking attitudes to the interviewer and he wont feel free to get to know you better. Make sure to keep this in mind. Also, employers will be looking at your appearance and how you present yourself. Dress sober and clean.

Tip: Dont forget to give a nice and firm handshake to the employer before and after the interview.

Sell Yourself To The Interviewer

When you’re in a job interview, it’s up to you to sell your qualifications and credentials to the hiring manager. You’ll also need to show the interviewer that you’re a good fit for both the position and the organization. With some preparation, you’ll be able to present yourself as a candidate any organization would love to hire. Doing your best to get the hiring manager on your side will help you get hired.

Don’t Miss: What To Wear For An Interview Women

Essential Steps To Prepare Yourself For A Job Interview

So your resume got noticed and youve been asked to come in for a face-to-face interviewcongratulations! But in order to shine during the interview and land that job offer, careful preparation beforehand is essential. You need to be ready in advance for the questions you will be asked, have done your research on the company and the job, and have all the necessary documents and references at your fingertips.

Before the big day, be sure to review these helpful pre-interview tips so that you go into your meeting feeling confident and ready to impress your potential new employer.

The right preparation can help you project confidence during your interview.

Assess Your Interview Performance

To assess your own performance, write the questions you recall answering and how you answered them. Importantly, also include the things you didn’t say that you wish you had. You may work some things into follow up. The goal is to identify issues and why they occurred. It can help you in future interviews.

Related:Top Sales Interview Questions

Read Also: Design Interview Preparation

Can You Tell Me About A Difficult Work Situation And How You Overcame It

This question is often used to assess how well you perform under pressure as well as your problem-solving abilities. Keep in mind stories are more memorable than facts and figures, so strive to show instead of tell. This is also an excellent opportunity to show your human side and how when faced with adversity you are able to persevere.

For this question, consider sticking to the

• Action

• Result or learning

Example answer:It was the first day of my bosss two-week vacation and our agencys highest-paying client threatened to leave because he didnt feel he was getting the personalized service he was promised. I spent my lunch hour on the phone with him talking through his concerns. We even brainstormed ideas for his next campaign. He was so grateful for the personal attention that he signed another six-month contract before my boss even returned from her trip.

Related: Interview Question: “What Is the Biggest Challenge You’ve Faced In Work?”

Types Of Interview Questions

Employers use different types of questions when interviewing. They may be:

• competency-based – the focus is on the things you can do, so youll be asked to give examples to show you have the skills needed for the job
• strengths-based – these explore what you enjoy doing or do well and is used to check things like your practical or teamworking skills, or how you work under pressure
• technical – for jobs in science, IT, engineering, finance or law – they test your job-related knowledge and understanding of work processes
• situational judgement – test how you would react in typical work situations and check things like your ability to solve problems, make decisions or work with others
• values-based – commonly used for health and care jobs, particularly in the NHS, to confirm that you share the values and understand the culture of the organisation
• motivational – these help an employer to see what drives you and to make sure youll fit in with their company

You can find more advice on how to answer common interview questions.

You May Like: Prepare For System Design Interview

Know Your Faux Pas From Foie Gras

Hint: One is a mistake, and the other is a delicacy made from the fattened liver of a duck or goose!

Some interviews are conducted over a meal, so being familiar with proper table manners is imperative to your interview success.

Heres why: The recruiter will be watching to see how youll conduct yourself at a meal with clients, how you handle accidents, and how you treat the wait staff.

Make A Good First Impression

Potential employers are looking for someone who is confident, assertive and friendly, and they will be taking this opportunity to see if you’re a good fit. You’ll want to follow these quick tips whenever you meet anyone at your target organization, particularly the person who’ll be interviewing you:

• Look the person in the eye as you offer your right hand for a handshake.
• Shake his or her hand firmly, but easily try to have the web of your hand touch his or hers.
• Smile at the same time, and say something enthusiastic, such as “Hello, Mr. Byrnes. It’s a pleasure to meet you!”
• As you walk to his or her office, make some small talkweather, how great the lobby looks. Avoid politics or off-color humor . Small talk will establish a positive rapport, and the rest of the interview will feel more natural and less like you’re being grilled.
• Be courteous to everyone you meet you never know who will put in a good word for you after you’ve left the office.

Read Also: Interview With Cfo