Ten Tech Interview Errors

Ten Tech Interview Errors by Allan Hoffman Monster Tech Jobs Expert You're there on time, the job description is a perfect match and one look at the office tells you this is the job for you. So what could go wrong? Plenty. Everyone makes mistakes. But according to those who do the interviewing, job seekers for tech positions are prone to a number of common interview blunders. To avoid them, it helps to know what they are. Here are 10 of the most common. Appearance Techies sometimes dress "from the waist up," says Harvey Bass, CEO of Stascom Technologies, a recruiting firm. They've got "wrinkled khakis and rubber-soled shoes" -- not exactly the image they should be projecting, he says. Says Liz Ryan, a human resources consultant and founder of the group World Women in Technology, "The days when you would not be considered because you [were] dressed too conservatively are over." Arrogance Too many techies come across as arrogant in interviews, says Sean Chou, CTO of Fieldglass, a software technology company. "A lot of techies are very talented, but what comes out is arrogance," he says. Confidence is desirable, not arrogance. Arrogance suggests "they can't be a team player," Chou notes. Overemphasizing Skills Certifications and other credentials matter, as does your technical know-how, but remember: You're there to serve an organization's needs, not to focus on J2EE or Cisco just for the sake of the technology itself. You want to come across as more than an amalgam of your skills. "Sometimes they just overemphasize the skills," says Chris Little, COO of Dominion Digital, a consulting company. "They don't understand why that's not a home run. They get frustrated, and it shows." Not Communicating Interviewers often favor open-ended questions, but techies sometimes respond with too-brief answers, failing to elaborate or convey their communication skills. "You should think of each question as an opening to a conversation," says Ryan. A simple "yes," she says, isn't an appropriate answer to the question, "Have you worked with C++?" Candidates need to see questions as an opportunity to discuss the value they will bring to a company. Or, as Chou notes, "People who are unwilling to communicate will have a hard time working in a team environment." Unprepared "With all the information available, there is no excuse for someone not being prepared for an interview," says Leslie Norko, deputy program manager of engineering at Computer Sciences Corp. and a mentor for Women in Technology, a nonprofit devoted to networking and professional development. Preparation, Norko says, doesn't just mean passing knowledge about a company, but rather in-depth research about the firm and its industry. Lack of Interest Candidates sometimes display a lack of interest by not asking about the company's industry, competitors or "the larger business problems" facing the firm, says Ryan. This comes through, quite often, when candidates are asked if they have any questions. Never say no. "It communicates that they're not interested, or they're not prepared," says Norko. Too Eager for Perks Questions about parking spaces, sick days, free soft drinks, and other benefits and perks should be reserved for a human resources rep, preferably after a job offer. "Stay away from what's-in-it-for-me questions," Bass says. Too Casual Interviews can be formal affairs. The interviewer, not the candidate, should set the tone. "Techies tend to be a little casual in the interview," Bass says. This may come across as a lack of seriousness, or even a lack of interest in the job. Too Negative Some techies smarting from tough times -- failed startups, corporate layoffs and the like -- may mistake an interviewer's friendly demeanor as an invitation to confide. Ryan says this focus on "the highest highs to the lowest lows" isn't appropriate during an interview. "Candidates use interviews as therapy sessions and don't even know it," she says. Failure to Close Techies often fail to close the interview, says Bass. Rather than emphasizing how much they would love to join the company or asking what the next step in the process will be, techies may let the interview "fade out," Bass says. "They're not closing," he says. "They're not selling themselves." Dress Appropriately for Interviews by Thad Peterson Monster Staff Writer What do I wear to the interview? It's a question millions of people agonize over on some level while looking for a job. The bad news is that there are few cut-and-dried answers. As the saying goes, there's no accounting for taste, and each interviewer has his unique sense of what's appropriate interview attire. The good news? Deciding what to wear isn't as difficult as you might think. Dress One or Two Levels Up "The rule of thumb is that you dress one or two levels higher than the job that you're going for," explains Kate Wendleton, president and founder of the Five O'Clock Club, a national career counseling and outplacement firm. "If you were going for a job as a mechanic, you wouldn't go in there in dirty overalls, even though that's how you would dress for that kind of work. You would still go in there and show respect. You would go in with an open-collar shirt, clean pants and maybe a jacket." As Wendleton puts it, by dressing a notch or two above what's standard apparel for the position you're interviewing for, "you're definitely showing that you care about this job, and that you know the game." Caution Is The Better Part of Valor When it's time to get dressed for the interview, remember: It's not so much that you're trying to get the job with what you wear, it's more a matter of not taking yourself out of contention with your presentation, Wendleton says. "Interviewers can decide in 10 seconds that they don't want you," she adds. "It will take them longer to decide they do want you." Chances are good that by dressing on the conservative side, you won't unintentionally disqualify yourself. But trying to demonstrate how hip you are with your exposed lower back tattoos or laid-back Juicy Couture outfit could backfire. This Isn't 1999 Once upon a time during the dotcom heyday, recounts Wendelton, "people would come in with nose rings and sandals, and because there really was a severe labor shortage, they'd get hired." She says that young, freshly minted grads often make the mistake these days of going too casual, perhaps confusing what once was with what now is. "These days, people are not desperate for you," she points out. "Recent grads tend to dress like they're students at interviews. Nobody forgives that. Not in this market." Use Your Judgment Is a suit always a must in an interview? Absolutely not. Michael Smith, who recently searched for a job in the Chicago area, went on an interview in the midst of a bitter cold snap in that region. "So instead of wearing a suit, I wore black slacks and a sweater," says Smith. "The sweater was large and cable-knit but very nice and high quality. The interviewer actually said to me that it was nice to see something other than a suit walk through his door. And a week later, I got the job." So be sure to learn about an industry's fashion culture; some are obviously more casual than others. It's also usually fine to inquire about the dress code while setting up the interview. An Armani coat and tie or your nice Ann Taylor outfit may not be required if you discover the dress code is casual. "But it's never fine to go in with a collarless shirt," warns Wendleton. And for men, she suggests putting on a jacket, even when not wearing a tie. You Might Not Want to Be Too True to Yourself There are those who say it's pointless to dress for an interview in a way that you wouldn't once you're on the job. Why misrepresent yourself to a future employer or try to be someone you're not? "If you want to have eight earrings and have your tongue pierced, that's fine," says Wendleton. "But you're showing you don't know how to play the game. If it's so important to you, go ahead and dress like you normally do, but realize that you may not get the job." -- Regards, Rajesh Prabhu. R "There is no future in any job. The future lies in the man who holds the job." - George Crane "A busy man has time for everything and a lazy man has time for nothing."