Interview Tips

1. Prepare for the interview by studying the company and more important, the products of the company.

Imagine that you are already working for the company.

How would  you test their product?

What testing strategy would  you take?

What testing types would you use?

What would be challenging for testing that product?

How would you test creatively the product?

Prepare a short presentation that highlights your preparation to test the company's product.

Attach a mind map that highlights the testing strategy and planning

2. If possible, get details on the interview's agenda, the type of the interview and who will attend it.

Learn more info on the persons that will attend the interview from their Linkedin profiles.

Prepare for the type of interview if it is unusual.

3.  Attend only interviews for positions that you are really interested in, that really excite you. 

If the position is exciting, your level of enthusiasm and motivation will be high and this is important for the client to see.

Be confident that you can do the work.

4. Be prepared to answer any questions on your resume.

Think ahead of time of possible questions that you can be asked.

5. Make sure that you answered the question.  

It can be helpful to even ask “Did I answer your question”.

6. Be concise

Answer the question but do not deviate from the topic.

Avoid talking too much.

7.  If you don't have an answer for a question, don't try to guess. 

It is better to say "I dont know" instead of guessing.

8. Answer questions using the STAR method (situation, task, action, result)

Provide examples from your work by telling short stories that highlight the situation, task, action and result.

9. Do what you can to get the job but be relaxed about the outcome of the interview.

The hiring decision is out of your control and you may not get the job even in your best day.

Try to have fun at the interview and learn as much as possible from it, especially on things that you do not know yet in your profession.

10.  Ask good questions about the job and company. 

It is important for you to learn as much as possible about the position before being hired:

- tell me more about what you are looking for from the successful candidate

- tell me more about the current and future projects

- why the position is available

- what is challenging for this position

- what are the expectations of your manager

- what is the work style in the company

- what are the day-to-day responsibilities for this role


11. During the interview, do not rush with the answers. 

You can think for a minute or two before answering difficult questions.
  
12. Be prepared to explain why they should give you job. 

Why are you the best fit? 

Why should you be hired and not someone else?

What do you bring new to the client?


13. Be prepared to explain why you want to work for the specific company and not for other companies


14. Know your short term and long term plans, make sure they align with the ones of the company


15. When the interview is attended by people with different positions, adapt your answers to the position/level of your interlocutor.

When talking with someone who has a director position, there is no need to mention very technical terms as they may not be familiar with the terms.

16. Try to go to the interview early and as relaxed as possible.

Exercise a bit before the interview or take a walk.

17. At the end of the interview, express your interest in the job and ask for next steps

18. Do not discuss salary expectations in the first interview. Wait until you get to the short list of candidates. The client will make the proper offer to the right candidate

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