jsync | Java Staffing Specialist

Fools! Do Not Attempt These In Interviews!

04/03/2007

by Dave Fecak

1. Trash Your Old Company/Boss – When you speak poorly of your old boss or company, the interviewer is not sympathizing with you – they are thinking to themselves “how unprofessional!” It is OK to express discontent relating to management decisions, technical direction, career stagnation, or company instability, but never make it personal. To come across as a true professional, try your best to keep emotion out of it.
2. Just Say No! – If an interviewer asks you to complete an exercise (white board, written test) during the interview or perhaps do a short task after the interview, don’t refuse the request. Most recruiters will prepare you for your interview as best they can (I know jsync does) and set your expectation for the interview process, so usually there are no surprises. If a written test or exercise is refused, the company will simply assume you are not qualified for the position. I find it amazing that some candidates become insulted that a company actually would want to make sure you can do the work they are hiring you for, regardless of what your qualifications look like on paper. I wouldn’t agree to rewrite all of a company’s code as an interview assignment, but a simple test or demonstration of your skills certainly is understandable and should be expected.
3. “What’s in it for me?” – I have had clients call me and tell us that when the interviewee was given a chance to ask a question, his first response was, “Do we get paid on the 1st and the 15th and do you offer direct deposit?” When given the opportunty to ask questions (particularly during a first interview), avoid topics surrounding compensation, benefits, training and other perks. Are these things you are going to want to know before accepting an offer? Of course. Is it appropriate to ask these questions before the company shows interest in hiring you? No. A great question to ask – “What do you like best about working here?”
4. Mr. Know-it-all – In an attempt to find your threshold, interviewers may push the limit on your technical knowledge by asking some far out, high-level questions that they probably know you can’t answer. Rather than trying to ‘snow’ the tech team over by giving an answer that is incorrect, hold up your hands and surrender – ‘Tis better to say “I don’t know”. By admitting you don’t know an answer you will actually come across as more capable and trustworthy. To really impress the interviewer, tell them you don’t know the answer and explain how you might go about finding the answer. The interviewer does not expect you to know everything, but they probably want to see how you react in that type of situation since they know it will come up on the job.
5. “I need to get paid!” – If someone asks you why you are seeking new employment during an interview or on an application, never put that you are on the market just because you are looking for a higher salary. The reason is that the interviewer will think ‘if he/she is leaving their current employer for more money, he/she will leave here for more money down the road’. Every company knows that they need to offer competitive compensation plans, benefits, perks, technical challenges, etc. And every company also knows that there are other companies that would be willing to pay more for your services. Be sure to list other reasons than just salary when asked about your reasons for being on the market – giving the appearance of a mercenary could have a negative effect on the interview.
6. Flying Blind – If you have ever walked into an interview with a company that you knew nothing or very little about, chances are you didn’t get the job. Never go into the interview battle without at least a basic bit of ammunition – what the company does, a brief history of the company, and what possible services you may be expected to provide for them. HR professionals find it insulting when candidates are not at least somewhat knowledgeable about their company.
7. Under Pressure – When asked why you are considering a job change, another example of a bad answer would be to say your current job is too challenging/demanding or puts you under too much pressure. This happens more often than you think, and the interviewer immediately will think that you might not be suited to a fast-paced work environment.
8. First impression could be your last – Make your first impression a strong one in terms of appearance, demeanor, and preparedness. Dress to impress, bring a few copies of your resume, and look alive!
9. Hit the ceiling – It is fairly common for interviewers (or job applications) to ask you about salary history and salary expectations. If you do not divulge salary history, companies may find it difficult to trust you, so the advice there is to simply tell them the history (they will have to pay you market rate to be competitive anyway, regardless of what you are making now). When asked what your salary expectations are, keep in mind that any number that you give them will basically put a ceiling on what you will be able to ask for or negotiate in the future. If you say “90K”, it will be very difficult (read: impossible) to get 92K, even if you are working with a recruiter. Try to avoid throwing a number out, and if you do, keep in mind this is the upper limit of what you will get in an offer.

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