Interviews: It's a 2-way street

Hello Everyone, First of all, I would like to Thank You for reading this post. The topic for today is one that most of us are afraid of but we all have to go through it at some point or the other, ---- INTERVIEWS!!

An interview is a great responsibility for both the interviewee and interviewer

For the interviewee, it is a great opportunity to highlight their abilities in different aspects such as leadership, technical skills, domain knowledge, communication expertise, etc. It is the time when you can discuss things you are passionate about and how it aligns with the opportunity you are interviewing for.

For the interviewer, it is equally important to understand the candidate's potential and passion for the given role. Assess their skills and how they can help fill in the role successfully.

Interviewing is difficult, as it depends on many factors such as Skills, Hard Work, Mindset, Timing, and Luck!!!

But, based on my experience of being on both sides of the table here are "My Two Cents" that could give you an edge over others in an interview

Interviewee

  1. Know your bread and butter: You should have the basic skills and knowledge required for the job. You do not need to be an expert as you can always upskill yourself as you work on the job. For example, you should know fundamentals of IOS development if you interviewing for a IOS Engineer position.
  2. Mindset: Go with a positive mindset, it's a game changer. Think out loud and explain your approach as your progress through the interivew. And, if you get stuck in an interview don't shy away from asking help. In fact, the interviewer is on your side and it's their job to help and set you up for success.
  3. Don't Grumble: It's a Big Red Flag if the candidate starts grumbling about their current/previous jobs, managers, teammates, etc in an interview. It sets a negative vibe and does not portray you as a team player.
  4. Know what and why: I could not stress enough how important it is to know what you are looking for in your next opportunity. Be clear on what you want, why you want it, and how this opportunity will help you achieve it. For example, you may want to challenge yourself in different domains (social network company instead of travel company, B2B instead of B2C), work/life balance, try different skill sets, and try small/large scale companies. It could be anything.
  5. Know the company: It is really important to know the mission and vision of the company you are interviewing with and how it aligns with your goals. Read their company page and engineering/product blogs. Research about their competitors and the edge they have against their competitors.
  6. Ask Questions: Interviewing is a two-way street. So, you should ask questions to the interviewer. Questions about company's culture, work process, work/life balance, their experience working at the given company etc. This can help you make informed decision to evaluate your offers.

Interviewer

  1. Introductions: Crisp and solid introduction is a very good ice breaker before the start of an interview. It gives interviewee a sense of calmness and confidence before the actual interview begins.
  2. Be Clear: Explain a question/problem/task to the interviewee with examples. Set clear expectations of the given interview round and what skills/abilities are being tested
  3. Engagement: Treat the interviewee as your own team member and work with them as they try to solve the problem/question presented to them. You should help them by giving some hints if they are stuck without giving away the actual solution (Of course!! :p).
  4. Don't be nitpicky: Stick to the goal of the given interview round and try to guage them on core concepts. And, not nitpick for things that can be easily picked up on the job.
  5. Notes: Take clear notes as the interview progresses. Notes should include things that were exceptional to red flags and everything in between. These notes will help you write clear feedback and help you make a decision during the debrief session.