Let me put it to you this way: I'm a top-notch programmer, but a notoriously bad interviewee.
I've flunked 3 interviews consecutively because I get so nervous that my voice tightens at least 2 octaves higher and I start visibly shaking -- mind you, I can handle whatever technical questions the interviewer throws at me in that state, but I think it looks bad to come off as a quivering, squeaky-voiced young woman during a job interview.
I've just got the personality type of a shy computer programmer. No matter how technical I am, I'm going to get passed up in favor of a smooth talker. I have another interview coming up shortly, and I want to really impress the company.
Here are my trouble spots:
What can I do to be less
nervous during my interview? I
always get really excited when I
hear I have a face-to-face
interview, but get more and more
anxious as D-Day the
interview approaches.
My employers wants me to
explain what I used to do at my
prior employment. I'm a very chatty
person and tend to talk/squeak for
10 minutes at a time. How long or
short should I time my answers?
On that note, when I'm
explaining what I did at prior jobs,
what exactly is my interviewer
looking for?
At some point, my interviewer
will ask "do you have any questions
for me while you're here?" I
should, but what kinds of questions should I ask to show that
I'm interested in being employed?
My interviewer always asks why
I'm looking for a new job. The real
reason is that my present salary is
$27K/yr [Edit to add: and I've yet to get a raise since I started], and I want to make more
money -- otherwise the work
environment is fine. How do I
sugarcoat "I want to make more
money" into something that sounds
nicer?
I have only one prior
programmer job, and I've worked
there for 18 months, but I have the
skill of someone with 4 to 6 years
of experience. What can I say to
compete against applicants with more
work experience?
I took a low-paying $27K/yr programming job just to get my foot in IT, and I've been trying to leverage that job as a stepping stone to better opportunities. I get interviews because I consistently out-score senior-level developers in aptitude tests, and my desired salary range is right in the ballpark of what most companies want to offer.
Unfortunately, while I've been a programming as a hobby for 10 years and I'm geared to graduate with my BA in Comp Sci in May '09, employers see me as a junior-level programmer with no degree. I want to prove them wrong and get a job that matches my skill level.
I'd appreciate any advice anyone has to offer, especially if they can help me get a better job in the process.
