8 Steps to nailing interviews
and slaying the impostor monster
Motivation
Picture this: You’ve just set sail on the vast sea of the tech industry, armed with (hopefully some) coding skills and hunger for growth!
You took the leap, finished your studies and can call yourself bachelor or master of science. But wait, what’s next? What shall you do now?
It’s easy to find yourself overwhelmed by the fast paced innovations and changes of the tech world. Talking to many mentees, thanks to the mentoring-club, I noticed how many of you are fighting with imposter syndrome and are highly insecure about job applications and interview preparations.
But fear not my friends! For you’re not alone on this journey!
Many of my brave mentees, whom which I had the pleasure of guiding through their challenges, share your struggles. In this article, I want to share a couple of those insights with you and help you in conquering your challenges!
Just a bit about taming the Imposter monster in all of us
I think any brave soul navigating through the world of a tech career will stumble upon a very slippery and slimy monster: the imposter syndrome.
Never heard of it? Lucky you!
It’s that sneaky little voice inside your brain whispering, “Psst, you’re just pretending to be competent. You have no idea what you are doing.” But guess what? That is perfectly normal. Even the most experienced engineers I know, sometimes feel like they’re just shaping code wildy together. Copy & pasting from stack overflow and hoping stuff runs on a daily base. It’s considered psychologically normal because many people experience it due to the gap between internal feelings of inadequacy and external success because of the human tendency to be critical of oneself. In other words — you are too strict to yourself.
Think of this syndrome as a little healthy (sort of) dump on our egos — it might raise doubts, but you’re the one who is in charge of your mind. Embrace your own growth, from that first “Hello, World!” to mastering complex algorithms day by day. You made it this far. Don’t forget that.
If a company pays your salary — you are great at what you do.
Even with a bad day. And even a couple of those. Yes and also if you happen to feel absolutely idiotic, spamming forums and being distracted by listening to music. You are still great. It’s all part of being you.
And remember, the tech universe thrives on continuous learning and growing. Things change all the time — you won’t be able to keep up anyways so you might as well relax and continue exploring one thing at a time.
8 Preparation steps on navigating interviews
I know job interviews can sometimes feel like sailing through stormy seas. But if you use the right compass, you’ll steer clear of those dangerous waves.
So first — Congratulations are in order! You’ve received your first interview invitation. Party time! When I received my first invitation back in the days, my heart leaped with excitement and nervousness.
I can imagine you’re feeling quite similar right now. While you undoubtedly have everything it takes to excel in the interview, I still recommend taking a bit of time to prepare.
Many of my mentees found some inspiration from my routine, and I hope it inspires you to discover your own and perhaps serves as a good foundation. My preparation consists of the following:
- First and foremost, I note down the interview date in my calendar and make sure to block out the evening before as well. I do this to have enough time to mentally prepare myself and, most importantly, to get enough sleep. So, please avoid planning any parties before the interview.
- As a second step, I thoroughly read the job description once again and jot down the topics where I feel uncertain. I then research enough to have a general idea of what those topics entail. During the interview itself, I naturally focus more on my strengths. However, when it comes to the weaker areas, I’ve found it most helpful to be honest. I usually explain that, while I may not have experience in that area, I’m eager to delve into those topics and have already conducted some research. This demonstrates my willingness to learn and motivation to the potential employer.
- For the third step, I try to gather as much information as possible about the company and also look for reviews. This is essential to me as it enables me to ask insightful questions and address my own topics directly. Remember, an interview is a two-way street. Personally, I believe that the company is also selling itself as a good employer to me too.
- Fourth, I write down my resume in bullet points. This makes it easier for me to summarize it briefly during the interview. It has always helped me to highlight important projects or skills and explain how I applied them. I’ve always felt well-prepared when I could summarize my career path in two to three minutes.
- The fifth step is one I still practice today — practice! Especially for significant roles, I like to have mock interviews with friends over the phone. It’s beneficial in preparing me for this type of conversation.
- The night before, I like to set up the technical aspects, like headphones and the camera, so I don’t stress on the day of the interview. This also includes planning my travel if the interview is in person.
- Then, I prepare the clothing for the interview. I usually lean towards a shirt with a sweater on top and black pants, or a simple black t-shirt with jeans. I believe it depends on the company, industry, and role. For women, I think a neutral dress or a white top with a dark blazer is a good option. Ensure that you feel comfortable. But as a general rule, from my experience, it’s better to be “overdressed” for the interview.
- And now, the final step — I pep-talk myself into believing that I will get this job. Positive thoughts and self-encouragement. “You’ve got this.” “You’re going to rock it.” “This will be your job.” “You’ll convince them all.” It might seem silly at first glance, but psychologists have already proven that success is a matter of mindset. And nothing works better than vocalizing these positive thoughts to oneself. I found it quite challenging initially! You can also dance, paint, eat something delicious, whatever helps you think positively and motivate yourself. Trust me, you’ve got this!
Time to Impress!
Now we’ve reached the interview phase. After thorough preparation, it’s time to impress! But how do you do that? Good question! I’ve been fortunate to speak with many managers, and here’s what I’ve noticed:
Successful interviews hinge on the impression you leave with the interviewer.
What will people remember? What was positive and what was uncomfortable? What stood out? Did you share a laugh? If I had to summarize what I’ve learned from countless interviews, it’s that interviews are not just about demonstrating or confirming technical skills; they’re about assessing whether the personality fits.
I often wondered why this is the case, but I think I’ve found at least one possible answer. In the end companies are made out of people and thus people always work together. And personalities matter much more in the long run of things than know-how. Provocatively put — I don’t choose my colleagues based on what they know but on the characters they possess. Even though personal life and professional context differ, human relationships, in my experience, do not. To cut to the chase: always be true to yourself!
One thing that has always impressed me during interviews were interesting or thought provoking questions. For example: “If you could mention one quality that’s crucial for success in your company, what would it be? And how long would you say it takes to develop this quality?” Why is this question good? Because it provokes thought and shows that my interviewer is interested in my personal opinion.
Good questions from an interviewer could be: “What could this company do to drive you away in a few years?”.
I enjoy going through such questions in my coaching because they also help understand one’s own goals and priorities better.
In essence, all parties want the same thing in an interview: to see if they can work together and understand each other. Technical questions, of course, play a part for me too.
One candidate that stood out to me had impressed with their willingness and curiosity to learn. Mid-interview, we discussed technologies, and their enthusiasm was palpable. Another candidate won me over with a warm smile and creative project ideas. They had actually built their own robot vacuum cleaner. Cool, right?
I hope you’re grasping one key point:
Try not to convince the company of only what you already know.
Instead, try to focus on who you are and the potential you bring.
Oh, we almost missed it. Honestly, I always shy away from this topic because it’s genuinely challenging. Drumroll, please. Salary.
Naturally, numerous questions arise here. I completely understand you!
What would be fair for this specific role? What do others earn? What’s acceptable in the market? Maybe I’ll get the job if I don’t negotiate? Unfortunately, I can’t provide a golden formula for calculating this. It’s too complex. But I do have one piece of advice for you here:
Check the salaries on “Kununu” and “Glassdoor.” These platforms allow current and former employees to disclose their salaries. They also generally have reviews for various categories. As a benchmark — a great resource!
My honest advice: Find a good recruiter.
Have fun networking! I know you can do this and impress during the interview. One last extra boost is easily achievable by sending a thank-you email to your interviewers. If you haven’t had the chance yet, this is also the perfect opportunity to ask when you can expect a response. And now comes the most uncomfortable part of interviews: waiting.
At this point I strongly suggest to keep exploring other opportunities. Remember there are many factors that come into play when it comes to hiring someone. Life goes on! If it’s not this role, it will be the next one!
Conclusion: Let’s go future techies!
As our little journey comes to a close, remember this: every tech genius you will meet, was once a lost sailor on the digital ocean.
Embrace the challenges, accept your doubt, be confident in yourself.
From imposter syndrome to complicated tech interviews, you’re already armed with knowledge and courage.
With your skills, curiosity, and the support of some mentors and peers, you’re more than well-equipped to thrive in this industry.
Checkout The Mentoring Club — David Minkovski (mentoring-club.com) if you want to learn more about this amazing mentoring platform.
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