Top 10 IT Job Interview Tips

Interviews can be daunting for anyone, so it is normal to feel nervous or unsure how to prepare. We have put together ten IT job interview tips that will help you land your new job.

1. Read the job description

Thoroughly reading through the job description allows you to make an informed decision about whether you think you and your skills meet the requirements for the role. If you conclude that you do meet all the expectations, it will increase your confidence in the interview.

Reading the job description might also indicate which questions they are likely to ask you. For example, if the role mentions techniques you will be using, they might ask you if you know the processes or tools used in the technique to test your understanding. 

2. Research the company

It is important to learn about the company you are interviewing for as questions about them might come up in the interview, but also because you want to make sure their values align with yours and it’s the type of company you want to be a part of.

Some useful pages they might have on their website are ‘About Us’, ‘Who are we’, ‘Meet our Team’ ‘Why Join the Team’, and ‘Careers’. Careers pages can be useful as they can offer more insight into the job description if you didn’t apply for the job directly.

You can also check the company’s social media channels, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and X (formally known as Twitter). These will show you the company’s voice and how they want their brand to be perceived, this may change your mind about joining if they appear unprofessional.

LinkedIn also allows you to search for people who are or have been, employed by the company, you can check their responsibilities and experiences that they had during their time with the employer.

3. Prepare answers to common questions

During an IT-related job interview, itis likely you will have to answer some technical questions relating to the role you have applied for. Therefore, it is valuable to brush up on your knowledge of any skills you have acquired and come up with answers to the questions you could be asked.

However, some questions may also be more generic, such as “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”, so it is also a good idea to come up with some answers for these too.

Here are some examples of questions you might be asked for specific roles:

Data Analyst

• What is the process of data analysis?
• What steps do you take to solve a business problem?
• What are the common problems that data analysts encounter during analysis?
• Which are the technical tools that you have used for analysis and presentation purposes?

Software Developer

• What are the stages of the software development lifecycle?
• What debugging tools do you use?
• What software security protection methods do you know?
• How would you explain APIs to non-technical stakeholders?

Project Manager

• How do you keep your team motivated?
• How do you communicate bad news with your team?
• How do you define an ideal project?
• What project management methods have you used in the past?

4. Think of meaningful questions 

It is important to ask any questions you may have about the company to make sure it is as much a good fit for you as it is for them.

Although you may have questions about salary, benefits, and holiday allowance if they weren’t already specified, it is best to ask more significant questions at the interview to show you are engaged and interested in the role itself and you can ask the other questions at a later date.

Here are examples of questions you could ask:

• What are the key challenges facing the company currently?
• What would a typical day look like for someone in the role?
• What opportunities are there for training and progression?
• Do you expect my main responsibilities in this position to change in the next six months to a year?

It is a good idea to incorporate conversations you have had during the interview into your questions to show you have been engaged. For example, if they have mentioned a particular project you will be working on you can ask for more details.

You can find more examples of effective interview questions here.

5.     Check the details of the interview

Ensure you have checked the details of the interview, including the location, time, and contact details of someone at the company should you need to get in touch.  Make sure you do this in plenty of time in case some information is missing or you need to ask any questions. This also gives you time to do a practice run of the journey, so you know when to leave to avoid being late or work out the journey you need to take on public transport. If you are travelling by car you may need to enquire about on-site parking or find some nearby. 

6. Review your CV and cover letter

Before your interview, review your CV and cover letter to remind yourself of your accomplishments and skills. This will not only help you remember what you should share with the interviewer, but it will also build your confidence in knowing you are the right fit for the role. They may also use this to draw questions from, so remind yourself of what you wrote and brush up on any skills you included!

7. Showcase your skills

Depending on the role you are interviewing for, it might be beneficial to create a portfolio of your work to showcase your skills.

For example, if you applied for a Data Analyst role, it’s good to have examples of data you have collected, organised, analysed, the insights you took from these, and the recommendations given based on the information. This will demonstrate your problem-solving abilities and your understanding of techniques and tools required for the role. In addition, think of any soft skills you have acquired, such as communication skills, teamwork, time management, and leadership skills, and aim to incorporate your use of these into the interview.

8.     Look professional

First impressions are crucial to securing your new job and part of this is making sure you look professional. Some appropriate clothing would be suits, shirts and ties, smart trousers (not light blue denim jeans), a business-style midi dress, knee-length skirt, blazer, close-toe pumps, and smart flat shows.

If you have a pet, make sure their hair hasn’t got on your clothes and, if this is a possibility, carry a lint roller with you. This still applies, even if you will usually be working remotely if you get the job.

9. Arrive early

Make sure you arrive around 10-15 minutes early to demonstrate your good timekeeping skills, reliability, and your interest in the role. It also allows you time to get used to your surroundings, helping you to relax and not arrive stressed because you are late. 

10. Turn off your phone and any other tech you have

Check any devices you might have on you during the interview, such as your phone or smartwatch, and make sure they are switched off! The last thing you or the interviewer want is to be distracted by a ringtone or alarm.

To succeed in any interview, you should focus on the 3 Ps which are essential to an interview:

• Preparation
• Practice
• Positivity

Good luck in your job hunting!

Still looking for the right role? You can search for IT jobs here.