Nailing the IT Interview

As large organizations have focused on increasing their IT capabilities, searching for high-quality and adaptable candidates has become increasingly important. Recruiters are seeking prospects who can evolve with the culture of their company.

For the past 20+ years, recruiters at Vertex have watched the demand for tech talent rise. We already covered the “Do’s and Don’ts of Resume Writing” in a previous blog post. We now want to fix our attention to one of the critical moments that most applicants prep for in advance: Interviewing. More specifically, interviewing for an IT job.

We have seen some great and some not so great interviews and would like to share some advice that all prospective IT job hunters should consider.

Honesty & Integrity

Part of interviewing for an IT job is nailing the technical aspects of an interview. A prospective candidate should expect to be asked about their qualifications and skills. Some questions that recruiters may ask will have definitive answers. It is in your best interest as a candidate to answer honestly. If you don’t know the answer, it’s not the end of the world! Admit that you don’t know the correct answer and suggest a solution as to how you would go about finding the right one. This shows a recruiter or interviewer that you are willing to admit when you don’t know something, as well as demonstrate that you are motivated to find a solution. Often, the interviewer wants to see how you problem-solve. Be honest and leave a lasting impression of integrity.

Play to Your Strengths

Organizations are always looking for self-aware candidates who can excel in their position. During your interview, try to work the conversation around your strengths and things that you are confident about. Staffing managers are looking for applicants with specific skills. You do not want to be afraid to really demonstrate your knowledge of the required skill. If you are applying for a position that has a required platform that you have spent a lot of time getting familiar with, expound on it. Talk about what details you liked, what about it that you thought wasn’t user friendly, and what improvements you would have made.

Geek Out!

This is a bit of a mix of the previous two tips. When you inevitably get into the technical discussion of an interview, do not be afraid to really demonstrate your knowledge. If there is a software that you have spent a lot of time getting familiar with, show off your knowledge. The hiring manager who is interviewing you is usually knowledgeable of the topic and will be interested in a mutual discussion about it. This could also help you break tension or defeat nerves. If you can embrace your inner geek and have a conversation in which you feel comfortable and confident about a topic, the interviewer will notice.

I hope this helps you better understand what hiring managers look for when interviewing applicants. A confident interview is the all-important first impression of your job hunt.

Good Luck!