How to prepare for a tech interview

Preparing for a job interview can be a nerve-wracking experience, but with the right strategies and preparation, you can increase your chances of success.

A well-prepared candidate is more likely to leave a lasting impression on the interviewer and showcase their skills and qualifications effectively.

Whether it’s researching the company, practising your answers, or ensuring your outfit is on point, each step plays a crucial role in your interview preparation. In this blog, we will provide you with valuable tips and techniques to help you prepare for your next interview and boost your confidence.

The 14 steps for how to prepare an interview 👇

Research the company

Do your research on the company that you’re interviewing for. Have a look at their website and any news articles. Just make sure that you fully understand everything about the company before you go to the interview.

Check out this video on how best to research a company ahead of an interview.

Go through the job description

Familiarise yourself with the job description. Make sure that you’ve picked out some key areas which you can align with your relevant experience and have some examples prepared.

Check out what they offer

If they offer some kind of product or service, why don’t you give it a go? Check out what the user journey is like so that you can actually reference this during the interview.

Research your interviewers

So do some research on your interviewers. Maybe have a little LinkedIn stalk of their profiles. Get a bit of a feel for, you know, their background, their experience as well before you meet them.

Understand the type of interview

Try and get some information on the type of interview you’re walking into. Is it a competency-based interview or is it more relaxed and conversational? Based on this information, you can then ultimately prepare, you know, for the questions you’re going to be asked.

Prepare YOUR questions

I always say that interviews are a two-way street. You’re also there to interview the company to make sure that it’s the right fit for you. So make sure that you come prepared with a list of questions that you want to ask to make sure that you’re happy with everything and comfortable with what they say.

Practice the STAR technique

If you’re not already familiar with the STAR technique, make sure you do a little bit of research before you go in. It’s a really easy method to be able to structure your answers and it allows you to demonstrate the impact that you’ve had in your previous roles.

Learn more about the STAR technique here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojMt2ktJEyQ

Know why you’re interested in the role

It’s really important to know why you’re interested in this role and in this company. So make sure you kind of think through your motivations and the reasons why you’ve applied and that you can reference that during your interview.

Know what you’re worth

Make sure you do some research on salary and know what you’re worth and what your skillset is demanding in the market at the moment. If you’re working with a recruiter, they should be best placed to support you in this.

Focus on the impact you’ve had

Make sure you’ve got some tangible examples to talk through during your interview, which can highlight the impact that you’ve had during your previous roles and organisations. It means that it makes a more impactful statement when you’re speaking through these examples.

Think about your outfit

Think a little bit about what you’re going to wear and this is just as important for an in-person and a virtual interview. The last thing you want on the morning of is to be stressing about your outfit.

Check your tech

If you’re having a virtual interview, make sure that you’ve checked out your tech, ensure it’s working you’ve got a strong Wi-Fi connection and make sure that the area around you is clean and tidy.

Plan, plan, plan

On the other hand, if you’re doing an in-person interview, you need to plan your journey. Think about how you’re going to get there if you might encounter any delays and if you’re going to be parking where you’re going to park.

Get your rest!

And lastly, make sure you try and get a good night’s sleep beforehand. You want to be well-rested for your interview.

What’s next?

Hopefully, this set of tips help you feel prepared, confident and ready to nail that interview!

If you’re looking for more advice to help you in your job search, head over to our blog page, where we’ve got more interview, career and job search advice.

(You can also sign-up for our newsletter if you want advice straight to your inbox! Sign up here.)