Curated by the Knowledge Team of ICS Career GPS
Career
Tips to crack a Software Development Job Interview
Excerpts from article by Renee Johnson, published in the Tech Report
Preparing for an interview in software development requires most of the same strategies and preparation as other job interviews; however, there are aspects of software development job interviews that are unique to this field. The tips below cover both common interview strategies and special considerations for software development interviews.
1. Do your research
- You need to research the company. Know their products, mission statement, any large changes that have happened recently, etc. If your interviewers find that you do not know the company inside-out, it is usually grounds for disqualifying you as a candidate.
- Go to the company’s website, check their social media accounts, and reading the “About Us” page. You can also Google articles, press releases, and other tidbits of information.
- Know about the job too. This includes being sure that you know how to address anything that was mentioned in the job posting that you do not have on your resume.
- Look up general industry standards regarding what makes for a ‘fair salary’ and ‘job benefits’.
2. Be prepared for technical questions
- The interviewers want to know how you deal with roadblocks and challenging scenarios. The questions they ask are meant to be difficult and stressful.
- Step one is to fully understand the problem/assignment/question. That does not mean to read it once and get going; that means to read it twice and then outline it. This will allow you to be sure that you address every aspect of the problem at hand.
- Once you have outlined the prompt itself, it is time to outline a strategy to solve the problem. Don’t start coding until you fully understand exactly what you want the final product to be.
3. Create a portfolio website
- In the past, before the Internet, candidates would carry a big portfolio binder into the interview showing pictures, samples, and certifications, but you can now create your own stunning portfolio website instead.
- It does not matter if you are building your own site from scratch or using a WordPress-based theme, what is important is the website’s final appearance, content, and functionality. While an interviewer would probably be content to ask you a few questions about your previous work, showing them a portfolio website on your tablet that showcases all your best work will make a profound positive impression.
4. Other tips
Dress appropriately: Do your research and choose clothes based on how dressy or casual the workplace is.
Practise First: Before the day of your interview, or even just a few hours before, ask a friend or family member to help you practise. You can find many sites with sample interview questions to print out.
Make a Positive Impression: Make sure that you speak clearly and shake your interviewer’s hand firmly when you meet them, making eye contact as well. Sit up straight and don’t slouch.
Be On-Time or Early: Would you want to hire someone who can’t even be on time for an interview? Make it your goal to be on time or early.
Follow up: When you get home from your interview go ahead and send the interviewer a thank you email. It’ll show that you’re a polite and thoughtful person, and keep your name and face fresh in the interviewer’s mind.
Education
Inspirational: These companies survived the test of time
Excerpts from article published in Social Connects | LinkedIn
The COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent lockdowns have been among the biggest setbacks the global economy has faced lately. With many businesses, large and small, facing inordinately heavy and sudden losses, companies world over have been forced to let go of throngs of loyal employees and in dire situations, close their doors permanently.
With all of this disheartening news swirling around us, there is a comfort in reveling in the deeds of those that survived through the greatest of odds. Nothing inspires hope more than seeing history merge with the future, and these five American companies are the perfect examples of that. They have been around for centuries, witnessed wars, survived economic depressions, and have gone through every up and down the business world has to offer.
1. Caswell-Massey, 1752
Now a perfume and soap manufacturer and retailer, this company was started in the mid-18th century as an apothecary shop. It was set up in Rhode Island by Dr. William Hunter, who supplied “medicinals” and personal care products to high paying clients. Some of their original clientele include famous figures like George Washington and the esteemed explorers Lewis and Clark. Today, the company, based out of New Jersey, USA, sells high-end soaps and fragrances under the supervision of a private investment group.
2. The Hartford Courant, 1764
First called the Connecticut Courant (named after the state in which it was based) this business has gained fame as the oldest newspaper in America in continuous publication. It was established by printer Thomas Green in 1764 and went on to be the centerpiece of numerous interesting historical moments, including a lawsuit with Thomas Jefferson. The Courant continues to circulate 120,000 copies daily, and they are now owned by the Tribune Company.
3. Ames, 1774
This tool company had its beginning in 1774, when Captain John Ames, a blacksmith in Massachusetts, decided to sell his metal shovels in a more streamlined manner. These shovels purportedly went on to be used in historical events like the building of the transcontinental railways and interstate highways, and even the installation of the Statue of Liberty. Today, AMES continues to sell shovels, as well as a wide variety of other gardening and landscaping tools. It’s based out of Pennsylvania and is owned by a management company called Griffon Corporation.
4. Cigna, 1792
The company was originally called the Insurance Company of North America (INA). Created in 1792, it was a fully incorporated business by 1794, granting its first life insurance policies in favour of sea captains about to embark on dangerous journeys, complete with pirate-related clauses. In 1865, a special act signed by the Governor of Connecticut, where the company is now based, created the Connecticut General Life Insurance Co. (known as CG), which INA then merged with. Cigna continues to provide a variety of insurance services.
5. JP Morgan Chase, 1799
While it is now the largest bank in the country, its origins can be traced back to a waterworks project for New York City to be carried out by the Manhattan Company, founded by Aaron Burr. The contract happened to include a clause allowing Burr to operate the company as a bank following the successful completion of the waterworks venture. Through a series of mergers and landmark events under the leadership of the Morgan family, like getting Abraham Lincoln as a client and becoming a major investor in the building of railroads, the firm was given the name JP Morgan Chase & Co. early into the 19th century. It continues to thrive even today in numerous industries aside from banking.
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the article mentioned above are those of the author(s). They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of ICS Career GPS or its staff.)
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