My thoughts about interviews are focused on soft skills, not technical interviews. There are plenty of resources online to help with whiteboard interviews, take-home tests, or other technical challenges.
The interview process can be nerve-wracking, but keep this in mind: once you get past HR, the people you’ll be talking to are probably uncomfortable as well. They don’t interview often, and they don’t want to make a mistake either. Here are some things I do that help me during interviews:
Get Comfortable
If it’s an in-person interview (which is rare today), I sit back in the chair and get comfortable. Even in a virtual interview, try to appear comfortable. This helps the conversation flow naturally, making it more of a back-and-forth discussion rather than just a question-and-answer session.
Know When to Stop Talking
Once I’ve answered a question or made a joke, I stop talking and let the interviewer have a chance to speak or move on to the next question. Some interviewers might use the old trick of letting the silence hang, which can create tension and make you continue talking, possibly revealing more than you intended.
Share Relevant Stories
Sometimes, I share stories about how I would handle a particular situation. If I have an amusing or relevant experience related to the question, I go with it. This isn’t for everyone, but if you’re comfortable with storytelling, it can make your answers more engaging. Evaluate your skill in this area and act accordingly.
Be Honest About Your Knowledge
When asked how I would handle a technical situation, I do my best to answer truthfully. I expand on the question to the fullest extent of my knowledge, but no more than that. If the interviewer probes deeper into an area beyond my expertise, I say, “I don’t know.” It’s a complete and truthful answer. Pretending to know more than you do will likely be obvious, and if not, it can lead to uncomfortable situations later.
Avoid Discussing Salary Early On
I try to avoid talking about salary during an interview. I don’t want to price myself out of consideration or lowball my value. I usually say, “I’d rather discuss salary further down the road when we see if this relationship will work for both of us.” If pressed, I mention my current salary and add that more money is always nice, etc.
Practice
Interviewing is a skill. Like all skills, it takes practice to improve, and it can deteriorate if not used. So, how do you practice when there might be years between interview opportunities? Practicing with friends and family is fine, and you’ll see that recommended online almost everywhere. It’s practical and achievable, but nothing beats the real thing.
With that in mind, I’ll share something I’ve done that I’ve found helpful, though some might find it controversial. I’ve taken interviews for jobs I had no intention of accepting. This practice tells me two things: first, am I still marketable? Second, do I still have my interviewing “chops,” or do I need more practice?
You might think this wastes a company’s time and resources, and that’s true—it does. I don’t do this maliciously or with bad intent. However, consider this: you’ll rarely hear back about an interview unless it’s positive. It can be weeks, if ever, before you learn the employer has moved on. And there’s little chance you’ll get feedback about the interview or why they decided not to proceed. I understand this completely; the employer is in a difficult position where sharing negative feedback can have consequences for them.
So, they make the best decisions for themselves and their goals. That’s absolutely fair and understandable. Given that, I’m going to do the same for myself.