Archive for August, 2009
Why Every IT Professional Should Do a Mock Interview?
When was the last time that you had an interview? If it has been awhile since your last job interview, you may want to consider doing a few practice runs. These practice runs are commonly referred to as mock interviews.
One of the benefit to doing mock interviews before a real job interview is your options. Most IT job seekers try to use their friends and family members for practice. If this an approach that you would like to take, you will want to have your partner ask you common job interview questions, such what your strengths and weaknesses are.
Be sure to answer with professional responses, just as if you would in real job interview. You can also do a mock interview in front of your mirror. While this approach isn’t as realistic, it can help you practice your intended interview questions.
Another one of the many benefits to doing mock interviews, before you have a real interview, is the practice that you will receive. It is no secret that job interviews can be nerve-wracking. Even if this isn’t your first job interview, they can still cause you nervousness.
Many IT IT job seekers find that holding mock job interviews with their friends or family members helps to ease the nervousness often associated with job interviews. In fact, many also have reported a slight increase in confidence.
Preparation is another one of the many benefits of mock interviews. The goal of a mock or practice interview is to help you prepare for an upcoming job interview. This preparation may include answering common interview questions in a timely matter, giving a proper greeting, as well as departing properly from a job interview. If this is your first job interview or if you haven’t attend a job interview in awhile now, you may be unsure as to how the process will proceed. Mock interviews are not only a great way to calm your nerves, but they can also give you guidance, which can help you sail through your next job interview like a breeze.
If you are able to do a mock interview with a close friend or family member, you may get a number of pointers. Using other individuals, especially those who are known for their unbiased opinions is the best way to examine your job interview approach. If your friends or family members have any suggestions, like tips on how you can improve your answers, you may want to consider their suggestions. In, fact, you may learn something new or important by doing a mock interview with your friends or family members.
As outlined above, there are a number of benefits to doing a mock interview with a close friend or family member. As a reminder, it is also possible for you to practice in front of a mirror, but you may have the best luck with someone who can give you feedback or provide you with helpful suggestions.
To your IT career success,
Ivan Hurt
The IT and Technology Career Strategist
Safe Questions to Ask during an IT Job Interview
Okay, you put your IT resume online. You are getting calls for interviews. You are about to go to the interview with a IT recruiter or IT hiring manager and you don’t know what questions to ask.You’ve been told that asking questions during the interview is crucial to getting the job, but you don’t know what questions to ask.
Not asking any questions during an IT job interview gives the impression that you are not a leader, just a follower.
You don’t want to leave this type of impression.
Here are some safe questions to ask:
- What would your workdays or workweeks be like?
- What type of tasks would you be required to complete?
- Are there any plans for expansion?
Here are some questions to ask only ask this question if the interviewer works directly for the company:
- Does the company in question tend to promote from the inside up or do they hire new employees?
- How you like working for their company?
Again use these questions on your next IT interview.
To your IT career success,
Ivan Hurt
The IT and Technology Career Strategist
Tale of 2 Tech Graduates
Let me tell you the tale of two tech graduates.
One who let others decide their fate and is still unemployed
One who took control of their IT career and found a job.
If you’ve been under a rock for the past week, you’ve probably been reading headlines like,
Jobless Woman Sues College for Tuition
Jobless Grad Sues NYC College
IT grad sues school over failed job hunt
According to the New York Post, a student is suing her school the Monroe College for $70,000; she spent on tuition because she can’t find a job. She claims the college hasn’t done enough to find her a job. According to some reports, she has a GPA of 2.7. She says that the school’s Office of Career Advancement hasn’t provided her with the leads and career advice it promises.
After reading this story, it reminded me of a young college student, Kyle, who became a client of mine in the past month. Kyle goes graduated about a month ago with a bachelor’s degree in business management with a concentration in IT. He didn’t have a spectacular GPA. In fact, his GPA was 2.8, not great but not the end of the world either.
Kyle took charge of his future, while she relied on the school to provide her leads.
The reason I mention this is that Kyle paid for expert advice while she relied on the career office.
My advice to all tech graduates is to seek professional help with your job search or sue the school and be unemployed.
To your IT career success,
Ivan Hurt
The IT and Technology Career Strategist
