Nail Your Interview: How Tech Candidates Can Ace Their Answers to Common Questions

Feeling those pre-interview jitters creeping in? We understand that an interview is a make-or-break moment in the recruiting process. But it’s your time to shine, impress the hiring manager, and delve into the intricacies of the company’s working atmosphere. And for tech employers, it’s their chance to gauge whether you’re up for the challenge that comes with the tech role. From your skills, qualifications, and career background to your psychological stability, habits, and character traits, interview questions can cover a wide range of topics.

But fear not! It’s time to swat away those jitters and step into the interview room with confidence. With some preparation, thoughtful consideration, the right attitude, and a grasp of common interview questions, you can conquer the interview process like a pro. Whether you’re a seasoned tech guru or just starting out, we’re here to ensure that you not only ace your next big job interview but come out on top. Our comprehensive list of the most common interview questions and the best answers will equip tech candidates like you to sail through your interviews with flying colors. Get ready to show them what you’re made of!

 

Before you start

• Know what questions you’ll likely be asked. 

Every interviewer has their favorites, so brush up on the most common ones (like the checklist we gave further) and prepare answers that showcase your strengths and talents. Take time to practice beforehand so you feel confident going into the interview. Be conscious of the communication tone used in your answer, ensuring that it is professional and polite. Use examples from previous experiences or training in order to back up the value of the response. 

• Study the IT company.

No one likes surprises! Research the organization ahead of time to get a better understanding of their values, goals, and culture – this will give you an edge over the competition. When you understand the tech company mission, that knowledge lights through the interview and demonstrates that you care. Consider how your answers can be tailored to the company and focus on talking about what makes them unique and how it can benefit the organization.

 

• Control your non-verbal behavior.

Experienced interviewers know not only how to ask and listen, but also how to watch and understand non-verbal behavior. They know how to analyze body language: gestures, facial expressions, appearance, style, manners, and much more. Even an experienced candidate may fail if he has not behaved properly.

Think about your behavior habits in advance. If you have a habit of biting your nails or tapping your fingers on the table, cross your fingers or occupy your hands with some object, for instance, take a pen and a notebook. It is clear that you are nervous during the interview, but too many gestures can play a bad joke on you.

• Be yourself! 

Don’t forget to bring your unique personality to the table; stand out from the crowd with your sharp wit and enthusiasm for the job and show potential IT employers why you are the perfect fit for their tech team! 

 

Most common interview questions

• Tell me about yourself.

80% of interviews begin with this question. Your answer is supposed to be a self-presentation, the opportunity to immediately stand out and be remembered, especially considering that you can prepare in advance.

By asking this question HR managers mostly want to evaluate a candidate’s ability to express themselves succinctly, coherently, and competently. There’s no need to provide private info or try to get too close – recruiters just want to hear how you communicate. Do not quote the resume in its entirety. Talk for 2-3 minutes about only those facts from your biography that are relevant to the job and the company. 

Good answer: “After I graduated from A university, I got my first job in a B company, and worked as a tech pro. I was handling X clients and Y firms for 2 years (list your achievements briefly). Then I realized that I really enjoyed this profession and decided to build my career in IT direction. I took a few upskilling training sessions, learnt new software and techniques to boost my competence. And now I’d love to use the gained experience fully and multiply it here, in your company.”

Bad answer: “I’m just an ordinary guy”, “You can find out everything from my CV”, “I was born in 1984. Premature baby, 7 pounds 8 ounces…”

 

• Why do you want to work in this company?

Random candidates who don’t bring their A-game to the interview table, haphazardly seeking any job, and not this particular job in this particular company, get sidelined on this stage. IT companies need employees committed to upholding the team spirit and familiar with their products, procedures, and workplace environment. 

Help the recruiter to understand what you expect from the job and whether your values and the company’s values match. Explain why you think you and the employer are a good fit.

Good answer: “I have a lot of respect for your company’s products/services, and I’d be glad to work with the best experts in the technology field. Also, I have few friends working in the same industry who have told me about your company’s great attitude to employees and positive working environment which encourage innovations, creativity, and life-long learning. As my values and goals align in many ways with those of your company, I would fit very well here – especially in this particular role.”

Bad answer: “This is a great company, and I would love to work here.” “The office is close to my home.”, “Because you’re hiring!”

 

• Why should we hire you? 

With this question an IT employer gives you an opportunity to “sell yourself”, prove why you are a prize for the company. You need to show that you can solve the problems that will need to be solved in this position, help a tech organization outperform competitors and thrive.

The main thing is not to get confused and list your key skills, show where you can shine. Focus on your education, work experience, qualifications that differentiate you from the competition. Any statements you make need to be backed up with examples. Your answer should be aimed at meeting the needs of the employer.

Good answer: “I believe that I am a perfect fit for this job: I possess all the necessary skills that you are looking for in this tech role (list) and actually have some extra education and X years of experience in the IT industry. I feel passionate about my work, love new challenging tasks, learn fast and it leads to impressive results. Let me give you an example…”

Bad answer: “Well, I really need a job at the moment. I have been unemployed for a while and got some debts. My mom is starting to hassle me about it”, ”You’ll hire someone anyway, so why not me?”, “Because I’m awesome.”

• What are your greatest strengths? 

What can you offer the company? How can it benefit you? List your virtues that will be useful in this position but be sure to illustrate them with examples.

Remember, that tech employer has already heard standard answers which are usually indicated in the resume: attention to details, sociability, diligence, and others. He would like to learn the specific candidate’s qualities that can be useful at practice: great experience in concluding contracts, organizational skills in managing diverse teams, etc.

Good answer: “I am good at problem-solving, team management, negotiations and I try to find a personal approach to any client. Once we had a non-English speaking client from Arabian Emirates…” (give an example from your working experience when you used these qualities).

Bad answer: “I’m a good person”, “I can really see the best in people.”

 

• What are your weaknesses?

The key to answering this question is recognizing that everyone has shortcomings. IT hiring managers ask about your biggest weakness to gauge your self-awareness. Can you assess your current talents and identify areas for improvement? You must strategically choose which weaknesses to share in the interview. 

Do not talk about those shortcomings that can be interpreted as positive qualities. Tell better about what obstacles you faced and what you managed to overcome. For example, you were shy and reserved, but constant communication with clients at the previous workplace made you less anxious and more open-minded.

Good answer: “I found it difficult to work on parallel projects, preferring to finish one task before starting another. However, since I recently took a time management course, I have learned to manage my schedule more effectively, making it easier to multitask when needed. Once I had to…” (give an example from life when you used these qualities).

Bad answer: “Kryptonite”, “I work too hard”, “Can’t you see I’m perfect?”

 

• Why did you leave your last job?

The main rule here is to avoid the temptation to criticize the previous employer at all costs. Stay positive but try not to lie. The recruiter must be sure that the dismissal was not due to your low qualifications, that the interests and reputation of the previous employer were not harmed, and you will not resign from a new place for the same reasons.

You have several options to use. First, explain the change of work with everyday problems: inconvenient schedule, moving to another city. Secondly, if you often changed jobs, say that you were receiving attractive offers that you could not refuse. Don’t use “a new challenge” answer if you can’t back that up, because a tech recruiter will dig deeper. 

Good answer: “I have already achieved valuable results in my previous company (list examples), discussed possible career opportunities with the manager and understood that there are no prospects to grow vertically or gain experience in related projects. Therefore, I’m looking for another job with a larger area of responsibility.”

Bad answer: “Salary was too low”, “My ex-boss is a jerk.”

 

• Where do you see yourself in 1/3/5 years?

What the interviewer really wants to see is if you have thought about your future and gauge your ambitions. They want to make sure their company is not just a stopgap position.

While all your answers should be tailored to the organization and position you’re applying for, this is especially true of this question. Be passionate about your sector. Adapt your career goals to the goals of the organization, show ambition and use your strengths. If you’re looking for an entry-level position, explain how you’d like your career to develop. If you are applying for a management role, show how you would promote the company. 

Good answer: “I’d like to master my skills and become a senior software engineer”, “I plan to use my experience in project management to bring this company to the international market” “I see myself as a tech team leader”, 

Bad answer: “Never thought about it”, “On the other side of this table.”

 

• How do you handle stress and pressure? 

Is your nerve steadfast or do you buckle under pressure? The employer wants to ensure that you can stay chill despite the tension of deadlines and tight situations. Being able to go staunchly against adversity is a remarkable ability to have.

Give an example of a time when you managed to keep your cool in the face of adversity. Recognize that this may be a developing skill and describe the efforts you’re doing to improve your ability to handle stress in the future. You may mention, for instance, that you use yoga practice, meditation, or release stress at the gym.

Good answer: ”In fact, a little stress is a good motivator for me to meet deadlines and be productive. Nevertheless, I try to plan my time so that I can work calmly without creating stressful situations. Besides, I pay attention to my psychological health, visit the swimming pool twice a week and plan my vacations in advance to avoid burnout.”

Bad answer: “I try to catch up with normal sleep on the weekend”, “Bud Wiser, sometimes bourbon.”

 

• What are your salary expectations?

Oh, these flirting conversations about money, this bargaining with the opposite interests of the seller and the buyer! It is clear that you are acting as a seller of yourself here. Therefore, you must understand the labor market of your sector. Find out how much the average specialist earns in this position, in this region and in this niche. Then determine your place on the line and index a range.

Keep in mind the general rule of thumb when talking about money – the first to speak loses. So ideally, don’t specify a number. Instead, ask a counter question about the vacancy budget. If the interviewer continues to insist, take a wide interval, and say what you can answer more specifically at a later stage of communication.

Good answer: “And what range do you typically pay other workers with similar experience and skills? According to my research, the average salary for tech professionals is from X to Y. I focus on a similar number (or 15-30% more/less because ….)”

Bad answer: “As high as you can offer.”

 

• Do you have any questions?

Never EVER say that you have no questions. This is a right way to show you’re not interested in this particular company and role and just searching for any job in the niche.

Ask about the trial period, career development opportunities, training programs, whether there will be business trips and irregular work schedules. Inquire what the IT leader thinks the ideal candidate for this position should be like. Show interest in the company: clarify something about its competitors, internal personnel policy, and structure, and simply the company’s development plans for the coming years.

Good answer: “Yes”. No exceptions.

Bad answer: “No, I’m fine.”

 

Whatever your answers are, don’t give in to the temptation to improvise or respond suddenly. It will never turn out as well as you expect. There’s no need to write a script, but a clear understanding of what you want to get from the job should be a standard part of the preparation process and just as important as searching for company information before the interview.

Are you on the path to realizing your dream career? Allow Bateman Fox to equip you with the tools to propel yourself towards success. Connect with me or any of my esteemed colleagues at Bateman Fox to discover how to leave a lasting impression with tech recruiters and secure your ideal job. Let us make this journey together – it’s time to take destiny into your own hands.