Skillcrush Ug Tech Interview PDF

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST

TECH JOB
The Ultimate Guide to
INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
The Ultimate Guide to Interviewing For Your First Tech Job 1

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
You just opened one of those emails, the kind

that makes your heart race and your hand reach
compulsively to text your mom. You got an interview!!
And then comes the delayed reaction. ::Gulp:: I got an

interview?
Putting your skills (and dreams) on display for a

potential employer is hard enough, but if you just
learned new tech skills and are going into your very
first tech job interview? Well, that comes with its own
set of worries: What if I don’t know enough yet? What
are they going to ask me to do in the interview? How
am I going to explain my history as an HR manager?!
Fear not! In this guide, you’re going to learn EXACTLY

how to ace the entire process of interviewing for your
first tech job.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS

ULTIMATE GUIDE:
WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE INTERVIEW
HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE INTERVIEW
HOW TO ACT DURING THE INTERVIEW
WHAT TO DO AFTER THE INTERVIEW

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
WHAT TO EXPECT IN
your INTERVIEW

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB TECH BUSINESS TERMS TO KNOW
AGILE
A style of product development and project management that divides work
up into small, manageable chunks, so it’s easy to reevaluate and readjust
frequently.
Example: Have you ever worked on an agile product development team?
Translation: Have you ever worked on a team that works collaboratively and at
a fast pace, and schedules frequent check-ins to reevaluate the strategy?
LEAN
A term often used for startups that involves testing products early and being
strategic about growth so that a company can start making money before it
runs out of money.
Example: Have you ever worked on a lean startup team?
Translation: Do you know how to work on a fast-paced team that evolves quickly
and on a tight budget?
ITERATION
Testing, reevaluating, and changing the plan frequently throughout a project.
Example: We like to constantly reevaluate and reiterate our projects.
Translation: We like to check out how well a project is doing and then change
the plan on the fly. That way we don’t invest a ton of hours and money into
something only to find out it doesn’t work or our users didn’t want it!

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
SCOPE
The size of a project in terms of cost, hours, and resources invested.
Example: Scope creep is the stuff of my nightmares.
Translation: I dread situations where a project seems like it will take a certain
amount of hours and resources and it turns out to grow and grow into a
monster Godzilla project that drains the life out of me!
STAKEHOLDER
Someone with a stake or interest in a company or project.
Example: We need to find a way to communicate this plan to our key

stakeholders.
Translation: Bob is spending $20,000 on this site and expected it would be done
Thursday. We better tell him we’re going to change the release date to next week.
SCALABILITY
The measure of whether a practice or system will be effective if a company

grows.
Example: I just don’t think this is a good plan in terms of scalability.
Translation: This solution works now, but as our company (and this project)
grows, it won’t be sustainable. We need a longterm solution.

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
MVP
Minimum Viable Product: The most basic, trimmed down version of a product
needed to test if it’s going to pay off.
Example: Let’s get an MVP finished so we can start user testing.
Translation: Let’s create a basic, barebones version of this website so we can see
if our users even like the idea before spending $$$ building it out.
TRACTION
The difficult-to-measure concept of how well an idea or business is taking off.
Example: It’s only been 2 weeks and we’re noticing some really great
traction!
Translation: Our startup is growing exponentially! Sales are still climbing and
our email subscribership is up 35% since Tuesday.
QA
Quality assurance, or quality control.
Example: Can you send this to Audrey for QA?
Translation: Can you get Audrey to check that this is all up to our standards,
working correctly, and free of glitches and bugs?

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
WHAT KIND OF QUESTIONS TO

EXPECT
Most tech job interviews will include one or more of
these questions. (Inside secret: they’re all getting their
questions from Google!) Here’s an outline of what to
expect, and some hints on how to provide the best
answers.
Q WHAT LANGUAGES / DESIGN TOOLS DO YOU KNOW?
This one is pretty straightforward. Start with what you’re most comfortable with and
then describe skills you’re learning now.
Q WHAT IS YOUR DEVELOPMENT / DESIGN PROCESS?
Don’t let this one scare you! There’s no wrong answer. The interviewer wants to
know that you think through problems in advance and have a systematic, yet
flexible method of working through a project. Be sure to emphasize how you would
adapt to a team environment.
Q WHAT KIND OF PROJECTS HAVE YOU WORKED ON LATELY?
Don’t just say what the project is—describe all the work you put into it.

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
WHAT KIND OF TEAMS HAVE YOU WORKED ON?

Q
WHAT’S YOUR ROLE BEEN IN THE TEAM?
Stay positive! Talk about a great trick you’ve found for collaborating with others or the
specific role you played that helped others do their jobs. If you’ve never worked on a
team, talk about what you’re excited about!
Q WHY ARE YOU INTERESTED IN THIS JOB?
It’s easy to start gushing about how much you want to take control of your career
and make more money in an exciting field. Instead, put the focus on the employer.
What about the company’s values, goals, or products makes you so attracted to
the position? What makes you especially suited to help the company reach its goals?
WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES YOU DIFFERENT THAN

Q
OTHER CANDIDATES?
This is a great place to make your past experience an asset rather than a hindrance.
Talk about the special expertise you got in other positions and the fresh-faced
excitement you have about tech.
WHAT ARE YOUR SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM

Q
CAREER GOALS?
Now isn’t the time to be timid. Share your biggest dreams and show how you can
grow at the company and help the company grow too. Often, hiring managers will
value your potential more than they will your specific skills.

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
WHAT CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENT ARE YOU MOST

Q PROUD OF? WHY?
Take this time to emphasize a tech project and really spell out what made it such a
milestone for you.
HOW WOULD YOUR CURRENT COLLEAGUES AND

Q
SUPERVISORS DESCRIBE YOU?
What are you a go-to person for? These don’t have to be tech-specific. If you earned
a reputation for putting out fires as an insurance adjustor, play it up!
HOW DO YOU STAY ON TOP OF THE LATEST TRENDS AND

Q NEWS IN YOUR INDUSTRY?
Don’t just say, “I check Twitter.” Mention specific magazines, blogs, newsletters, and
industry leaders.
Q WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR FREE TIME?
Let your quirkiness shine through!

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
WHAT KIND OF CODE TESTS OR

EXERCISES TO EXPECT
For a lot of junior developers, the prospect of a code

test is one of the scariest things about interviewing
for a tech job.
And let’s be real: just like taking the SAT or auditioning

for band is a nerve wracking experience, putting your
code skills on display can be intimidating.
In other words, it’s okay to be nervous about the code test.
But know this. A code test serves several important

functions:
It shows the interviewers if your skills on paper match
up with reality.
The code test is gut check for you and the
employer. Being slightly out of your comfort zone
is a good thing, but it’s still a good idea to take
things one step at a time rather than leaping from,
say, coding in HTML to building a database from
scratch.
It shows the interviewers how you work through
problems and what you do if you get stuck.
If you get stuck in the code test, don’t give up! Ask
questions for clarification, and ask if it’s okay to
use Google, which is a method you would use in
real life to solve a tough code problem.
And it gives you an opportunity to learn something.
And it’s good practice to view a code test as a
learning experience. Every interview you go on
teaches you *that much* more about the field of
tech and makes you more qualified for the next
interview.

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
COMMON CODE TESTS AND

CHALLENGES
Here are some examples of the kinds of challenges or
tasks you should be prepared for, depending on your
skill set:
DESIGN HTML & CSS
• Review or QA a website design

• De-bug HTML or CSS code
• Design a website element (like a
navigation menu or layout) • Code a website element (like
a menu or a button)
• Design a web page
• Create or re-create a simple
• Show your skills with a tool like web page
Photoshop or Omnigraffle
JAVASCRIPT & JQUERY RUBY OR RUBY ON RAILS
• De-bug JavaScript or jQuery code

• De-bug Ruby or Ruby on Rails
• Analyze JavaScript code and code
determine its output
• Solve problems like those on
• Create objects, methods, or arrays Project Euler or Code Katas
• Refactor some code • Create simple Ruby or Ruby
on Rails apps
• Solve problems like FizzBuzz
or the Fibonacci sequence

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
HOW TO RESPOND WHEN YOU

DON’T KNOW THE ANSWER
Remain calm. Do NOT panic. You can do this! Those

should be the first thoughts running through your
head if the code test looks confusing. By starting with
a deep breath and reassuring yourself, you’ll seem
calm and collected—traits that any boss would like to
see in a potential employee.
Once you’re ready to tackle the test, start by

confirming that you understand the instructions. You
can say something like, “So, the question is…” or “I
want to make sure I understand what you’re looking
for…” And don’t hesitate to ask for more details or
information, especially if you can explain how it
would affect your approach to the challenge.
Then, don’t silently contemplate it in your mind or

scribble solutions on the whiteboard. SPEAK UP! The
interviewer is as interested in (or maybe even more
interested in) how you come up with answers than
whether or not you get it right. They want to know
how you approach problems and work through them.
And, even if you feel totally stumped by the problem,

you need to at least try to solve it. Employers want
patient and persistent workers, NOT ones that throw
their hands up in despair at the first sign of trouble.
So, forget the phrase “I don’t know” and replace it
with “Let me think,” followed by the steps above.

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
HOW TO PREPARE FOR

your INTERVIEW

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
WHAT TO DO THE WEEK BEFORE
Research the company.
Figure out exactly what their mission is and how you

can make their lives easier.
Research the interviewer and the supervisors and

employees.
Now’s not the time to be shy about a little social

media stalking. Find out as much as you can about the
employer and your potential team.
Review the job description and mark any areas for

clarification.
Now that you landed the interview, take a look back at

the original job listing and make sure you know exactly
what the company is looking for.
Make sure your personal website and portfolio are in

tiptop shape.
Make sure all your projects are prominently displayed

in your portfolio, and check that your site looks great
on different screens and devices and is free from
glitches or missing links.
Review common tech business terms.
Review industry lingo before jumping into the hotseat,

and give yourself a week to let it all sink in!
Complete the Pre-Interview Prep Worksheet

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
Make sure you have business cards and resumés

printed.
You never know if the company you’re applying at is

fully digital or would prefer physical copies of your
business card and resumé. Bring some just in case.
Also, designers, check ahead of time about whether
you should bring a physical portfolio (if you have one!).

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
WHAT TO DO THE DAY BEFORE
Iron out your transportation details!
Don’t waste time and energy panicking about train

transfers the day of the interview.
Get your clothes ready.
Make sure your outfit of choice is clean and crisp!
Charge your laptop and clean up your desktop.
You don’t want to open up your laptop only to have

your interviewer see the 34 tabs you had open about
Beyoncé’s vegan diet plan, or a desktop filled to the
brim with screenshots and other digital detritus.
Read some interesting tech news.
It will give you something to talk about during any lulls

at the interview and show that you’re on top of tech
industry news.
Code something simple.
In case your interviewer asks you about a recent

project, why not make sure it’s fresh in your mind?
Eat something healthy and get some good rest!

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU
Resumés
Business cards
Physical portfolio (if applicable)
Your laptop and charger
A notepad and pen or pencil for jotting quick notes
Small water bottle (optional)
Mints (optional)

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
WHAT TO WEAR
Maybe one day, when remote jobs are the norm,

we won’t have to worry about what to wear to the
interview. These days, your outfit still communicates a
lot about who you are.
The trouble is, in tech, it can be especially tough

to gauge what’s appropriate. In an industry where
Converse sneakers and skinny jeans are acceptable
office attire, what do you wear to the interview? The
answer is that it depends. :P
Research the company to get an idea of the

appropriate dress
Follow The Muse’s advice and spend some of that

company “research” time stalking the company’s
social media pages. What do they wear to the
office? Showing up in a silk cravat or decked out in
a suit and slingbacks might harm your cause if the
office is more casual. Show that you have a good
concept of the company culture.
Wear what makes you comfortable and confident
All that said, wear what you feel confident in. If the
stereotypical developer’s plaid button-down feels
all wrong, don’t try to fit into what you think you
have to be. Rather, wear your version of polished
but comfortable attire.

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
HOW TO ACT DURING

your INTERVIEW

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
HOW TO TALK ABOUT YOUR PAST

EXPERIENCE (OUTSIDE OF TECH)
Companies don’t expect you to have decades of

experience in tech. In fact, they might actually prefer
it if you have experience from other areas and
industries. A fresh or innovative perspective could be
exactly what they’re looking for.
So be proud of your past! And rather than just giving

a rundown of what you did in your “former life,” show
how your experience will be useful in this new role.
For example, if you used to be in customer service
but are now getting into web design, you can talk
about how your client-focus helps you create better
user personas or listen more carefully when user
testing.
Also remember to emphasize your “soft skills.”

Collaboration, communication, and hard work are
critical in tech too, so think of ways you can bring up
how you gained or used those talents in your past
jobs. And don’t forget the power of a unique example
or an interesting story.
Example:
I’ve spent the last 5 years listening to customers and learning to
understand and solve their problems first hand. Because of that keen
attention to user experience, I’m thorough when it comes to planning
websites that are tied to real users at every stage.
I’ve also honed the ability to take user feedback into account and make
changes during a project and at a fast pace. That requires communicating
with everyone from the product developers and designers to the
customers themselves.

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
HOW TO TALK ABOUT YOUR

TRAINING
Are you a self-taught coder? Did you get a degree
in graphic design and then learn web design in an
online course? Did you complete a Skillcrush Career
Blueprint?
However you got your skills, you need to be ready to

talk about your education. This is the time to make
sure you reference all those tech terms that were
listed as must-haves in the job ad. You know: HTML,
CSS, wireframes, Git, command line, etc.
And be prepared to give details about the courses

you’ve done—Where? How long? What topics? What
kind of projects? Talking through everything you’ve
learned can take the emphasis away from the fact
that you’re entering a new field and onto the hard
work you’ve already done to make the switch.
Example:
In my Skillcrush Career Blueprint, I took 3 classes.
In the first class, I worked on user experience and design theories and got
really good at taking a vague idea of a brand or product and translating
that into something that appeals to actual users. I used tools like
Photoshop to create wireframes, moodboards, and typography pairings.
In my second class, I figured out how to get into Sublime and turn all of
that into clean, organized code and use FTP to launch a website built with
HTML + CSS.
Then in my third class, I learned to make a site interactive by incorporating

vanilla JavaScript and jQuery plugins. By the end of the blueprint, I had
several small projects to showcase, as well as a personal website.
INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
THINGS TO ASK
Phew! You survived the Q&A and all the design or
code challenges. Now it’s YOUR turn to do some
interviewing. That’s right—interviewers expect you
to have some questions for them. After all, if you
really want the job, you should be eager for more
information about the position, the team, and the
company.
Here are 10 questions you can have at the ready

for your interview (if they’re not already answered
in the job ad, on the company website, or in Google
searches you do beforehand):
What projects or products will I be working on?
What tools will I be using?

Who will I be working on the same team with?

How will my work be evaluated?
How would you describe the company culture?
What’s a typical working day like for this position?
Where could I expect to see myself in one year

( 3-5 years) in this company?
What are the biggest challenges the company is

facing right now?
What are the biggest opportunities for the

company right now?
Are there any concerns you have about my

qualifications?

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
EXUDING CONFIDENCE
No matter what comes up during the interview, stay
strong and stay sure of yourself. You might not turn
out to be a fit for this job, but, in any case, you DO
have valuable skills and qualities, and you WILL find
that job you’re dreaming of.
To boost your confidence before or after an interview

and remind yourself of the awesomeness that is you,
take a look at advice from women in tech who’ve
overcome their doubts in the How to Stop Second
Guessing Yourself IMMEDIATELY article on the
Skillcrush blog. And download the FREE Emergency
Checklist for Stopping Self-Doubt FAST for those
times when you need an extra boost.

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
WHAT TO DO AFTER
your INTERVIEW

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
WHEN YOU GET HOME

POST-INTERVIEW WORKSHEET
Make sure to fill out the post-

interview worksheet as soon as
you get home, when everything is
still fresh in your mind.
NEXT DAY
THANK YOU EMAIL
Send a quick note thanking
the interviewer for thinking of
you, and feel free to ask any
2
questions, share any information
or projects, or fill in any gaps that NEXT WEEK
were left after the interview. FOLLOW-UP EMAIL
Send a follow-up email saying

you’re still excited about the job,
and let them know about any
relevant projects you’ve worked
on, or (even better) solutions or
ideas you’ve come up with for
the company.
IF REJECTED
FEEDBACK EMAIL
If you don’t get the job, send an

email asking for feedback. What
did they like about you? What could
you have done better? What skills
did they want you to have?

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
NEED more SKILLS?

CHECK OUT THE SKILLCRUSH
BLUEPRINTS!

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
WEB DESIGNER
BLUEPRINT
Are you infatuated with the idea of being a digital

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you love the idea of being an online educator or
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web-designer!
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DESIGN JQUERY AND APIS
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First
TechTech
JobJob 27
2
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INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
WEB DEVELOPER
BLUEPRINT
Product design sounds like a pretty cool gig, huh?

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Waiting For? The Web Developer Blueprint is a 3-month long Blueprint
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instructors there at every step along the way! Find out
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Your Blueprint is structured around three core classes:
HTML AND CSS JAVASCRIPT, RUBY, GIT AND

JQUERY AND APIS SINATRA
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a Interviewing
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TechTech
JobJob 28
INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
ADVANCED BLUEPRINTS
If you are already comfortable using HTML and CSS, or
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Freelance WordPress
Developer
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INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
Ruby on Rails Developer

Learn More
FIND OUT WHEN THE NEXT ENROLLMENT BEGINS

Ask any industry pro what technology you should learn
to build custom web applications and they will all say the
same thing: Ruby on Rails. What makes Rails so special
is that it is both incredibly complex and unbelievably
simple, making it the perfect choice for beginners and
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INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
Mobile Web Designer

Blueprint
If you’ve ever built a website, chances are, you’ve heard

the question, “Is it mobile friendly?” With more and more
users accessing the Internet from mobile devices, creating
responsive websites has never been more important.
If you are a smartphone addict and are obsessed with
streamlining the mobile experience, then Responsive
Web Design and Development is for you. And if you want
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tech company (or meet the demands of freelance clients),
responsive design skills are a must.
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R: 59 R: 42
G: 59 G: 42
B: 59 B: 42

SOME HEADLINE
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To design and build mobile-friendly sites

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B: 59 B: 42

#3b3b3b #2b2b2b
To optimize designs for the mobile web

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G: 59 G: 42
B: 59 B: 42
SOME HEADLINE
To create interactive, adaptive user experiences
What Are You

Waiting For?
Invest In Yourself,
SIGN UP NOW

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
PRE-INTERVIEW WORKSHEET
THINGS TO BE SURE TO TELL ABOUT YOURSELF
What are your tech skills?

Your Answer
What are your non-tech skills?

Your Answer
What kind of work are you most excited about?

Your Answer
What projects have you worked on lately?

Your Answer
What would you like to build/work on next?

Your Answer
In what areas do you want to grow?

Your Answer

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
COMPANY RESEARCH
What kind of work does the company do?

Your Answer
How old is the company and what can you tell

about it’s history?
Your Answer
What kind of clients to they have?

Your Answer
How big is their team?

Your Answer
Who will you be working with (as far as you can tell)?
Your Answer
What is the company culture or attitude like?

Your Answer
What kind of community or volunteer work do they do?

Your Answer

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
MAKE A LIST OF QUESTIONS YOU HAVE

FOR THE COMPANY

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
PRACTICE ANSWERING INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
What languages / design tools do you know?

Your Answer
What is your development / design process?

Your Answer
What kind of projects have you worked on lately?

Your Answer
What kind of teams have you worked on? What’s your role been in the team?
Your Answer
Why are you interested in this job?

Your Answer
What do you think makes you different than other candidates?

Your Answer
What are your short-term and long-term career goals?

Your Answer

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
What career accomplishment are you most proud of? Why?

Your Answer
How would your current colleagues and supervisors describe you?

Your Answer
How do you stay on top of the latest trends and news in your industry?
Your Answer
What do you like to do in your free time?

Your Answer
And check out these more specific lists of job interview

questions to prepare for:
For developers: How to Nail Your First Developer

Interview and Land a Lucrative New Gig
For designers: The Most Common Interview Questions

for Web Designers
For remote jobs: 18 Remote Job Interview

Questions

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
POST-INTERVIEW WORKSHEET
JOT DOWN INFORMATION ABOUT THE JOB, TEAM,
AND COMPANY THAT YOU LEARNED:
Who would you be working with?

Your Answer
What kind of projects would you work on?

Your Answer
Was there room for growth/moving up?

Your Answer
What went well?

Your Answer
What didn’t go well?

Your Answer
What tech skills did you find out you need?

Your Answer

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
What did you like about the job, team, and company?
Your Answer
What did you not like about the job, team, and company?
Your Answer
What would you do differently in your next interview?

Your Answer
What information do you wish you’d found out?

Your Answer

Is there any small project or idea you can flesh out and send over to the interviewer to
show you’re still thinking about their company and their goals? For example, did they say
they needed a plugin for their website? Take a go at it and send it over!
Your Answer
Other notes

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
AND WHAT IF THIS IS A DIGITAL

INTERVIEW?
Original article by Leslie Zaikis
You’ve landed the interview of your dreams. It’s for

a remote job that pays more than you ever thought
you could make working part-time (or maybe it’s for
that international gig you’ve been daydreaming of). In
short, you are over the moon!
But the interview is over Skype and you are petrified.

Of course, you’ll try to look natural and you’ll
rehearse what you should say. But what if there is a
terrible echo? Is it okay to join the interview sitting
in bed in your room? (Where else will you find a
background that hides your messy apartment!?)
You’ve got this. Read on for a list of absolutely

everything to do, from your tech setup to “designing
your set,” to making sure you look and sound
fantastic on your video interview.
Check out our

blog post:
11 Tech Tips for a
Stress-Free Video
Interview
CLICK HERE

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
1. GET HEADPHONES
If you do nothing else to prepare for a video chat,

do this one thing: use headphones. An echo ruins a
video chat, fast. And lags in connection and internet
blips can easily create an echo, delay, or other sound
disruption that can be lessened with headphones.
People will forgive your video quality, but they won’t
forgive your sound. If the person on the other end
can’t understand what you are saying, you’re in
trouble!
So, dig up those headphones that came with your

first iPhone, or buy a pair of cheap headphones with
a mic. (For example, Skullcandy makes a pair for
$20.) Your sound will be crisper, the risk of echo will
be reduced drastically, and those sirens and dogs
barking in the background won’t get in the way of the
great impression you’re making on screen!
2. DOWNLOAD THE NECESSARY TECH
Most video chat systems require time to download

either an application or a plugin. Do a quick search of
the technology that your video interview is using, and
see what you need to prepare.
Two common (and free!) platforms to use are Google

Hangout and Skype. There is a quick plugin for Google
Note: even if you don’t Hangout that requires a browser restart (download
have headphones here), and an easy application download for Skype
with a mic, regular old (find your version here). There are hundreds of other
headphones will work to
video platforms that you could use, such as Cisco
reduce the echo as well. A
sketchy set of headphones WebEx and GoToMeeting, so setting aside 15 minutes
is better than no set of before your interview to make sure you have the right
headphones. tech downloaded will ensure you are prepared!

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
3. TEST YOUR INTERNET
Being on a video chat requires solid, fast internet

speed. Starbucks Free WiFi just isn’t gunna cut it.
Test the internet speed at the location where you are
going to be joining the video interview by running a
free test at speedtest.net. Google recommends an
upload and download speed of at least 4 Mbps for a
solid video connection.
Also, wireless internet signal can fade in and out. If

you have an ethernet cable handy (they usually come
free with your internet router or you can purchase
one on Amazon for less than $10), plug it in to ensure
you have a steady connection.
4. CHECK YOUR SOUND INPUTS AND OUTPUTS
Do a quick check of your sound settings to make

sure everything is set correctly. Every video chat
system has slightly different settings, but most will
default to “built-in audio,” which means the speakers
and microphone on your computer. If you are using
headphones and there is an option to set to your
headphone audio (and microphone) instead, click it!
On Skype, you can try speaking and watch the audio

bar rise and fall with your volume.
Skype sound settings video interview
If you are using Google Hangout, try playing a

test sound to make sure you can hear in your
headphones.

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
5. PLUG IN YOUR CHARGER
Video drains your battery more than nearly any other

program you can run on your computer. If you are
taking your video interview using a laptop or tablet,
charging it to 100% is a great idea. An even better
idea is to have your laptop plugged in! Sort through
your closets and find an extension cord if you need
it so that you can be in the best position and not run
out of juice in the middle of your call.
6. DESIGN YOUR “SET”
Actively think about setting up what is behind you

in the shot for your video interview. As executive
recruiter Jennifer Johnson shared, being in a big
room and having too much depth behind you can
be distracting. It’s best to position yourself a few
feet from a wall, and have one or two tasteful decor
components in the background. For example, a
painting, a plant, or an organized bookshelf. Imagine
meeting with the CEO of a huge company, and think
about what how their desk is positioned: try to create
the same setup for yourself. A white wall absolutely
works, but if you have the time to “design” your set, it
can certainly boost the impression you make!
7. BRING YOUR CAMERA TO EYE LEVEL
“It looks like I have a double chin!” That was Laura

Belgray’s reaction when we started to set her up for
her fantastic Skillcrush webinar. You know what she’s
talking about: you look down at your laptop, while
your chair has you perched up high, and the camera
hits you at possibly the least-flattering angle of your
neck you’ve ever seen.

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
Prop your laptop up so that you are looking at the

camera at eye level, instead of down. Use a few
textbooks, a pile of magazines, or even a rectangular
tissue box to set your laptop up a few inches on your
desk. It makes you look relaxed and composed, is
a more flattering angle, and saves you from neck
cramps.
Prop your laptop up so that you are looking at the

camera at eye level, instead of down. Use a few
textbooks, a pile of magazines, or even a rectangular
tissue box to set your laptop up a few inches on your
desk. It makes you look relaxed and composed, is
a more flattering angle, and saves you from neck
cramps.
8. LIGHT FROM THE FRONT
A cardinal mistake of newbies on video interviews is to

have light shining from the background. If you have a
big window with a view, why not show it off?
Doh! You want the (spot)light on your face, not on the

background! Think about getting your school pictures
taken (I know, I know, terrible memories of braces. But
bear with me on the analogy…). Where did that huge,
blinding flash come from? Directly in front of you! So
when you setup your video interview or chat, think
about your school pictures and place your lighting in
the front.
Natural lighting is best, so face towards a window if

you can. If you are in a darker room, or you are getting
on video chat in the evening, find a lamp that you can
plugin and place about a foot in front of your laptop to
give you some good lighting. (Just relying on the lighting
from your laptop might give an eerily creepy glow…) If
you have the time, take the extra step and take away,

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
turn down, or turn off the lights behind you, as well.

9. CHECK YOURSELF OUT
Before you go live, make sure to check that your

video camera works and that you look great on
screen! But, you don’t want to login to your interview
while you’re checking your setup. Instead, use
another program to see how you look before going
live.
The easiest way to test how you look is the audio/

video settings in Skype. Once you open up Skype,
click “Preferences” from the menu and open up the
Audio/Video tab. Your camera will turn on and you
will see yourself!
If you don’t have access to Skype, there’s a great

workaround for testing out how you look on Google
Hangout. Pop into Google Calendar and open
up a meeting invite. There is an option to join by
Video Call (see the bottom field in the screenshot
below). Click that, and you’ll open up a Hangout with
yourself.
10. DO A TEST CHAT
The best way to know that everything will work

Quick tip: haven’t correctly is to do a test run! Try out the technology
talked to your roommate you are using in a test call before your interview or
from college in a while? chat starts. Setup everything as close to the way you
Instead of giving her a call will do it on interview day to make sure you have all
by phone, see if she’s up variables under control.
for jumping on a video
chat! You get to test your Quick tip: haven’t talked to your roommate from
sound and audio so you college in a while? Instead of giving her a call by
feel confident that it works, phone, see if she’s up for jumping on a video chat!
and catch up with a great You get to test your sound and audio so you feel
friend while you’re at it. confident that it works, and catch up with a great

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
friend while you’re at it.

11. THINK SOLID + BRIGHT
Bright colors look amazing on video. Avoid wearing

stripes, paisley, and the like, as the detail can come
across as fuzzy and distracting on video. (Ever notice
how the best dressed at Hollywood awards shows
are usually the solid, bold colored dresses, and the
outfits that crash and burn are often patterns?).
Particularly outstanding colors for camera include
scarlet red, emerald green, and royal blue. Pick your
favorite!

INTERVIEWING
FOR YOUR FIRST
TECH JOB
HAVE YOU JOINED the CLUB?

Find more on our blog
If you found this resource (and the ones listed here)

helpful, there’s even more to discover on the Skillcrush
blog.
We share top career advice, inside tech tips, real-life

stories of getting into tech, and tons of FREE guides,
worksheets, and resources.
Sign up for our newsletter now so you won’t miss a

post. Each week, we send you 2 researched, detailed,
easy-to-read articles to help you harness the power of
tech and get the career you deserve.
Join thousands of happy readers! Here’s what a few of

them have to say:
“I read a blog post every day and learn something new. The resources you
give us are priceless!”
SARA EVANS
“I have been on your mailing list now for 8 months and in that time alone
I saw the platform grow so much. Seriously, in the online education space
you guys have some of the best content marketing. (Some online learning
platforms neglect it entirely, while others only post articles about latest
updates or course offerings, which is a bore.) Skillcrush actually generates
valuable content for readers.“
LAURENCE BRADFORD

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“The 99 Tech Terms You Need to Know When You’re New to Tech has been
a big help! I love materials that cover the basics.”
APRIL HARRIS
“Skillcrush, Thank you for offering such a great newsletter to your

subscribers. The content that you send out is always helpful and something
that I can refer back to as I improve my coding skills. I especially love your
PDF quicksource guides.”
JUBILEE GRACE
“Your email newsletters, videos and articles are so inspiring, I really look
forward to them and I love your attitude, all of you, and the great images.
You make me feel included in a world where it seems everyone is an
expert, and I wanted to say thanks.”
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“I love your blog posts! They always end up being my lunchtime reads at work!”
CAROLINE KIM
WHAT are YOU WAITING FOR?

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THANKS FOR
JOINING US.
Feel free to email us with any questions at
hello@skillcrush.com

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What are some tips for preparing for a tech interview?

What are some tips for preparing for a tech interview?

What should you expect during a tech interview?

What should you expect during a tech interview?

INTERVIEWING

FOR YOUR FIRST

The Ultimate Guide to

The Ultimate Guide to Interviewing For Your First Tech Job 1

You just opened one of those emails, the kind

And then comes the delayed reaction. ::Gulp:: I got an

Putting your skills (and dreams) on display for a

Fear not! In this guide, you’re going to learn EXACTLY

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS

WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE INTERVIEW

HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE INTERVIEW

HOW TO ACT DURING THE INTERVIEW

WHAT TO DO AFTER THE INTERVIEW

The Ultimate Guide to Interviewing For Your First Tech Job 2

The Ultimate Guide to Interviewing For Your First Tech Job 3

Example: Have you ever worked on an agile product development team?

Example: Have you ever worked on a lean startup team?

Testing, reevaluating, and changing the plan frequently throughout a project.

Example: We like to constantly reevaluate and reiterate our projects.

The Ultimate Guide to Interviewing For Your First Tech Job 4

The size of a project in terms of cost, hours, and resources invested.

Example: Scope creep is the stuff of my nightmares.

Someone with a stake or interest in a company or project.

Example: We need to find a way to communicate this plan to our key

The measure of whether a practice or system will be effective if a company

Example: I just don’t think this is a good plan in terms of scalability.

The Ultimate Guide to Interviewing For Your First Tech Job 5

Example: Let’s get an MVP finished so we can start user testing.

The difficult-to-measure concept of how well an idea or business is taking off.

Quality assurance, or quality control.

Example: Can you send this to Audrey for QA?

The Ultimate Guide to Interviewing For Your First Tech Job 6

WHAT KIND OF QUESTIONS TO

Q WHAT LANGUAGES / DESIGN TOOLS DO YOU KNOW?

Q WHAT IS YOUR DEVELOPMENT / DESIGN PROCESS?

Q WHAT KIND OF PROJECTS HAVE YOU WORKED ON LATELY?

The Ultimate Guide to Interviewing For Your First Tech Job 7

WHAT KIND OF TEAMS HAVE YOU WORKED ON?

Q WHY ARE YOU INTERESTED IN THIS JOB?

WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES YOU DIFFERENT THAN

WHAT ARE YOUR SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM

The Ultimate Guide to Interviewing For Your First Tech Job 8

WHAT CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENT ARE YOU MOST

HOW WOULD YOUR CURRENT COLLEAGUES AND

HOW DO YOU STAY ON TOP OF THE LATEST TRENDS AND

Q WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR FREE TIME?

Let your quirkiness shine through!

The Ultimate Guide to Interviewing For Your First Tech Job 9

WHAT KIND OF CODE TESTS OR

For a lot of junior developers, the prospect of a code

And let’s be real: just like taking the SAT or auditioning

In other words, it’s okay to be nervous about the code test.

But know this. A code test serves several important

The Ultimate Guide to Interviewing For Your First Tech Job 10

COMMON CODE TESTS AND