The Tech Interview Guide Podcast

How long after applying for a job should you wait for an interview?

It can feel disappointing to apply for a job and not even get an interview. What should you do if you see the job post removed in the meantime?

Should you use a ”career accelerator” service to get your first job in the tech industry?

Career accelerators can be a way to get into the tech industry for your first job, but be sure to read their contracts carefully for financial payback terms if you leave.

How do interviewers determine your level of skill in an interview?

The interview process is relatively short. Companies have very little time to assess your skill level, which is partially why the tech industry interviews are so difficult. Is there a better way?

A question was submitted about being ”risky” in a behavioral interview.

Similar to yesterday's podcast episode about being careful of how to answer negative-subject questions, this is a good scenario where you might need to clarify the question with your interviewer.

Be careful answering questions like ”What is your biggest regret?”

You should always follow a good framework like the "STAR method" to answer behavioral questions, but be careful you don't give away too much information that could reflect poorly on you.

Help -- I started a new job and there‘s no documentation, no onboarding or training, what do I do??

Not every company is well prepared for new hires. Some companies teach you what you need as you need it, and some companies will overload you with training material before they ever let you do anything. Here's how to tackle the former scenario.

How to answer ”Why are you the best person for this role?”

This question is effectively the same as "Tell me about yourself". Your focus on this answer should be telling them about the relevant skills and experience you bring to help the company move forward with their goals.

Are books like ”Cracking the Coding Interview” outdated, or still relevant?

There are lot of great resources out there to prepare for interviews, but do they get outdated? What are the best study materials, or study methods?

Researching companies is crucial -- should you go the extra mile and research your interviewers too?

Does it feel creepy to find your interviewers on LinkedIn to learn about them? It might give you some hints to the kinds of questions they could ask.

Is it a good sign if an interviewer connects on LinkedIn? Does that matter before/after an offer is made?

My take: if it happens before an offer, it means they genuinely want to stay in contact with you. If it happens after an offer, it means they're probably more careful about the quality of their network.