COURSE 10: SOFTWARE DEVELOPER CAREER GUIDE AND INTERVIEW PREPARATION

Module 2: Applying and Preparing to Interview

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TABLE OF CONTENT

INTRODUCTION – Applying and Preparing to Interview

Job Seeking and Interview Preparation provides valuable insights into presenting yourself as a standout candidate in the competitive job market. This phase offers guidance on how to thoroughly research prospective companies and critically assess job leads, enabling you to identify and concentrate on the opportunities that best align with your career aspirations. You will learn the importance of rehearsing for interviews and how this practice can significantly enhance your performance by making you more confident and articulate during actual interview situations.

Additionally, you will explore effective networking strategies, understanding how to leverage connections and engage with professionals who can assist you in discovering and securing your ideal role. By mastering these elements, you can navigate the job search process more efficiently and increase your chances of landing a position that fits your skills and ambitions.

Learning Objectives

  • Explain how to rehearse for a job interview and why it’s important to do so
  • Describe an informational interview and why it can be useful for job seeking
  • Navigate job application types and policies
  • Evaluate a job listing and determine whether it represents a good job opportunity
  • Describe how to professionally network effectively
  • Perform company and industry research for job seeking

PRACTICE QUIZ

1. What is an informational interview?

  • An interview a company holds with a candidate to just get better acquainted
  • An article published by a news source about a company 
  • An interview held between interviewers to familiarize themselves with a candidate 
  • An interview someone holds with a professional to learn more about a field of work (CORRECT)

Correct: Correct. Informational interviews can be a valuable part of industry research.

2. What is the top networking website?

  • LinkedIn (CORRECT)
  • Reddit 
  • GitHub 
  • Monster

Correct: Correct. LinkedIn is used by 87% of recruiters and hundreds of thousands of professionals around the world.

3. Which of the following is a “red flag” in a job listing, indicating that you should consider very carefully before applying?

  • No recruiter name listed 
  • Lack of industry-specific jargon
  • Unrealistic requirements (CORRECT)
  • No salary listed

Correct: Correct. Companies that demand difficult requirements, such as several years’ experience for an entry-level role, may not understand the role or may be exploitative.

4. What are the three basic components of a good elevator pitch?

  • State the job you’re looking for, the company you want to target, and your preferred salary 
  • Say your job title, your latest personal project, and your contact information 
  • Introduce yourself, ask what the person you’re talking to does, and ask if they know of any open jobs
  • Introduce yourself, tell what you have done recently, and list your professional goals (CORRECT)

Correct: Correct. This is a quick thumbnail sketch of your job search that will serve you in many different situations if you have it ready to say.

5. When you are reading a company’s website because you plan to interview with them, why should you pay attention to keywords you spot on the site?

  • It can be helpful for tracking purposes. 
  • You might find inconsistencies or mistakes that you could alert the company to. 
  • It can help you find the company more easily when you do a web search for articles. 
  • It can help you understand the image the company wants to project and maintain. (CORRECT)

Correct: Correct. Language choices can tell you a lot about a company and help you communicate with them effectively.

Graded Quiz

1. A company website is a good place to research a company you’re interested in. Why should you pay attention to the language used in the website text?

  • The formality of the language can give you an idea of the company culture.  
  • Repeated keywords can give you an idea of what is important to the company. (CORRECT)
  • Mistakes can indicate that the company is not legitimate. 
  • Industry jargon and terminology can indicate that the company is up to date.

Correct: Correct. Words that a company frequently uses in their content indicate ideas that are important to them, and you can even use some of the same words in your interview to show you are tuned in to the company’s viewpoint.

2. Why should you check social media to find out about a company you want to join?

  • You can give companies a view of your own life so they can know you better.
  • You can ask questions about the company to a broad audience. 
  • You can see if former employees have shared feedback. 
  • You can understand the company’s image and corporate culture from what they post. (CORRECT)

Correct: Correct. Social media posts from the company’s account and employee accounts can give you information about current issues at the company and the company culture.

3. Which three of the following are effective networking methods?

  • Talk to people you meet at bars and clubs. 
  • Join professional groups and attend events. (CORRECT)
  • Take classes to brush up on your professional skills. (CORRECT)
  • Talk to friends about your job search. (CORRECT)

Correct: This is a good way to meet others in your field who might know of job opportunities. 

Correct: You may meet other people in your field, either in class or teaching. 

Correct: Your immediate social circle is a great place to start networking. Even those who aren’t in your field may have friends who are.

4. What percentage of recruiters use LinkedIn as part of their candidate search?

  • Almost 90% (CORRECT)
  • About 75% 
  • Nearly 50%
  • Just over 30%

Correct: Correct. About 87 percent of recruiters use LinkedIn as part of their candidate search.

5. Which of the following is true about working as a contractor and full-time employee (FTE)?

  • Both contractors and FTEs usually work full-time hours. (CORRECT)
  • Both contractors and FTEs receive benefits from the company where they work. 
  • Contractors and FTEs are generally covered by the same employment laws. 
  • Both can expect to work indefinitely.

Correct: Correct. Most companies don’t provide benefits to contractors, although they may receive them from their agencies.

6. What is a “red flag” that might indicate thinking twice about responding to a job listing?

  • Broad expectations about the position with few specifics (CORRECT)
  • A statement about fair hiring practices 
  • Very specific job title 
  • No industry jargon or highly technical terms

Correct: Correct. A good job listing should define the position clearly, with tasks that make sense for the role and the job level.

7. Which two statements are true about qualifications in job listings?

  • The qualifications often will not include how many years of experience are expected. 
  • The qualifications will outline what the person in the role is expected to do.
  • You don’t need to have all of the qualifications listed. (CORRECT)
  • The qualifications may include both hard and soft skills. (CORRECT)

Correct: Correct. You should have all the required qualifications and many of the preferred ones, but you don’t need them all.  

Correct: Correct. Job qualifications may include hard skills like programming languages, but also soft skills like communication and working with a team.

8. What is true about rehearsing for interviews?

  • You can’t predict the questions, so there’s no point in finding examples. 
  • It’s not helpful to watch yourself in a mirror.
  • You won’t need an elevator pitch. 
  • It’s important to practice articulating what you want to say. (CORRECT)

Correct: Correct. Even if you know your information very well, it can be difficult to speak it out loud, and practice will make that easier.

9. What is a mock interview?

  • A practice interview given by the company you want to join that doesn’t actually count
  • An interview where you only need to answer the questions you have prepared
  • A practice interview that enables you to rehearse your answers at home (CORRECT)
  • An interview where you are given extremely difficult questions

Correct: Correct. You can enlist a friend to role-play an interviewer so that you can practice your elevator pitch and some answers to common questions.

10. What is a good way to prepare for first interviews?

  • Prepare a written document of your answers that you can hand out at your interviews. 
  • Use your notes to compose questions you want to ask the company. (CORRECT)
  • Decide on the salary and benefit package you will accept. 
  • Memorize everything you have researched.

Correct: Correct. Interviewers will give you a space to ask your own questions, so you need to be prepared for this part of the interview as well.

CONCLUSION – Applying and Preparing to Interview

In conclusion, Job Seeking and Interview Preparation equips you with the essential tools and strategies to become a memorable and competitive candidate. By learning to research companies, evaluate job leads, rehearse for interviews, and effectively network, you can significantly enhance your job search efforts. These skills not only improve your chances of performing well in interviews but also help you build meaningful connections that can lead to discovering and securing your ideal role. With these preparations, you are better positioned to navigate the job market confidently and successfully, moving closer to achieving your career goals.

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