Tech Talk for Specialist Jobs

Get ready to talk shop for career sectors where technical interviews are used to assess your specialist subject knowledge.

The dreaded technical interviews – exactly the sort of thing that can make even the brainiest science student shudder. However, if you’re going for a job in IT, the sciences, or engineering, you’re likely to face one at some point.

Some employers favour a separate technical interview, whereas others prefer to include technical questions in a general interview.

There’s no need to panic, though! Technical interviews at the graduate level don’t have to be as scary as you think. With some practical tips to help you prepare, you can ready yourself to talk tech with the experts.

Before the interview

Know your subject inside-out

All technical interviews are different. What you’ll be asked depends on the subject you’ve studied and, of course, the position you’re applying for.

However, one thing that’s bound to happen regardless of your field of study is that interviewers are sure to quiz you about your course and what you’ve learned from it.

Revise the basics that everyone in your discipline should know, but remember to place particular focus on topics that relate to the employer’s area of work, as well as any knowledge you may have to use on the job.

But if you’ve been stylising or branding yourself to potential employers as a specialist in a specific area, be sure you know the latest and most relevant theories, debates and issues in that area backwards and forwards along with your book knowledge. Practice makes perfect Practice makes perfect

Practising is a great way to prepare for an interview. To that end, you can pay a visit to your school’s career services centre to sign up for a mock interview or role-playing exercise.

Not only will you be part of a simulation of an actual interview where you get to practise with a mock interviewer, but you’ll also be able to receive feedback from your career counsellor on where to improve.

You can even find out about the different assessments you’ll come across during the job hunt by getting in touch with your seniors or other alumni who’ve taken similar career paths to the one you’re keen on pursuing.

It’s also important to find out what the company will likely include in technical interviews during the application process so you can practise in advance.

For instance, if you’re applying for a position as a software developer, it’s likely you’ll be given a coding test. To prepare, you can practise on timed coding tests, which are easily available online.

During the interview

Use concrete examples from experience

Use examples from any work, volunteer, or internship experiences that can show how you used or picked up technical skills in a commercial environment. This will prove your ability to apply theory to practice, and will also reassure recruiters that you know how to translate your knowledge to the company’s needs.

Another thing you should talk about are the projects you worked on at university; these demonstrate your ability to work independently, your in-depth knowledge of your subject and how you use practical skills and techniques to solve problems. Prepare a brief summary of what your project focused on, how you overcame any problems that came up, and how you got the final results.

You can also produce a short portfolio of your projects to illustrate your responses as you speak, or leave it with the interviewer at the end of your interview session. You only have a limited amount of time during the interview, so this is a great way to ensure that the interviewers have at least one way to find out the full extent of your accomplishments. It’s not always about getting the correct answer

Technical interviewers may ask you to comment on a range of scenarios or hypothetical situations. You may not know the answer to everything you’re asked, but try to show the interviewer how you might go about solving the problem or finding the information you would need to answer the question.

Remember that apart from your technical knowledge, they also want to know how you reason and approach problems. This isn’t an exam, so don’t be afraid to ask for a few pointers if you find yourself stumped. If your interviewers oblige, try to pick up the thread and move on from there. Talk technical, but be understood

Technical interviewers also look at interviewees’ personal skills. You need to show that you can work well with others, and that you can communicate technical information and scientific ideas clearly and concisely to laymen and experts alike.

When communicating ideas, try your best to use simple terms to explain complicated concepts. Avoid technical or scientific jargon if possible, but if you absolutely need to drop a few of those, be sure to clarify what they mean or stand for. It’s always a good idea to focus on the application of the idea – how and why this idea is important, and why your audience should care about it.

Remember that even in a technical interview, not all your interviewers may be experts in your chosen field. Do your best to keep things simple yet meaningful, and not lock any one of them out of the loop!