Mastering Your Tech Interview: My Tips for Success

With the tech market still in recovery, I often come across posts from people seeking new opportunities. To help, I wanted to share some essential interview tips that we at FORT Search often provide. Having spent the last 9 years supporting technologists with interview insights, I’m excited to pass along the knowledge and advice I’ve gathered over the years, in the hope it will make a difference for even one person

1)        Preparing for the Interview

·        Research the company – Use ChatGPT for a quick overview, but also check their website and LinkedIn pages. Mention your research in the interview to show genuine interest.

·        Look up the hiring managers on LinkedIn – You might find mutual connections or shared experiences that can help build rapport.

·        Know your CV inside out – Be prepared to discuss every technology or experience listed. Hiring managers often probe deeper, and candidates can get caught out by buzzwords they can’t elaborate on.

·        Identify 3-4 key projects you’ve worked on- Be ready to discuss your individual impact, including:

o   What influenced your technology choices?

o   What was the business impact of your work?

o   What would you do differently if you were to do it again?

o   Tip: Always understand the “why” behind your decisions, not just that you did something because you were told to.

·        Research the company values and prepare for competency-based questions, highlighting where you've demonstrated those values in your previous experience

·        Ask your recruiter for past candidate feedback - This can give you valuable insight into what the hiring manager is looking for and what to avoid.

2)         Answering Interview Questions Effectively

• Prepare for “Tell me about yourself” - This is often the first question. Craft a concise, engaging summary that explains your journey and how it relates to the role.
• Follow the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) - Helps structure answers with enough detail while staying focused. Many candidates either ramble or give answers that are too short.
• Use “I” rather than “We” - While teamwork is important, interviewers want to understand your individual contributions, not just your team’s.

3)         During the Interview

• Build rapport with the interviewer – Smile, stay engaged, and make an effort to connect with them. Employers want to hire people they connect with so building rapport can make that difference.
• Demonstrate enthusiasm and curiosity – Ask insightful questions, such as: What would success look like in this role within the first 6 months? What exciting projects are coming up? How do you support career growth? What made you join the company, and what keeps you here?

4)         Leveraging AI & Other Tools

• Use AI to prepare for interviews - ChatGPT can generate tailored technical and behavioural questions based on the job description, and help you evaluate and improve your responses.

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need personalised advice. At FORT Search, we take the time to meet with candidates before interviews to ensure we provide tailored guidance, helping you succeed