Why is it Important?
Does the hiring process feel like a mystery to you? Do you find yourself wondering what interviewers look for in the ideal candidate? If these are questions you’ve pondered, get an edge on your own job hunt by learning key insights from Raffi Krikorian, former VP Platform Engineering @Twitter and Oliver Cameron, VP Product & Engineering @Udacity. Below, you’ll find an overview of the interview basics and tips on how to navigate the hiring process.
Interviewing Basics
What does the typical interview look like? Here we’ll outline the factors impact the interview: roles, components, and variable components you can expect to find.
Roles:
- Recruiter – Can be either internal to the company, or working externally. Recruiters are often the first people to review your application or profile.
- Hiring Manager – Generally writes the job description and the person who make the final hiring decision. This is usually your future boss.
- Interviewers – Team members who influence the hiring decision.
Components:
- Application or Referral – Either of these can be the first step in starting the hiring flow.
- Resume/LinkedIn Review – Hiring manager will review your materials. This is the first gate!
- Recruiter Screen – Often involves reviewing your work/education history and gauging your awareness of the company product. This is often a phone or skype call. This is the second gate!
- Hiring Manager Interview – Focuses on your team culture fit and basic tech skills (no live coding).
- Technical Interview – Involves live coding or talking through technical problems. This is at times used as a filter to get to onsite interviews, or might be apart of the onsite interview.
- Onsite Interviews – This typically involves multiple interviewers, one-on-one, mix of tech, culture, general problem solving and specific product questions.
Variable components:
- In conjunction with or instead of a coding interview, you may see one of the following:
- Tech Exam, Coding Problems, and Coding Challenges
The Interviewers’ Perspective
How are candidates selected for interviews? The opinions listed below reflect those of actual hiring managers.
- How do you view the Nanodegree?
Recruiters will often be curious about the specific courses you took, range of projects you’ve completed and whether you have experienced working on a team. Some recruiters may not have heard of a Nanodegree or Udacity by name, so in this case, discuss concrete examples of your skills.
- Online Presence
Recruiters name LinkedIn as a useful tool. They use “Skill Endorsement” for keyword searching and “Recommendations” for candidate insight. Showcasing skills is also a huge plus. In addition to LinkedIn, make sure your resume accurately portrays a narrative of your experience. When thinking about GitHub, they placed emphasis on activity. It doesn’t have to be pretty code, but make the effort to be actively contributing!
Timeline: Application to Job Offer
The process of applying to a job and receiving an offer can be as short as a week, or as long as a couple of months. During this time, make use of your relationships with the company recruiter to get an idea of the timeline. Asking questions is often a simple and easy way to show interest and build rapport.
We’ll be sharing tips on how to ace each level of your interview in an upcoming post. For now, you can check out this post with data science interview questions and this one on rocking a web development interview. Throughout, come prepared, practice potential interview questions, and work on conveying a positive, confident and hardworking tone during interviews.
Nanodegree Student Common Concerns:
Questions about the hiring processes ranges, but common Nanodegree student questions revolve around perceived lack of experience, how to market your Nanodegree education, and navigating a career change. Below are a few quick tips to address these questions:
- Entering a new field? Find connections between your existing skills and your new path. Place a greater emphasis on your new skill set and desire to learn.
- Making a later in life career change? Use your wisdom and intellectual curiosity. Career change isn’t uncommon, just be sure to frame it in a positive and proactive light.
- Marketing your Nanodegree: Focus on projects, classes, and teamwork as concrete examples of your skills during your interviews. You’ve got this!
