How to Conduct Technical Interviews

Technical interviews can be challenging for those on both sides of the table. Preparation is required by everyone involved; the right questions and ideas must be expressed or you will waste a lot of time and not really learn anything about an applicant. A good technical interview will not only show what a perspective employee knows but how comfortable he will be doing the job. A good interview will also make it clear to the candidate what they may be lacking.

Instructions

1. Plan to look for the following qualities while addressing the interviewee: the ability to communicate, adapt, show empathy and display a good fit with the rest of your team.

2. Prepare a list of questions about the general type of work your company does and some general character questions to help you find out if the perspective employee works well with others. Include questions such as "Why do you want to work here?" and "What's your career plan?"

3. Ask technical questions. Prepare questions about technical problems that you face on a regular basis. Don't ask abstract questions to see how smart someone is; ask questions that are relevant to the work you'll need the person to perform.

4. Present the potential employee with problems that have realistic answers, even if the answer is that more information is required. Make the person feel comfortable when giving their answers so that they feel free to tell you that they might not have the answer right in front of them.

5. Discuss education and experience. After you have seen how a candidate can perform, it is still a good idea to find out how they acquired their skills. This will give you an idea of their learning abilities and how well they adapt.

References

• Henry Amon, Information Systems, UMBC
• A-F of Conducting Technical Interviews