Looking for IT Interview Skills

the_syco

As the title says, I'm looking for IT Interview Skills. At the moment, I'm working in a cinema, and the few interviews I get, I don't do well, thus I'm pretty sure its cos I suck at the interviews. And so, I'm wondering does annyone know of any sites, etc, that give hints, what to say, what not to say, etc, at interviews, and also how to present yourself.

For example, this was a reply I got back from one of them:

The feedback from *** was good, however your communication on the day and in particular how you communicated examples of your experience to *** was not regrettably as strong as other candidates interviewed.

I'm lookg for Tech Support, if that helps. I've tried and failed at interviews for CPL/HP, IBB, Client Logic, and there's proberly more, but I can't remember.

Any help would be nice.

stepbar

Client Logic..... there are a ****e company if there's ever1. I rem back in the day 3 odd yrs ago goin looking for a job there. Walked in done interview bnext morn offered me the job. Didnt take it cause it was the biggest joke of a place going. From the moment I walked in there I knew this was way beneath me, (I was doin tougher work part time in college!!!) , No offence man but there must be something serious up if you cant get a job in Client Logic. I no a guy who got a job there and he's one of the most introverted guys round, very shy wouldnt say boo. So I dont know what else to say....

seamus

As much as I hate to say it, what about appearance? Any obvious tattoos, facial piercings. What kind of clothes you wear, etc.

WhiteWashMan

thats probably something i could help with you if we met.
sorry.
its hard to tell someone what to do or not to do when their apperance and mannerisms dont come through on bullitan board.

but if you want to go into some detail, tell us how yo udress, what you look like, how you answer some specif questions, then i guess we could try and help out.

the only thing is, you have to be really bluntly honest. theres no point in saying you were asked a question, and then you answerd with this 'quoted' answer, if its not the way you said it etc.

also what is important is how you greet people in interviews, your voice, the way you sit, how you repond.

70% of communication is done non-verbally. its your body language.
and the biggest and best impression is made inthe first 10 seconds of meeting you

perhaps give us more info, and will try to give you some feedback.

AdrianII

No offence mate, but client logic take almost anyone

i worked there for bt for a while but they lost that contract as they had none englich speakers working on an english support desk.

Arrange to meet with a recruter and ask them to go through interview skill and mock interviews get them to tell you your good and bad points

the_syco

AdrianII wrote:

No offence mate, but client logic take almost anyone

Seemingly my answers freaked them out. I've changed the way I've answered them since.

WhiteWashMan wrote:

thats probably something i could help with you if we met.
sorry.
its hard to tell someone what to do or not to do when their apperance and mannerisms dont come through on bullitan board.

Speaking of bullitan boards... people know my nickname (at boards.ie beers) even if they never met me before "so, you're the syco, yeah?".

As for dress, I've a full suit (matching trousers & jacket, and a shirt and tie).

Something someone said about me being clean shaven: I'll try that next time, as usually I've a smig (see pic) which is trimmed beforehand so that its neat. Usually, my head is clean shaven, but for the last few interviews, I've let the hair grow for about 4 days, so I don't look like "a biker" (or so I've been told:eek:).

=-=

One other thing. During the interview, the interviewers head tends to shrink. Dunno why this is (could be me being nervous), but I may be looking at them oddly if when this happens. Usually the head goes the size of a pea, and I have to tell myself not to squint to see them. I continue on as if nothing has happened, but it may make me look nervous, or something.

maggz

Some good tips:

http://www.irishjobs.ie/resource_centre/index.asp

As for the persons head shrinking, maybe u need ur eyes tested

chump

As the others have said clientlogic literally accept any monkey, so there's something up if you can't get in there.
Is it possible that you're just one really intimidating chump?
Do people ever wet themselves when they see you coming?

Could you not ask a mate or something to be totally honest with you and explain where they think you might be falling down. Brutally honest.

As for interview technique;
I presume you've rehearsed all possible answers before you go in? (for all the regular questions...)
And on top of that pretend to be jovial (not stoned) and good spirited and look at the interviewer when talking...

seamus

the_syco wrote:

One other thing. During the interview, the interviewers head tends to shrink. Dunno why this is (could be me being nervous), but I may be looking at them oddly if when this happens. Usually the head goes the size of a pea, and I have to tell myself not to squint to see them. I continue on as if nothing has happened, but it may make me look nervous, or something.

Happens to me too. It's probably nerves. Just try and continue on as if nothing's happening. You don't need to see the guy's head to talk to him

comer_97

you could try a professional interview coach like http://www.ronaldroche.ie/

the_syco

chump wrote:

Could you not ask a mate or something to be totally honest with you and explain where they think you might be falling down. Brutally honest.

I know what they'd say: I look like a ****ing mad bas*ard, the type you wouldn't want to meet in a lone dark alley. I suppose interviewers may be put off by this image, but its not something that I put out, its just who I am, if that makes sense Proberly cos I'm tall, and I'm not the smiling type (I have a "work smile" that I picked up whilst working in a shop, which I "wear" in the interviews, to make me less foreboarding).

chump wrote:

And on top of that pretend to be jovial (not stoned) and good spirited and look at the interviewer when talking...

Hmmm... I'll try this.