Interview with Ericsson

neil_hosey

Hi everyone!

I have an interview later in the week with Ericsson and am at my wits end revising for it. I was just wondering if anyone had any advice or possible interview questions before the 'big day'.

This interview is very important to me because I think it suits me down to the ground so I want to cover every angle to give me the best shot at it!

Oh!, the position is for a Graduate Software Developer in their R and D department.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

Neil


BTW, I've been through all the sticky's which were great!!

fret_wimp

While I cant offer you any Ericsson specific advice, I can give you advice on going for a job as a Graduate Developer.

1. You most probabilly dont have a lot of industry real world expirience, so be sure to know off by heart all the projects you have done in college, what you learned, challenges you overcame for those projects and how it may relate to the position you are applying for. Have plenty of information you can talk on in this area as its the only place they can see your actual work and its what you want the most of your interview to be based around as you know your own work very well.

2. Be ready for a technical interview. If its for a graduate position it wont be crazy difficult, but they will throw in a few offputting, difficult questions to find your exprience level.

3. Talk about any team projects you worked on, regardless of its IT merrit. Teamwork is hugely important in the industry today and if you were leader of a project group, head of a club, organizer of anything cool, it will go down a treat.

4. Be confident, sit up straight, dong figit, dress well, speak clearly, take a moment to think about your answers before voicing them. Eye contact, Eye contact, Eye contact. I know this is "common sense" types stuff but its rediclious how often its not adhered to.

5. Try to show you have an interest in computers outside of work/college. anything you do with them in your spare time ( not games!), any little projects you have done to help family , friends etc. even if its only fixing pc's as a nixer, mention it. It all counts.

6. Try to mention some outside activities that help you. eg "I go swimming at least 3 times a week. i find it helps me to relax, clear my head and be better able to perform" . Something that helps you stand out really helps in this area, like Unicycle. I can unicycle, and I have one line mentioning it in my hobbies. My current boss is still at me to bring my unicycle into work someday! It made my CV and me different from all other candidates, sort of a memory cue.

After all that, I dont know. As stated, I have no expirience with Ericsson, but the above tips should prep you for interviews for your first job in IT industry. Good luck. let us know how it goes

michaelanthony

They will ask you to stand up without any warning and to give a presentation to them ( the interview panel) about something using a flip chart. There is usually a hr wan, a senior manager and the team leader of the group. The senior manager will ask most of the questions. Just keep fake smiling and pretend to be comfortable and relaxed and don't talk fast and keep the same tone of voice.

neil_hosey

Thanks fret_wimp. Gave me few good ideas ( i do swin lot) . Your unicycle one was great!.. better steer clear of that though incase I get te job and they want to see the unicycle.

Thanks michael! that has put the fear of God into me now. I don't have a clue how to prepare for that but I suppose you can't really! Thanks for the heads up though.

Do you know what kind of things your giving the presentaion on? ie. is it projects you have done in the past or do they give you some material to read over?

Thanks again!

rebel.ranter

I don't understand the "Keep the same tone of voice" bit. TBH I wouldn't keep the same tone of voice. What ever it is that you are goign to be presenting make it sound as interestring as possible. The same tone will sound boring.

They will probably ask you about past life experiences. "Past behaviour predicts future behaviour" type questions.
e.g. from Work experience, bar work, summer work, etc.

For example "Tell me about a time when you had a to deal with someone difficult, what did you do/say?"
These will normally come from the HR side of the house, with maybe one or two from the Manager side.

If you are a graduate remember they know you do not have the experience, or even much interview experience for that matter. They will take that into account when they are interviewing you. Try not to be too nervous.

michaelanthony

The tone changes when you get nervous. Your vocal cords tense and the voice goes higher.

michaelanthony

Oh and try to talk more than them. If they talk a lot, it's generally a sign that the interview is not goin well and they are trying to fill in silences.

phanton

one possible topic for the presentation, should you be asked to give one, would be mobile networks i.e 2G, 2.5G, 3G etc

TheHulk

fret_wimp wrote:

While I cant offer you any Ericsson specific advice, I can give you advice on going for a job as a Graduate Developer.

1. You most probabilly dont have a lot of industry real world expirience, so be sure to know off by heart all the projects you have done in college, what you learned, challenges you overcame for those projects and how it may relate to the position you are applying for. Have plenty of information you can talk on in this area as its the only place they can see your actual work and its what you want the most of your interview to be based around as you know your own work very well.

2. Be ready for a technical interview. If its for a graduate position it wont be crazy difficult, but they will throw in a few offputting, difficult questions to find your exprience level.

3. Talk about any team projects you worked on, regardless of its IT merrit. Teamwork is hugely important in the industry today and if you were leader of a project group, head of a club, organizer of anything cool, it will go down a treat.

4. Be confident, sit up straight, dong figit, dress well, speak clearly, take a moment to think about your answers before voicing them. Eye contact, Eye contact, Eye contact. I know this is "common sense" types stuff but its rediclious how often its not adhered to.

5. Try to show you have an interest in computers outside of work/college. anything you do with them in your spare time ( not games!), any little projects you have done to help family , friends etc. even if its only fixing pc's as a nixer, mention it. It all counts.

6. Try to mention some outside activities that help you. eg "I go swimming at least 3 times a week. i find it helps me to relax, clear my head and be better able to perform" . Something that helps you stand out really helps in this area, like Unicycle. I can unicycle, and I have one line mentioning it in my hobbies. My current boss is still at me to bring my unicycle into work someday! It made my CV and me different from all other candidates, sort of a memory cue.

After all that, I dont know. As stated, I have no expirience with Ericsson, but the above tips should prep you for interviews for your first job in IT industry. Good luck. let us know how it goes

Some fantastic advice there. Good luck OP.

neil_hosey

thanks guys...

really worried about this one. Seems like decent position aswell. Reallly not lookin forward to that presentation thing. Will I be given information or will it be on what I have prepared for the interview?

Its tomorrow morning, its actually a really difficult place to by bus from where I am (Meath). Does anyone drive into town that way. Its down near UCD off the Clonskeagh road. Any suggestions??

Thanks again everyone.

rmacm

Hi

I had an interview there a few weeks back. If you get a bus to the city centre you'll be able to catch the number 11 or 11A from outside Madigans on O'Connell Street. This goes past Beech Hill where Ericsson is. Best of luck with it.

Cheers
Rory

neil_hosey

cheers thanks rory. had a look at that.

neil_hosey

thanks again everyone!

Just finishing up the studying now. Gona hit the hay early!


Its tomorrow at 10. Wish me luck!

neil_hosey

done te interview this morning.

Was good.. I think. No presentation.. only of my final year project which was good!

Questions were practically taken from the sticky's which is also good.

And on the way out she said the next step i that she'll call me on friday and tell if iwas successful or not. And that the next step is to takea company medical! already ?? no second interview?? can't beat that!

Saint_Mel

neil_hosey wrote:

And on the way out she said the next step i that she'll call me on friday and tell if iwas successful or not. And that the next step is to takea company medical! already ?? no second interview?? can't beat that!

If they are sending you for a medical then your pretty much in...
unless you fail the medical that is

fret_wimp

congrats mate. let us know when you have word ! im really interested!

neil_hosey

Well i definately don't think I have the job yet because she said she will tell me on friday. But I still found it very strange that she said that told me the medical was next (if I got through) and there was no second, technical interview!

All in all, they were really nice though. Interview was pleasent, and the people were nice. I just hope to God now that they give me the job. They're taking on 20 more grads over the next few weeks which I thought was a huge number considering they already took on 20!

Saint_Mel

Turnover in R&D is fairly high at the moment so
they are going on a Grad spree for a while.

markf909

Saint_Mel wrote:

Turnover in R&D is fairly high at the moment so
they are going on a Grad spree for a while.

Yeah I have mates in Ericsson who say the exodus is unbelievable.
I know 5 folks that are leaving the company within the next month!