Knowing what to do and what not to do during a job interview is just as important as creating a polished resume. But no matter how much you prepare, interview mistakes are inevitable.
As a part of your interview preparation process, here are some common interview mistakes that you should note to make a good impression.
Let’s dive in!
Common interview mistakes: Not researching the company.
Not researching the company you are interviewing for is one of the most common interview mistakes remote software developers make.
By researching the employers, developers have an excellent chance to stand out of the crowd during the interview process. It helps them discover information that helps them understand what the organization does and what they look for while hiring a remote software developer.
Here are a few things you’ll learn during your research that will help you position yourself as a good candidate during the interview:
- You’ll discover the skills and values that the company values within its employees.
- Learn about the key position holders within the organization and browse through their social media profiles. If you dig a little deeper, you’ll know what the company is currently focused upon and even gain information about what their ex-employees say about the company.
- Know about the company’s current news and latest updates through press releases and other event information published online.
- Companies strive to find candidates who fit seamlessly into the company’s culture. Pay attention to the company’s mission, vision, and values and have points prepared that showcase how you’re the perfect fit for the company’s culture.
- Gain a general understanding of the company’s products/services and their ideal clients.
- Finally, research the person interviewing you. This research will help you find common ground and give you a better chance of connecting with them during the interview.
Common interview mistakes: Being afraid to say “I don’t know.”
Giving an interview doesn’t mean you have to know everything. If you don’t know an answer, accept it. Not doing so is a huge mistake.
When you don’t know the answer and start rambling simply to get through to the next question, it is very obvious to the interviewer.
Good software developers are upfront about accepting things they don’t know.
Exaggerating their skills or knowledge with something they’re unfamiliar with is one of the most common interview mistakes.
It won’t take long for the interviewer to figure out that you’ve overstated your assertions if they dive more into the subject. This oversight might lead them to doubt your rightful skills and experience, which is the last thing you want.
It’s always preferable to admit when you don’t know something but want to learn rather than appear dishonest.
Not asking questions for clarification.
Don’t hesitate to clarify your doubts
Simple interview mistakes like not asking clarifying questions before jumping into coding are something remote developers should avoid at all costs.
Asking questions before you start building a solution shows the interviewer that you can think strategically.
Interview mistakes that follow this one are staying silent while you code and being so focused on the solution that you don’t explain how you got there.
Don’t rush into problem-solving mode as soon as the interviewer present you with a question to solve.
Break down the problem, think through the solution and explain your thought process to the interviewer while you’re trying to solve the problem.
Thinking out loud and checking in periodically helps ensure you don’t stay off course and give your interviewer insight into how you approach a problem and gauge your problem-solving skills. It also gives them opportunities to provide feedback or hints, should you need them.
Common interview mistakes: Not showing your human side.
Companies are not just looking for remote software developers who can code brilliantly. Beyond what you’ve shared on your resume, they want to know what tick.
Therefore, don’t be afraid to talk about things that you’re passionate about, even if they’re not related to the position you’re applying for.
These outside interests allow the interviewer to learn more about how you manage yourself in a remote work setting and ensure you know how to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Having a system to rewind after a long day of work shows them you know how to work efficiently in a remote setting.
Additionally, understand that job interviews are not interrogations. Try to build a real conversation with the interviewer instead of simply answering questions or getting them to answer a list of your questions.
Common interview mistakes: Simply relying on your technical skills.
Core technical skills are undoubtedly crucial for technical parts of an interview, like a live coding challenge. However, one of the most common interview mistakes remote developers make is assuming that only having technical knowledge can get them the job.
Companies that have a global remote workforce can only operate with employees who have the soft skills to function efficiently within a remote-first environment.
Therefore, even if you’re the best software developer in the world, businesses may choose to work with someone with less skill or experience if you can’t even hold a proper conversation.
Weak communication.
Not communicating effectively can jeopardize your interview
Interviews can be a nerve-wracking process, and a brief moment of complete silence can make it seem like the most stressful thing in the world.
However, a little silence is not always a bad thing.
Taking the time to think through your answer demonstrates your ability to think before you speak, which is a quality that interviewers not just appreciate, but actively seek out.
Secondly, talking over the interviewer or not waiting for them to finish asking a question before you start answering are interview mistakes you should avoid at all costs.
There can also be a slight delay during your virtual interview. To ensure this blunder doesn’t happen unintentionally, always wait a few seconds before you start speaking.
Summary
As a remote software developer, interviews can be tough to crack if you don’t know how to prepare for them. Businesses aren’t just looking for engineers with technical knowledge; they want to hire independent thinkers who know more than just write code.
Reading so far, you may have a much better understanding of the common interview mistakes you should avoid making to showcase yourself as the best candidate for a job role.
However, if you’re not sure how to find remote software developer jobs with international companies, Turing can help.
Turing provides remote job opportunities for developers to work with Silicon Valley-based firms with unparalleled compensation and long-term career growth.
Visit our Jobs page to know more!
Join a network of the world's best developers and get long-term remote software jobs with better compensation and career growth.
Jayalakshmi Iyer
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