Over the past couple of weeks I’ve been interviewing candidates for a Java developer position.
I can’t find words to describe my feelings now so I’ll recycle something a friend of mine, who’s also hiring, said:
It’s next to impossible to hire anyone useful now.
My complaint with most of the applicants is that they behave – there’s no other way to say this – machines.
I did what I did because I was told to it. Never really thought about it.
This infuriates me beyond belief.
So here a few tips for your (and my) next interview:
- Don’t make up stuff on your CV. Sounds obvious but you’ll be surprised by how many people list technologies they have barely used on their CV and when asked about it don’t have a clue. You have no idea how bad this looks. (The red bullshitter light starts flashing in my head instantly)
- Show that you have passion for what you do. Being a Sun certified Java developer is all well and good but when I ask you what you have been looking into recently, or if you’ve worked on something on your own make sure to have an answer; or, if you don’t, make sure you have a good excuse.
- If you have 1000 years of experience with something I expect you to have some thoughts about it. Once again, Sun certified Java developer, if I ask you where do you see java going in the next 5 years have an answer! There must be something you think needs improving in Java or that you’d do differently. I’ll go wherever Sun takes me is just not an acceptable answer.
- Have an opinion! For God’s sake have one. I’ll even settle for half an opinion. If not about a technology you have used for 10 years at least about the coffee I just bought you during the interview. There’s no point in talking for an hour with somebody who has nothing to tell me other than “I’ll do everything you want, I always did.”
- Know what the company you have applied for does! This sounds stupid but I have called people after 1 week of their application and after 10 minutes with them over the phone I found out that they have no idea what the company they applied at was doing. That’s an instant goodbye!
- Fill the gaps in your CV, and proof-read it before sending it out for goodness sake. It’s fine that you have taken one year off to travel the world. If your CV does not list anything for the whole of 2009 I’m going to ask you about it. Give me a sincere instant answer and there’ll be no problem. Give me random excuses and it’s goodbye. As for proof-reading I had somebody applying who had listed “quick apprehension” as a skill. I’m not into hiring failed super-heroes. (I assume they ment quick comprehension)
- Apply for jobs you are genuinely interested in. You are not likely to get a job if your interviewer notices you don’t give a toss about what you do and who you do it for, and it shows. So Unless you are applying for a position as a nut-packer make sure you’re going for a job you’d actually enjoy doing and are interested in.
Needless to say my search continues.
After reviewing more than 60 CVs I have almost completely given up on websites such as Monster and CWJobs and I’m going to go entirely through connections now.
