How To Not Embarrass Yourself In A Technical Interview

By Suzette Dean

Employment Jobs, Job vacancies, Employment

A technical interview is a stage in the screening process wherein your knowledge and skills specifically required for the position you are applying for are evaluated. To some, preparing for a technical interview is like preparing for a board exam. Most applicants dig in their vaults to look for those crisp-yellowed booklets and review their seasoned notebooks. Others opt to search the internet for tips on answering technical questions. Unfortunately, most technical interview tips on the web are IT related.

So, how do you prepare yourself for a technical interview? The first item is to review the job requirements of the position you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for a document controller position, know the system that the company is using in storing up and retrieving documents as well as the involvement of the position in the document control process. Having an idea of the tasks involved in fulfilling the job that you are applying for will give you an edge in your preparation.

Since you now know the scope of work, you can focus your review on the specifics, knowing especially that technical interviews are job specific. The set of questions vary across disciplines; an electrical engineer will find a different set of questions to that of a mechanical engineer. The questions also vary according to the job requirement; a fresh graduate applying for an entry level position would most likely have a question set evaluating his/her theoretical knowledge, while a seasoned technician will most likely be asked of the equipment and the systems he/she uses. It is better to review the specifics since it would be easier for you to recall.

Lastly, do not just confine your review on the cognitive level. There are companies who also ask their applicants to demonstrate their technical knowledge, also referred to as a trade test. For example, a computer technician may have to troubleshoot a problematic laptop to prove his technical knowledge in computers, or a machine operator to fix their problematic equipment.

Other technical interviews include questions designed to evaluate your creative thinking, logic and reasoning, as well as your problem-solving skills. Some interviewers employ riddles, brainteasers and even puzzles to evaluate these. Though technical interviews are generally designed for those in a technical discipline, it is also used in screening office support staff and therefore becoming a mainstream of the recruitment process.