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Delivering Excellence in Software Engineering

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Customer Interview: From Myths to Reality

Human Factor of Job Interview

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Interview is coming soon. How are you?

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Customer Interview is a Stressfor EVERYONE. Why?

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1)Language Barriers2)Communication Noises3)Cultural Differences4)Importance of the Outcome5)EVALUATION (Public

Speaking)

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Our fears and anxieties are much more ancient…

We are much more “animals”, tribe members, than “civilized persons”. Interview fear = public speaking fear ≈ FEAR OF DEATH.

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Dummies, IQ = 0

Albert Einstein

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INTERVIEW MYTHS

#1. Customer interview is about technical skills, like exam.

#2. Customer has all the power.

#3. “I am who I am” – No special preparation is necessary.

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INTERVIEW MYTH #1.

#1. Customer interview is about technical skills, like exam.

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Interview Myths

• MYTH #1. Customer interview is about technical skills, like exam.

• But why:Customer doesn’t make choice by profiles?Customer can neglect (or just look through) the profiles sent?Non-technical or “silly” questions are asked?Customer prefers not the most experienced or skilled people?

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From Myth to Reality

• Reality #1.

• Interview is just like dating.• Your profile – is your invitation or just an

“entrance ticket” to the interview.• Skills, knowledge and experience – are the

tools. • Having proper kit of tool is important, BUT…

• Customer is interested in HOW do you apply your tools aiming TO SOLVE PROBLEMS of his business.

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Interview Myths

Myth #2. Customer has all the power.

•But why:– Customer needs EPAM (and YOU in

person)?– From customer side, there are 2 or 3

interviewers simultaneously? – Customer accepts non-ideal

candidates or candidate who seemingly failed?

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From Myth to Reality

• REALITY #2

• Candidate needs good evaluation.

• Candidate has his job

• Candidate is responsible for himself

• Customer has to evaluate you right.

• Customer needs IT-profy to drive his business

• Customer is responsible for his business success.

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® 2008. EPAM Systems. All rights reserved.

Interview Myths.

Myth #3. “No special preparation is necessary"

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® 2008. EPAM Systems. All rights reserved.

From Myth to Reality

• Reality No3.– Formal rules are still in use.– The best improvisation is the well-

prepared one.– More information = less emotions.– Customer is human, too. Let’s know his

expectations/needs.– “Labor market comprehension”; “How to

Move Mount Fuji”, “Ace the Job Interview” – in EPAM Library.

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Important event = big preparation

2011 © EPAM Systems 14

® 2008. EPAM Systems. All rights reserved.

Customer needs

• What does every customer like to know:1) Can you do the job? THIS job? MY Job? In MY business domain?2) Will you fit in the team? What kind of person you are?3) How long will you stay? What are your “moving forces”?

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Can you do the job?

• What is you core skill? Why?• What is the difference between…• There are skills in your profile self-

rated by you as “Expert”. Why?• What are pros & cons of automated

testing/design patterns/standard libraries/…?

• What do you consider as the biggest mistake/success in your past job?

• ITIL (DNS) stands for…

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Will you fit in? What kind of person you are?

• Tell me something that’s not in your profile.

• What kind of people do you find difficult to work with?

• What makes you most valuable to your manager/your friends?

• Last book/movie/week-end…• What kind of profession would you

reject at once? • What makes you most valuable to

your current supervisor/your friends?17

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How long will you stay? What are your “moving forces”?

• How long have you been in profession?

• Why did you choose IT-career? • Why did you leave your previous job?• If there were no IT-sphere at all…• Do you prefer to develop your

technical skills or managerial ones?• What do you like most/least about

your job?

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“Silly” questions.

• How many smarties will fit in Smart?

• How many dogs/cats/cars are in…• How would you explain the

Internet idea to your Granny?• Why are manholes round?• If you were Bill Gates…• Aliaksey/Alexey/Aleksei• How many dots are in the line?• 2MB - how big it is?

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BEFORE the customer interview

• Do a research. Learn as much as possible about the customer requirements for your position (skills, technologies used), visit customer’s web site, ask your colleagues/manager what they know.

• Review your resume. Print it and have it in front of you during the interview

• Prepare short story about your experience and last project – just to start up the conversation. Print it as well, just in case…

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Your profile – your entrance ticket

• Check spelling: Orakle, Daymler-Chraisler, HtMl, Michihan.

• Avoid confusing abbreviations: BSUIR, MMF, ZAO Belaz, …

• Every word counts: use active form of verbs, be responsible – say “I, my duty, I was responsible for…”

• Remain in positive mood.• Talk professionally – technical

vocabulary is appreciated.21

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The X day

• Ask yourself: what is the worst thing than can happen if customer doesn’t accept you?

• Take care of yourself: check place before interview + make yourself comfortable + prepare “gift”.

• Time lag (10 minutes before and !HALF AN HOUR! after interview).

• GAIN EXPERIENCE! It’s priceless.

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G-360, as of June, 2012

1. Please, introduce yourself.2. What’s your experience with ASP.NET?3. Please, evaluate you knowledge of .NET in

accordance with 10-grade scale. Why so?4. What is the best way to process a request? 5. What’s your experience of moving application from

old platform to the new one? 6. What’s the difference between SVN (EPAM standard)

and VSS (G-360 standard)?7. What was the last (the most interesting) problem you

solved? How fast? Remote or direct? Communication means?

8. Would you like to ask me something? 9. Thank you (mutual thanks).

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YOUR QUESTIONS, PLEASE

?

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Delivering Excellence in Software Engineering

® 2008. EPAM Systems. All rights reserved.

Human Factor of Job InterviewFor more information, please contact:Sviatlana BadrankovaRecruitment ManagerEPAM Systems, Inc.

Minsk, Kuprevicha-str., 1Phone: 389-0100 #51518sviatlana_badrankova@pam.com