How to Conquer the Entry-Level Tech Interview
By: Eric Girouard
Tags: Software Development, Programming, Interview, Coding, Startup

The Standard Entry-Level Interview Process

Photo by Nik MacMillan on Unsplash

The application

You’ve got to apply in order to get the job.

The keys to success here are to have a stellar resume and cover letter, if appropriate. Cover letters always seem like extraneous work, but when done right, they have the potential to make you stand out in a crowded sea of applicants.

Round 1: The one with the phone screen

Congratulations! Out of the myriad of resumes submitted for this job, they liked you enough to call you and learn more! Don’t underplay the significance of this round — it’s still a feat even if there is no round two.

You’ll receive an email from the company’s HR team thanking you for your application and telling you they’d like to discuss the role with you further via a brief phone call.

This is your chance to ask any clarifying questions about the role, your team, and the company itself.

Not having any prepared questions is simply not acceptable; even if you already know the answers, ask (good) questions anyway. This makes you look engaged and interested in the role, rather than desperate for any paying job.

Most of the time, this step is an informational formality and not a gate to further rounds. It’s also possible that the hiring manager fields phone screens in lieu of human resources, in which case you jump directly to round two.

Tips for succeeding in round 1

Conduct all business professionally: Round 1 is designed to prune the candidate pool — ensure above all else you aren’t worth pruning.

The more relevant and deep your questions are, the more the company is destined to like you. Questions demonstrate an actual interest in the company aside from the salary.

Absolutely do not be late for the call/interview: This shows a lack of personal accountability and professionalism.

Research the company and your interviewer(s) in advance. This will save you from dedicating time during the interview for these questions and will avoid confusion between parties.

Round 2: The one with the hiring manager

Congratulations! You made it to round two of your interview! Take some time to applaud yourself, and remember this is no small feat.

In this round, you’ll be speaking with the person in charge of hiring for your desired role: the hiring manager. If hired, this will be the person to whom you directly report.

The goal of this round is to connect the person to the paper; your resume tells a story, however shallow, and now they want to hear your voice too. Below is a list of qualities the hiring manager will look for:

Can you hold — and sustain — a conversation?

Do you speak clearly and with purpose?

Are you well-versed in your subject domain?

Can you speak to the items listed on your resume? (This is why you never lie on your resume!)

Do your skills help to fill the gaps in our team?

Round 2 exists, again, to make sure you’re not wrong for the job — to ensure you can sustain a normal conversation and that you can back up the points on your resume.

This round is still more about trimming the less-desirable candidates than it is about finding “the one” for this job — that’s a task for round 3.

Tips for succeeding in round 2

Prepare relevant questions in advance. Any time the hiring manager spends talking is time you don’t need to.

Ask your interviewer about their experiences: The response will be informative for you, and people enjoy talking about themselves.

Speak slowly: Talking too fast can render your words inert. Taking your time to speak demonstrates confidence in what you are saying.

in what you are saying. Absolutely do not be late for this call.

do not be late for this call. As always, be professional and courteous. You’re speaking to your future manager after all.

Round 3: The one with the half-day on-site

This time, a more earnest congratulations are in order: You made it to round 3! Gone are the days of weeding out ineligible candidates — now it’s time to ensure you’re the one for this job.

The goal of the round is to finally meet you and see how well you’d work with the team and within their environment.

You’ll have the opportunity to interview (again) with the hiring manager — this time featuring more job specifics and more detailed questions about your technical background and previous roles.

Depending on the company, you may be asked to whiteboard simple engineering concepts, wireframe an application, or perform some other physical test of your aptitude for the role.

Round 3 often also affords you the chance to meet potential peers and leads of neighboring teams. This gives you, the interviewee, a chance to learn about other aspects of the company and how you’d interact with them.

Finally, it’s very common for companies to set up a peer-interview panel with 2-4 members of your potential new team. I quite like this form of interview for entry-level hires, as the professional facade of “the interview” drops a bit around peers.

Here you’re afforded the opportunity to ask more sensitive questions you may not want to ask your future manager: work hours, dress policy, remote work opportunities, snacks, etc.

Tips for landing the job