1. Do Your Research
Many companies, especially successful ones, have tons of people wanting to work for them. If they have a choice between someone who knows the company inside out, and someone who has no idea what the company does, which one do you think they’ll choose? You don’t need to know everything, but spending even half an hour on Google prior to your interview can take you a long way.
2. Check Your CV
This would be good to do before you send it in in the first place. Go over your CV and modify it to best fit the job you’re applying for. Check our guide to writing a killer CV. Also, if it’s been a while, make sure you have you don’t have your old phone number on it (obvious, yes, but it wouldn’t be the first time). Having your CV tailored to the job/industry you’re applying for will make you stick out in a positive way.
3. Dress Accordingly
Just to be clear, this does not mean putting on a suit and tie. If you’re going for a top corporate job it would be a good idea, but as a developer, it might not be the best choice. You should choose your outfit depending on what company you’re interviewing with, or else you’ll look very out of place (this goes back to the first point of doing your research).
4. Be on Time
For some people, punctuality is not a high priority. In the Nordics, though, it is; if your interview starts at 10:00, you better be there by then. Better yet, aim to be there 5-10 minutes early, just in case. There’s no worse way to start an interview than not being there on time!
5. Shake Hands
Obvious to some, not so much to others. You know how some people don’t really shake hands, but just hold their clammy hand in front of you? Don’t be that guy. And you know how other people try to crush your hand like a grape? Don’t be that guy either. A good, solid handshake is one of the best ways to set a good impression.
6. Answer Questions Clearly
One of the worst things as an interviewer is to listen to someone drone on about something completely nonsensical. Please, don’t go on a half-hour monologue about how you spent your Sundays as a kid, or about who your favourite Beatles member is. By, listening to what is asked, and being clear with what you say, you’ll make a good impression.
7. Be Yourself
Even if it’s not obvious, pretending to be something you’re not will be picked up by your interviewer; and nobody wants to hire a phoney. If it’s a company that’s not for you, pretending otherwise is no good for anyone.
8. Be Honest
Similar to the previous point, you need to be honest – both to yourself and the interviewer. What are your strengths and weaknesses? How can they best be used in the position you’re applying for? Being honest is one of your best tools for building rapport.
9. Ask Good Questions
After the interview, you’ll most likely have time to ask questions of your own. This is your chance to leave a good last impression; by asking a few insightful questions at this point you will not only gain even more knowledge about the position, but come off as a strong and noteworthy candidate.
10. Know What You Want
In the end, you should remember that an interview is a two a street. It’s not only about the company finding the best candidate for them, but about you finding the best position for you. By knowing where you want to go in your career, you’ll know if the job is right for you or not. Let’s hope these interview tips for developers in the nordics will help you now or in future.Â
So there you have it! Especially if you’re new to the Nordic way of working, these tips will help you grasp how things are done, and what an interviewer is looking for.
1. Do Your Research
Many companies, especially successful ones, have tons of people wanting to work for them. If they have a choice between someone who knows the company inside out, and someone who has no idea what the company does, which one do you think they’ll choose? You don’t need to know everything, but spending even half an hour on Google prior to your interview can take you a long way.
2. Check Your CV
This would be good to do before you send it in in the first place. Go over your CV and modify it to best fit the job you’re applying for. Check our guide to writing a killer CV. Also, if it’s been a while, make sure you have you don’t have your old phone number on it (obvious, yes, but it wouldn’t be the first time). Having your CV tailored to the job/industry you’re applying for will make you stick out in a positive way.
3. Dress Accordingly
Just to be clear, this does not mean putting on a suit and tie. If you’re going for a top corporate job it would be a good idea, but as a developer, it might not be the best choice. You should choose your outfit depending on what company you’re interviewing with, or else you’ll look very out of place (this goes back to the first point of doing your research).
4. Be on Time
For some people, punctuality is not a high priority. In the Nordics, though, it is; if your interview starts at 10:00, you better be there by then. Better yet, aim to be there 5-10 minutes early, just in case. There’s no worse way to start an interview than not being there on time!
5. Shake Hands
Obvious to some, not so much to others. You know how some people don’t really shake hands, but just hold their clammy hand in front of you? Don’t be that guy. And you know how other people try to crush your hand like a grape? Don’t be that guy either. A good, solid handshake is one of the best ways to set a good impression.
6. Answer Questions Clearly
One of the worst things as an interviewer is to listen to someone drone on about something completely nonsensical. Please, don’t go on a half-hour monologue about how you spent your Sundays as a kid, or about who your favourite Beatles member is. By, listening to what is asked, and being clear with what you say, you’ll make a good impression.
7. Be Yourself
Even if it’s not obvious, pretending to be something you’re not will be picked up by your interviewer; and nobody wants to hire a phoney. If it’s a company that’s not for you, pretending otherwise is no good for anyone.
8. Be Honest
Similar to the previous point, you need to be honest – both to yourself and the interviewer. What are your strengths and weaknesses? How can they best be used in the position you’re applying for? Being honest is one of your best tools for building rapport.
9. Ask Good Questions
After the interview, you’ll most likely have time to ask questions of your own. This is your chance to leave a good last impression; by asking a few insightful questions at this point you will not only gain even more knowledge about the position, but come off as a strong and noteworthy candidate.
10. Know What You Want
In the end, you should remember that an interview is a two a street. It’s not only about the company finding the best candidate for them, but about you finding the best position for you. By knowing where you want to go in your career, you’ll know if the job is right for you or not. Let’s hope these interview tips for developers in the nordics will help you now or in future.
So there you have it! Especially if you’re new to the Nordic way of working, these tips will help you grasp how things are done, and what an interviewer is looking for.
1. Do Your Research
Many companies, especially successful ones, have tons of people wanting to work for them. If they have a choice between someone who knows the company inside out, and someone who has no idea what the company does, which one do you think they’ll choose? You don’t need to know everything, but spending even half an hour on Google prior to your interview can take you a long way.
2. Check Your CV
This would be good to do before you send it in in the first place. Go over your CV and modify it to best fit the job you’re applying for. Check our guide to writing a killer CV. Also, if it’s been a while, make sure you have you don’t have your old phone number on it (obvious, yes, but it wouldn’t be the first time). Having your CV tailored to the job/industry you’re applying for will make you stick out in a positive way.
3. Dress Accordingly
Just to be clear, this does not mean putting on a suit and tie. If you’re going for a top corporate job it would be a good idea, but as a developer, it might not be the best choice. You should choose your outfit depending on what company you’re interviewing with, or else you’ll look very out of place (this goes back to the first point of doing your research).
4. Be on Time
For some people, punctuality is not a high priority. In the Nordics, though, it is; if your interview starts at 10:00, you better be there by then. Better yet, aim to be there 5-10 minutes early, just in case. There’s no worse way to start an interview than not being there on time!
5. Shake Hands
Obvious to some, not so much to others. You know how some people don’t really shake hands, but just hold their clammy hand in front of you? Don’t be that guy. And you know how other people try to crush your hand like a grape? Don’t be that guy either. A good, solid handshake is one of the best ways to set a good impression.
6. Answer Questions Clearly
One of the worst things as an interviewer is to listen to someone drone on about something completely nonsensical. Please, don’t go on a half-hour monologue about how you spent your Sundays as a kid, or about who your favourite Beatles member is. By, listening to what is asked, and being clear with what you say, you’ll make a good impression.
7. Be Yourself
Even if it’s not obvious, pretending to be something you’re not will be picked up by your interviewer; and nobody wants to hire a phoney. If it’s a company that’s not for you, pretending otherwise is no good for anyone.
8. Be Honest
Similar to the previous point, you need to be honest – both to yourself and the interviewer. What are your strengths and weaknesses? How can they best be used in the position you’re applying for? Being honest is one of your best tools for building rapport.
9. Ask Good Questions
After the interview, you’ll most likely have time to ask questions of your own. This is your chance to leave a good last impression; by asking a few insightful questions at this point you will not only gain even more knowledge about the position, but come off as a strong and noteworthy candidate.
10. Know What You Want
In the end, you should remember that an interview is a two a street. It’s not only about the company finding the best candidate for them, but about you finding the best position for you. By knowing where you want to go in your career, you’ll know if the job is right for you or not. Let’s hope these interview tips for developers in the nordics will help you now or in future.
So there you have it! Especially if you’re new to the Nordic way of working, these tips will help you grasp how things are done, and what an interviewer is looking for.