JOB SEARCH SKILLS WELCOME

Getting a job = selling your skills (and not just skills)

JOB SEARCH SKILLS What is the value offered? Short-term polishing (SQA Training, Test Automation) Short-term polishing (SQA Training, Test Automation) Long-term foundation (maturity, documentation, quality) Long-term foundation (maturity, documentation, quality) 17 seconds rule (liking-not liking things) 17 seconds rule (liking-not liking things)

JOB SEARCH SKILLS What is our target market? Who is your competition? Who is your competition? Not the entry level niche – we apply for 2+ year posts Not the entry level niche – we apply for 2+ year posts 3-6 month contracts – simply the best to start with 3-6 month contracts – simply the best to start with Limited time frame for hiring consultantsLimited time frame for hiring consultants Faster growing compensationFaster growing compensation Faster building your professional networkFaster building your professional network More intensive professional growthMore intensive professional growth No long-term commitment on your sideNo long-term commitment on your side Good chance to be offered permanent position right thereGood chance to be offered permanent position right there

Numbers and ratios Resumes send (exposures)  Contacts (calls/ s)  Resumes sent by recruiters to hiring managers  Face to face interviews  5. 3Job offers 1000  400  40  10  3 RATIOS IMPROVE OVER TIME

Job seekers complain: Nobody calls me Nobody calls me I have no interviews I have no interviews I have no job offers I have no job offers WHAT IS THE REASON? CAN WE FIX THAT? HOW?

RESUME SENDING RULES Craigslist, Dice, Monster, CareerBuilder Craigslist, Dice, Monster, CareerBuilder Keywords: QA, SQA, Test, Quality Keywords: QA, SQA, Test, Quality Post resume on job search engines Post resume on job search engines Update posted resumes every day Update posted resumes every day Keyword code when post resumes Keyword code when post resumes Up to 50 resumes sent every day Up to 50 resumes sent every day 50% match – good enough to apply 50% match – good enough to apply

Answering first round of questions What is your rate? (recruiters & companies) What is your rate? (recruiters & companies) How soon can you start? How soon can you start? Are you willing to relocate? Are you willing to relocate? Can I get your references? Can I get your references? Can I get your SSN (last 4 digits of your SSN)? Can I get your SSN (last 4 digits of your SSN)? Why are you looking for another job? Why are you looking for another job? How far would you commute? How far would you commute? Do you know xxxxx? Do you know xxxxx? On the scale from 1 to 10, 10 being the highest, how would you rate your knowledge of xxxx? On the scale from 1 to 10, 10 being the highest, how would you rate your knowledge of xxxx?

Phone screening & interview questions Tell me about the company XYZ (from your resume)? Tell me about the company XYZ (from your resume)? Tell me about the application you tested at XYZ company? Tell me about the application you tested at XYZ company? Tell me about your responsibilities (what you did) at XYZ company? Tell me about your responsibilities (what you did) at XYZ company? How did you do regression (functionality, acceptance, stress, load...) testing in that company? How did you do regression (functionality, acceptance, stress, load...) testing in that company? How did you write test cases? reported bugs? Communicated with developers? Resolved issues? How did you write test cases? reported bugs? Communicated with developers? Resolved issues? Give me an example of a bug you reported Give me an example of a bug you reported Give an example of test cases you wrote Give an example of test cases you wrote

Difficult interview questions Do you know this (you do not know anything) Do you know this (you do not know anything) How do you see yourself in 5 years? How do you see yourself in 5 years? What motivates you? What motivates you? Why should we hire you? Why should we hire you? What are your weaknesses? What are your weaknesses?

Successful interview principles Being sincere Being sincere Being prepared Being prepared Answering the question in a concise straightforward way, no games played (Do you know what time is it now?) Answering the question in a concise straightforward way, no games played (Do you know what time is it now?)

How do you see yourself in 5 years? Making difference in Software Testing Making difference in Software Testing To get there I need to work on good projects, next to good professionals To get there I need to work on good projects, next to good professionals Besides that I want to specialize (chose the niche) in whatever they do (give reasons) Besides that I want to specialize (chose the niche) in whatever they do (give reasons)

Tell me about the company X How old How old how many people work there how many people work there product line product line who it competes against who it competes against is it public or privately owned is it public or privately owned is it profitable or not yet, startup is it profitable or not yet, startup story attached if any story attached if any Plans: original and how they changed Plans: original and how they changed building building benefits benefits work environment, culture work environment, culture

Tell me about the application Created for what kind of users and needs Created for what kind of users and needs Major features and functional areas (shopping cart, catalog, search, registration, etc.) Major features and functional areas (shopping cart, catalog, search, registration, etc.) Competing products and what makes our product different Competing products and what makes our product different Customer base Customer base Market share Market share Dynamics of growth (sales, customer base, releases, features, hiring) Dynamics of growth (sales, customer base, releases, features, hiring)