Mastering the Art of the Technical Interview: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Session Agenda Provide you with techniques and tips on how to: Effectively prepare for an interview Navigate technical questions Successfully communicate your experience and results Gain more insight into the company and the role you’re interested in

Panelists and Actors Nancy Amato, Texas A&M : amato@cse.tamu.edu Erin Chapple, Microsoft : erind@microsoft.com Lindsey Fowler, Amazon : linz@amazon.com Lynn Pastorius, Vanguard : evelyn_pastorius@vanguard.com Gabby Silberman, CA, Inc. : gabriel.silberman@ca.com Ellen Spertus, Google : spertus@google.com Beverly Walker, Lockheed Martin : beverly.a.walker@lmco.com Traci Wicks, Intuit : traci_wicks@intuit.com

Session Agenda Mock Interviews with 3 aspects: Technical questions Behavioral questions Interviewing the Interviewer – you ask the questions! Comments from panel Q&A

Expect that there may be a question you won’t be able to answer. Technical Questions The question might be big and vague - Ask clarifying questions and don’t give up. Be prepared for systems questions (be aware of hardware, and speed constraints) Be aware of coding syntax Test your answer with boundary cases Talk it through - Start with simple then optimize AND Do not think in silence! Keep talking through what you are thinking. If you have no clue - DO an example (or three) and talk it out Know the interviewer's frame of reference Expect that there may be a question you won’t be able to answer.

“Behavioral” Questions In behavioral interviewing your interviewer is looking at your past behavior to help predict future success. Provide specific examples and situations- stay aware from hypothetical answers as best possible Let the interviewer know what role you played in your example and what actions you took in that role Give the interviewer tangible outcomes/ results If asked for a negative example provide one but briefly follow up with “lessons learned” and how you applied those lessons and achieved great results Focus on what you have done and what results you achieved.

Interviewing the Interviewer Four key areas to cover with your questions … Questions to demonstrate your preparation and interest in the position and the organization. Do your homework! Questions to demonstrate your understanding of how the interview went. Two important qualities to demonstrate during an interview are: Passion for the area and Self-reflection Questions to understand the culture of the organization and career opportunities. Be prepared for the interviewer to turn the questions back to you and ask you to answer the question in relation to what your desires are. Questions to understand what happens next. You want to ensure that you end the interview on a strong note! As a Candidate you should always be prepared for the Interview to open the floor to you to ask questions. The questions you ask are part of the interview! They help convey to the Interviewer the background preparation you did, what issues are important to you, how you engage when you are in the driver’s seat. These will be factored into the Interviewer’s overall assessment. During the interview day, you should be thinking about what went well, what didn’t, things that excited you, things you didn’t like. Your ability to play this back at the end of the day to the interviewer helps to demonstrate both of these qualities. Questions to demonstrate your preparation and interest in the position Typical things you would be expected to know: Company size and geographic locations; Major products/services delivered; Key competitors; General knowledge of the industry including industry trends and challenges Do your homework! Questions to demonstrate your understanding of how the interview went. Two important qualities to demonstrate during an interview are: Passion for the area and Self-reflection Questions to understand the culture of the organization and career opportunities. What is your management philosophy and how are decisions made in your organization? What opportunities did you provide for your last high performer? What are the core values in your team? What do you look for in a top performer? What is the title of the top Individual Contributor in your company? How do you get there? What impact will my work have? Do you have flex hours/work location? Are there opportunities for travel and work in other locations/countries? Do you pay for graduate studies? Be prepared for the interviewer to turn the questions back to you and ask you to answer the question in relation to what your desires are. Questions to understand what happens next. You want to ensure that you end the interview on a strong note! Summarize how the day went, state your interest in the position and why, asking for clarity on the next steps This will ensure that you don’t leave the interview wondering what’s next?

Ask the Panel Nancy Amato, Texas A&M : amato@cse.tamu.edu Erin Chapple, Microsoft : erind@microsoft.com Lindsey Fowler, Amazon : linz@amazon.com Lynn Pastorius, Vanguard : evelyn_pastorius@vanguard.com Gabby Silberman, CA, Inc. : gabriel.silberman@ca.com Ellen Spertus, Google : spertus@google.com Beverly Walker, Lockheed Martin : beverly.a.walker@lmco.com Traci Wicks, Intuit : traci_wicks@intuit.com

Points to Keep in Mind Make sure you understand the question Don't make assumptions Ask clarifying questions If you have heard a question before, say so (it's obvious) Have confidence, but don't be arrogant.  Think about who you would want to work with: someone who is confident, knows what they are doing, isn't arrogant, and loves to learn.  Be that person that day.  Convince them to hire you by your attitude.

Typical “Behavioral” Questions Back-up only Describe situations when you . . have established strong working relationships with others. worked within a team toward a project objective had difficulty working with a co-worker, fellow student, boss, or professor, and what you did to resolve the issue effectively. needed to motivate others to get a project, task, and/or job done. had to sell one of your ideas to a peer, colleague, or team. came to develop new and creative solutions to school or work problems. failed at a project and what you learned from the experience. As well as . . . the additional things you do to pursue self-learning, in addition to maintaining your schoolwork. Demonstrate Teamwork, Innovation and Flexibility/Adaptability Focus on what you have done