IT career women - Job interview dilema

Author

Job interview dilema

miscys

2002-03-06, 11:59 am

Hi All!

Well after months of job searching I have finally come so far as to be called for an actual job interview. The competition here in Sweden for jobs in IT is stiff to say the very least. For every job announced they have anywhere from 100 to 150 applicants. The job I applied for was listed as pc-technician. I can't even remember the specifics since that was like 20 applications ago. I have studied until my eyes bleed for two years now and have a few certs and many many hours of computer classes under my belt. Problem is that I haven't actually had a "secular job" working with computers. I have done two internships at two different companies, one being a month long, the other six months. The latter was at my husband's place of employment and wouldn't you know they just happen to have a policy that they do not employ married couples...(now they tell me six months later).

Anyway....I'm nervous to say the least. I am wondering how to present myself at this interview since as they say here in Sweden I don't have alot of meat on my bones in the IT job department. Any tips and hints would be greatly appreciated.

Here's a list of some of the things I have studied:

Local Networking technologies
Microsoft Access Database handling
Administration of Databases i Access
Visual Basic 6.0
HTML programming
Personal Computers
Network Communication
Algorithim theories
Novel Netware 5.0 (Local Network Admin)
Windows NT 4 Server
SQL Server 7.0 Administration
Linux
Network +
TCP/IP
Windows 2000 Server
Windows 2000 Professional
Administrating a Network Infrastructure
Administrating Directory Services
Monitoring and Troubleshooting
Operating systems from a user's perspective

As you can see I've studied quite a lot over the last two years. Question is how do I sell myself? HELP!

Nicole

2002-03-06, 6:55 pm

I think you are going to have to sell YOU, not your studying. If they are interviewing people with no experience or very limited experience, they are willing to hire good people who are sharp and are quick learners. Companies like this are often great to work for. How well you present yourself and whether or not your personality seems like a fit with the department is going to be crucial.

Before your interview, research the company. If they have a web site, they may have a section on "corporate culture" or something similar, which will give you an idea of how they percieve themselves and what they want to be as a company.

From what you said here, you might want to present yourself as an avid learner (and you are!) who is eager to get her feet wet. Be scrupulously professional, friendly and outgoing to everyone from the receptionist to the interviewer. (And yes, at least at the companies I've worked for, the receptionist does often get asked about a candidate's manner and politeness.)

In short, focus on selling yourself and your soft-skills and your desire to learn. But follow your gut instinct and adjust as necessary if you feel the interviewer is looking for something different from you, like a specific skill set you think you can fill.

Good luck on your first IT interview, and let us know how it goes.

Drummer

2002-03-06, 8:32 pm

As usual, Nicole is right on the money. Companies like flexible people. People who are willing to start at the bottom and work their way to the top. People who are "team players", show initiative, and are willing to do the "dirty work". If pressed hard enough, an employer will say that they can teach someone skills if they have to but they can't teach being able to get along with someone.

jackiechan

2002-03-07, 1:38 pm

You must awaken the giant in you.
Stop making excuses, set yourself goals, take one step at a time.

miscys

2002-03-08, 1:41 am

Thanks for the tips everyone. I am going to go in there confident and determined. I have just recently found out from my unemployment office here in Sweden that I can tell them...the place I'm going for the interview...that if they want I can have the first six month of my wages paid by the unemployment office. If that doesn't give the that little extra edge I don't know what will.

I'll keep ya posted on how the interview goes. It's not until the 20th.

Thanks again!!

Miscy

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