Don't try to rationalize interviews

I tried to explain the process of interviewing before. As much as I like to admit it is not a rational process. I've had the chance to interview people and my process was just as disorganized.

I thought of the poor graduate that memorized all the theories and weird puzzle question he could find on the web to pass the interview. I could see the disappointment in his eyes when I didn't give any puzzle in the interview. He trained rigorously for it. I was just looking for a front end developer, I didn't care that he had a strategy to know how many pirates there are in the Caribbeans.

Every interview I had was different than the previous. The one pattern I could discern from all this is that everyone was winging it as best they can.

There are online guides on how to get a job at Google, at Amazon, at Facebook. I'm sure those articles succeed in getting a lot of views, but there is no correlation between the people who read the articles and those who got the job.

The interview is not rational. Even though it is dressed like a school exam, its outcome has nothing to do with a grading system. You can't pass with a C.

You will pass the interview only if you are a good fit. And that could mean a whole lot of things.

If your interviewers don't like you, it doesn't matter how many degrees or experience you have to back you up. You are not getting hired. I've seen the opposite too. When the interviewers think the candidate is cool and hire him despite his lack of basic understanding in the field. Believe it or not, some people get hired because they are funny.

That doesn't mean you should come unprepared. On the contrary, you should show up with your biggest guns. It's about the way you dress, the way you talk, your attitude. These are the things that are going to get you hired. There are enough graduates to go around, if a degree is all you have to show for then think again.

An interview is like being on a date. You study your subject, make your case accordingly and hope for the best.

All this is to tell you that there are no simple mechanics to an interview. You are talking with another human being. You will have to impress them on a personal level to sell them your services.

Your degree will be an ink splash on your resume, especially if you don't have the work experience. How you decide to market yourself in the interrogatory room is what will get you the job.

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