Technical tests are an expected part of the interview process. Yet, even if you have the experience and knowledge to pass the assessment, you could easily ‘fail’ this portion of the interview process.
What do you need to do to be fully prepared?
Prepare Your Workspace
- Test out lighting, your camera, and your microphone.
- Remove any inappropriate or distracting signage in the background.
- Login 5 minutes early to catch any software updates on your video conference application.
- Test your video conference application. Make sure it works on the computer you are using.
- Find a quiet space that discourages interruptions.
Practice Your Test Taking Skills
- Don’t discount the power of practice before the technical interview.
Avoid Test Taking Red Flags
- Darting eyes are distracting. Looking upwards, downwards, or beyond the screen indicates to interviewers that you could be receiving external help during the assessment. Keep your eyes locked on the computer screen and camera.
- Your body language and hands will give you away as easily as your eyes. Keep them on the keyboard, desk or in view to avoid giving off the appearance that you are distracted by something else.
- Turn your phone off.
- Eliminate clutter within reach. It invites idle hands into distraction.
Taking a technical assessment or interviewing online is not an easy task. Even if you are the right fit and your technical skills are in-line with the job, you can still fail the test without taking the time to prepare. Minimize these pitfalls. Do not give an interviewer a reason not to hire you.
