Job Interview Skills for Computer

Science Majors
A job interview is a chance to showcase your skills and qualifications. Let us guide you through the best ways
to succeed in job interviews at technology companies. With our tips, phrases, and common questions, you'll
be ready to land your dream job!
Research and Preparation

Research the Dress Professionally Be Confident and

Company and
Position
Before your interview, research
the company's history, culture,
and competitors. Also, read
through the job description
carefully and make note of the
required skills and
responsibilities.
and Arrive on Time
It's important to make a good
first impression. Dress
professionally and arrive at least
10 minutes early to your
interview.
Articulate
During the interview, be
confident and articulate when
answering questions. Speak
slowly and clearly.
Useful Phrases
"In my experience,..." "In the past, I have
Use this phrase to share your experience with
demonstrated..."
the interviewer. Use this phrase to highlight your skills and show
how you meet the job requirements.

"I am a quick learner." "Can you tell me more about...?"

Use this phrase to show your willingness to learn Use this phrase to ask for more information about
and adapt to new situations. the company or the position.
Common Questions

"Tell me about "What are your "What are your

yourself." strengths?" weaknesses?"

Prepare a one-minute pitch that Choose 2-3 strengths that are Choose a weakness that is not
summarizes your education, relevant to the job and provide related to the job and explain
experience, and skills. specific examples. how you are working on
improving it.
Practicing Job Interview

Dialogue 1

Practice this example dialogue with a friend:

This is the example dialogue of a job interview for an intern product manager position at a gaming company
called Agate Inc.:

Interviewer : Hi, Ray. Thanks for coming in today. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

Candidate : Hi, thank you for having me. I recently graduated from Techno University with a degree in computer
science. During my studies, I worked on several projects that gave me experience in project management and
technology.

Interviewer : That's great. Why do you want to work at Agate Inc.?

Candidate : I've always been passionate about the gaming industry and I admire Agate Inc.'s innovative
approach to game development. I believe my skills and experience would be a valuable asset to the team, and
I'm excited about the opportunity to contribute to the company's success.

Interviewer : Can you tell me about a project you worked on during your studies that you're particularly proud
of?

Candidate : Sure. One of the projects I worked on was developing a mobile game as part of a team. I was
responsible for managing the project and ensuring that we met our deadlines. We faced some challenges
along the way, but we worked together to overcome them and ultimately delivered a successful game.

Interviewer : How do you handle difficult situations or conflicts within a team?

Candidate : I believe communication is key in resolving conflicts within a team. I try to listen to everyone's
perspective and facilitate a discussion to find a solution that works for everyone. I also believe it's important to
address conflicts early on before they escalate.

Interviewer : Thank you for your time, Ray. We'll be in touch soon.

Candidate : Thank you, I look forward to hearing from you.

Practicing Job Interview

Dialogue 2

Practice this example dialogue with a friend:

This dialogue about Freya who is currently applying for data analyst position in AstroLux Corporation.

Interviewer 1:

Good morning Freya, thank you for coming in today. My name is John and I’ll be conducting your interview for
the data analyst position here at AstroLux Corporation.

Freya:

Good morning John, thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure to be here.

Interviewer 2:

So, I see from your resume that you graduated from the University of Tokyo with a major in Big Data Analytics.
Can you tell me more about your educational background and how it has prepared you for this role?

Freya:

Yes, I graduated from the University of Tokyo with a major in Big Data Analytics. During my studies, I gained a
strong foundation in data analysis techniques and tools, as well as experience working on real-world projects. I
believe that my education has prepared me well for this role by providing me with the necessary skills and
knowledge to analyze and interpret data effectively.

Interviewer 3:

That’s great to hear. And I also see that you have 3 years of experience working at Boeing Drone Company as a
Junior Data Analyst and project manager in prototyping productivity. Can you tell me more about your
experience there and how it has prepared you for this role?

Freya:

Yes, I worked at Boeing Drone Company for 3 years as a Junior Data Analyst and project manager in prototyping
productivity. During my time there, I gained valuable experience working on data analysis projects and
managing teams to deliver results on time and within budget. I also developed various skills related to data
analysis, such as data visualization and statistical modeling. I believe that my experience at Boeing Drone
Company has prepared me well for this role by providing me with practical experience in applying data analysis
techniques to real-world problems.

Interviewer 4:

That sounds like valuable experience. Can you tell me more about the specific skills you have that are related
to this position?

Freya:

Sure. In addition to my education and experience, I have developed various skills related to data analysis. For
example, I am proficient in using data visualization tools such as Tableau to create clear and concise visual
representations of data. I also have experience using statistical modeling techniques such as regression
analysis to make predictions based on data. Additionally, I am familiar with programming languages such as
Python and R, which are commonly used for data analysis.

Interviewer 1:

Those are all very relevant skills for this position. Thank you for sharing that with me. Do you have any
questions for me about the role or the company?

Freya:

Yes, I was wondering if you could tell me more about the specific projects that I would be working on if I were
to be offered this position.

Interviewer 2:

Of course. As a data analyst at AstroLux Corporation, you would be working on a variety of projects related to
analyzing and interpreting data to support business decisions. Some examples of projects you might work on
include analyzing customer data to identify trends and patterns, developing predictive models to forecast
future sales, and creating dashboards to track key performance indicators.

Freya:

That sounds very interesting. Thank you for providing me with more information about the role.

Interviewer 3:

You’re welcome. Do you have any other questions?

Freya:

No, that’s all for now. Thank you again for considering me for this position.

Interviewer 2:

Thank you for coming in today Freya. It was great meeting you and learning more about your background and
experience. We will be in touch soon regarding the next steps.
Roleplay and Assignment
Compose your own dialogue for a
job interview
Think of some questions that the interviewer might
ask you and prepare your answers. Then, practice
your dialogue with a partner via Zoom or in-person.
Record a video of yourself
practicing your job interview
roleplay as an assignment
Set up your smartphone or laptop camera and
record yourself practicing your dialogue. Watch the
video and assess your performance.
Conclusion
With preparation and practice, you can ace your next job interview.
Remember to be confident and articulate when answering
questions, and don't be afraid to ask for clarification. Good luck!