technical phone interview - tips anyone?

mirkvid · Post by **mirkvid** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 3:00 am

Hey guys, I have a technical phone interview for a software engineering position on Tuesday. This would pretty much be the best job ever (game programming!) and I want to make the best impression possible. Any advice from those of you in the same field?

thanks!

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 3:32 am

Don't ask what sites their web proxy blocks.

UnscathedFlyingObject · Sat Jul 05, 2008 3:39 am

I'm not in that programming field, but I've had phone interviews before. Here's some tips:

- Have an idea of when they're going to call you, so you can know when to expect them (sounds obvious but don't take sometime on Tuesday, ask for the exact time.)

- Relax. Grab a cup of coffee, a comfortable chair, and throw your feet on top of the table.

- Get to a quiet place.

- Have some samples of your work ready with you. They'll definitely ask you what you have done so be ready to show them. Since you're in programming, have a computer in front of you with some programming stuff you've done.

- It's pretty much like a real interview so be prepared for interview questions. Some common ones are what are your ambitions, what do you plan to do in the future, why the sky is blue (not really but they ask the weirdest things.)

Phil12 · Post by **Phil12** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 4:14 am

The biggest thing I would show is my passion. I would tell him that these games are a life and death matter, and that you love everything about them. Tell them that every bit of it is in your heart, from the roots to the present. As they say every gamer should know their roots.

Well...something like that haha

Skykid · Post by **Skykid** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 6:53 am

Phil12 wrote:The biggest thing I would show is my passion. I would tell him that these games are a life and death matter, and that you love everything about them. Tell them that every bit of it is in your heart, from the roots to the present. As they say every gamer should know their roots.

Well...something like that haha

Yeah but stay professional when being passionate about the subject. Don't go all Tom Cruise and start jumping up and down on the sofa saying "I love that game, I love that game!"

szycag · Post by **szycag** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 7:32 am

Just picture what Phil12 would say and be not that... they don't care how you feel about games I'm sure.

Ganelon · Post by **Ganelon** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 8:32 am

Talk firmly and directly into the phone (don't use speaker unless you know your phone is clear), maintain an optimistic tone at all times, don't slur any words, try hard not to "uh" or "ya know" too much, use online resources if you have to.

Koa Zo · Post by **Koa Zo** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 4:06 am

Ganelon wrote:Talk firmly and directly into the phone (don't use speaker unless you know your phone is clear), maintain an optimistic tone at all times, don't slur any words, try hard not to "uh" or "ya know" too much, use online resources if you have to.

this.

Vexorg · Post by **Vexorg** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 6:53 am

Having been through a number of these types of interviews (not for an actual dev position, but in test with coding skills required) be ready to talk about programming, and be able to freely discuss topics that will be directly relevant to what you might be doing there. The last time I had a technical phone interview they actually set up a LiveMeeting to do a coding exercise (similar to the standard whiteboard coding exercise.) If they're just interviewing over the phone they probably won't do anything like that, but I'd be ready to discuss coding. In my experience, coding skills are the main thing that is assessed in the interview, so that's what you need to focus on.

elfhentaifan · Post by **elfhentaifan** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 10:12 am

UnscathedFlyingObject wrote:I'm not in that programming field, but I've had phone interviews before.

One of the worst jobs i ever had.

yojo! · Post by **yojo!** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 10:58 am

Being in LV would it be for programming games for slot machines or regular PC / consoles ?

Michaelm · Post by **Michaelm** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 11:38 am

Vexorg wrote:Having been through a number of these types of interviews (not for an actual dev position, but in test with coding skills required) be ready to talk about programming, and be able to freely discuss topics that will be directly relevant to what you might be doing there. The last time I had a technical phone interview they actually set up a LiveMeeting to do a coding exercise (similar to the standard whiteboard coding exercise.) If they're just interviewing over the phone they probably won't do anything like that, but I'd be ready to discuss coding. In my experience, coding skills are the main thing that is assessed in the interview, so that's what you need to focus on.

Hmm, that's actually kinda cool that the interviewer knows how to code as well.
I've only experienced one live interview (Not over the phone!) so far and the interviewers knew nothing about coding themselves which sorta sucks cause they can't really make an educated guess about your abilities.

Frederik · Post by **Frederik** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 12:07 pm

Skykid wrote:
Phil12 wrote:The biggest thing I would show is my passion. I would tell him that these games are a life and death matter, and that you love everything about them. Tell them that every bit of it is in your heart, from the roots to the present. As they say every gamer should know their roots.

Well...something like that haha
Yeah but stay professional when being passionate about the subject. Don't go all Tom Cruise and start jumping up and down on the sofa saying "I love that game, I love that game!"

That would be awesome over the phone. "I love to program!" *bam slam squeak squeak*

But I agree. It seems that in many TV casting shows people have gotten the idea of "believe in what you do" wrong and now think that wanting something REALLY REALLY HARD automatically qualifies them. We all know those people from American Idol or the respective international adaptions (it´s always the same anyways) where bad people beg and whine how singing and dancing is THEIR LIFE!!!! but they still suck at it. That is the result from watching too much corny Hollywood movies and Nike commercials.

I bet the best thing would to sound healthy and optimistic, but not like you´re about to throw a fit in excitement. Same as with having a date - be interested, but don´t be creepy or desperate. Show some self-confidence, but don´t brag. Eh, just find the golden middle in everything. But most of all: Be yourself. BE YOURSELF ALREADY!

Ganelon wrote:Talk firmly and directly into the phone (don't use speaker unless you know your phone is clear),

That should go without saying. That crap is horrible even in everyday situations (at least from my experience).

The n00b · Post by **The n00b** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 4:38 pm

Throw in as many acronyms and programming terms that you can possibly think of. No matter how trivial you think it is, you must throw it out.

Technical people like this.

mirkvid · Post by **mirkvid** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 4:03 am

yojo! wrote:Being in LV would it be for programming games for slot machines or regular PC / consoles ?

The job is actually in Texas. I just finished school and I'm looking to get out of Vegas. The only programming gigs here are for D.O.D. or for the slots.

Zebra Airforce · Post by **Zebra Airforce** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:11 am

I suggest being naked and touching your weiner.