Introduction
This lesson contains an activity that you should complete.
Getting an interview
Search online
Searching online is always a good start for finding a job. It gives you a good idea of what is out there, what to expect from the industry, and whether there are jobs near you.
One issue is that it does mean your CV needs to compete with everyone else who applies for the position. This might mean applying for more junior positions at first, which would give you the space to grow into a team and build your experience.
Use connections
Having industry-related connections is a great way of finding a job. Sometimes you will be recommended for a job by a friend working at the company. Many employers want someone who will fit into the team well, and if you already have connections at the company, that can be a real boost.
We will cover networking and building connections in more detail in Module 2.
The interview
Succeeding at an interview
You might not fit exactly what the job is after, but be open to adapting your skills and learning new ones. In an interview, you can discuss the tools that you’ve worked with and how they relate to the tools used by the company you’re interviewing with. The company might use Vue.js, and your experience is with React, but if you show that you’re willing to learn, they could be persuaded.
Think about questions you would like to ask in the interview to make sure this is the right place for you. Asking these questions also makes you appear more prepared and serious about the position. Read more on this here.
A technical interview
You might be asked to do a technical interview. Usually, the interviewer will set you a series of tasks to complete in an interview setting. This allows them to ensure you can actually do what your CV says you can.
The new job
Negotiating a salary
One of the more challenging aspects of a new job is negotiating the salary. One of the most important things is knowing what salary you believe you and your skills are worth and what you’d be willing to accept.
To assess your worth, it’s a good idea to research and see what salaries are being offered for a similar position. Take into account your skills, education, and experience.
Once you’ve decided on the salary you’d be looking to accept, let them make you an offer first. That way, if it’s higher than what you wanted, it’s a bonus, and if it’s less, you can go back to them and negotiate for a higher salary.
What to expect from your first job
Many companies look to hire junior developers into their team as a long-term strategy to build individuals with potential. A junior developer is meant to learn the codebase, make small bug fixes, and usually work with mid and senior developers on projects they are working on. Development companies will have their own ways of doing things, and their own technology, and for the first while, you will just be getting up to speed on how things work and how everything integrates. Don’t be concerned if you feel overwhelmed; a good company will onboard you slowly, giving you achievable tasks to learn and contribute more as you learn.
Activity
💻 WATCH
Mastering Web Developer Interview Code
- Section 3. Interviews with Working Professionals (2 hours)
You can also watch sections 1 and 2 to see some of the questions you might be asked in a technical interview.
Lesson task
Goal
To practice answering interview questions.
Level 1
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Go to Github and practice answering various questions you might be asked in an interview.
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Practising ahead of time means you are more prepared and reassured in your understanding.