What I Learned After 15 Screening Interviews as a Coding Bootcamp Graduate

Screening interviews are a way for a company to get a full picture of you and for you to get to know the company better. These didn’t make me nervous because I came into them knowing that they’re just an introduction. Always be yourself and always be honest because you want the company to be a perfect match for you. Some screening interviews ask technical questions, some don’t. Just like anything, the more screening interviews you do, the easier they become. Make sure to learn from all of them!

Here’s what I learned from doing 15 screening interviews as an entry-level developer.

This is not a time to be shy

Be proud of what you’ve accomplished in the past. A lot of people mention that it’s difficult for them to talk about themselves during interviews as it makes them feel like they’re boasting. I had this problem, too. I would begin to answer questions and then I would stop myself because it felt like I was talking too much, leaving some details of my achievements behind. Well, guess what? Those achievements might actually help the company grow! Instead of focusing on gloating about yourself, focus on how you can be of help to the company. What is it about you that can help make the company’s job easier? Eventually, I found a way to talk about the important details of my achievements, and I got better results!

Research the company

There’s nothing more flattering than knowing that an interviewee knows a deeper side to the company. This will set you apart from those who did not research the company at all. They seem uninterested while you already show a passion for the company. If the company website lists company values, find a way to talk about them and how you’ve exemplified these traits before. How would you use them to benefit the company?

Read the job description

If the job description says, “looking for someone who loves to be in a collaborative environment”, make sure to mention how you thrived in a collaborative environment before. These job descriptions are a clue to what the interviewer may ask you.

Prepare to answer the following questions:

“Tell me about yourself”

Coming out of bootcamp, you must have just started with web development. Talk about what you did before web development, how you got into it, what you learned, what you do now, and what you plan to do in the future. This is your pitch, so add how you can be an asset for the company you’re applying for. There are plenty of webinars and articles that go into detail about answering this question. Make your first impression a great one!

“Why do you wanna work for {company}?”

If you are job hunting during the pandemic, you must have sent hundreds of applications to some companies you don’t really know about. This is a common question, so always research the company you’re interviewing for. If it’s difficult for you to answer this question, it’s a good indication that you don’t really want to work for that company. Knowing this, still try to dig deep and give an honest answer. There are times when I thought I didn’t like the company at first, but the more I find out about them during the interview, the more I like them. Always give an honest answer. If you are passionate about the company’s mission, then this should be an easy question to answer!

“What is your expected salary? What would make you motivated to work?”

You can research the average salary of your position at your location and calculate your expenses to see how much you would need a year. Find a range that you would be happy with. I would suggest researching your position on Glassdoor to see how much the company normally pays. This isn’t always accurate, but you can get an idea. If mentioning your salary expectations makes you nervous, you can ask, “What have you budgeted for this position?” To me, this was the most satisfying answer because sometimes, their budget is more than your range!

“Do you have any questions for us?”

Ask whatever you are curious about. Again, you can research great questions to ask your interviewer. There are some questions I would be afraid to ask, but if framed well enough, the recruiter will happily answer any question!

If you don’t pass the screening interview, don’t fret. Think about what you can do better next time! Companies can’t always give feedback, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. Sometimes, you did great and there’s really nothing you would change! The company might have just found someone better suited for them, and a company perfect for you is waiting around the corner!

I hope this helps! What other tips would you give someone who is about to do a screening interview?