CS job search and interview techniques

1. What skills are also important

a. Knowledge of software life cycle
b. Good user experience skills
i. GUI
ii. Front-end
c. Interpersonal communication skills
i. Email
ii. Phone
d. How to deal with technical conflict
2. How to find a job
a. Networking
b. Personal touch
c. The Web
i. http://cs.sfsu.edu/jobs.html
ii. http://computingcareers.acm.org
d. ask companies directly
e. Recruiters
i. Third party that are not directly associated with company
ii. Be careful
iii. Do not give them your resume
iv. Dont sign anything without reading it
v. Their business is to make money off of you
3. Application submission
a. Goal
i. To pass HR filter
b. Salary
i. LEAVE IT BLANK
c. Travel
i. Be flexible
d. Keep record of all applications you send out
4. Cover letter
a. What are you applying for
b. How did you find out about this
c. Summary of skills and qualifications of specific interests to this company and opening
i. Customized for each company
ii. No fluff here
iii. 10 lines
d. to page max
e. Suggest some kind of follow up
f. NO TYPOS and good styling
5. Resume
a. Objective
i. No fluff
ii. QA, Development, Support
b. Skills
i. Technical Skills
ii. Communication Skills
iii. Organizational Skills
c. Awards, something very special
d. Education and Experience
i. Most impressive goes first
ii. Company, Position, Time
1. Speak in past tense
iii. References to product names
e. Hobbies

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References
i. Available upon request
Do your HW BEFORE contact with the company
a. About the company
b. Products
c. Management
d. Market Store
e. Competitors
f. Download and try products
g. Read reviews
h. Check the people
i. Ask around
j. Google them
k. Social media
l. Google yourself
Phone screening
a. Their Goals
i. Filter before interview
b. Your goal
i. Impress and pass filter
ii. Do not too much
c. Questions
i. Resume clarification
ii. Basic technical screening
iii. Ask about key skills
iv. Why are you leaving previous job?
d. Ask questions about the job, company, management
i. What are the expectations
ii. What will be my work environment
iii. What would my average day be like
e. Money talk
i. If they ask how much you are asking for
1. Ask them what the range that the company is offering based on your experience and
position
2. If they keep pressuring defer to industry standard range
a. I think that based on my experience and this position, I qualify for industry
standard
Interview strategies
a. Dress nicely
b. Show up on time
c. Know where you are going, and bring their phone number just in case
d. Bring itinerary
e. Bring several copies resume and all paperwork that is listed and can be asked for during the interview
f. Eat before
g. Interview Questions
i. How do you deal with conflict
1. Stick with technical challenges
a. I had solution a, team member had solution b, we worked together to come up
with the best solution to the problem
b. Avoid personal conflict
ii. What are your weaknesses
1. I think I need to brush up on gap in knowledge to get the ball rolling in this position
2. Prepare something
Multiple offers
a. Call company that has not given you an offer and tell them

i. I have an offer from a different company can you match it, help me decide I prefer your
company
b. Decline an offer that has been given if you decide to not go with it respectfully
i. Email
10. Follow-up
a. Send thank you note the next day
b. If nothing happens after 2 weeks
i. Its ok to ping them gently and query what the status is

c.