Onegai shimasu (γγγγ γγΎγ) π
One of the toughest experiences you’ll have in the industry is The Interview. You must remember that the prospective employer has already seen your portfolio, resume, code (whatever) and they liked what they saw. Now that they have you in front of them, they want to check if you’d be a good fit for them. It can be stressful and very intimidating. Sometimes it’s designed to be.
The toughest interview I experienced was I was interviewed by the creative director, then the art lead then the whole art team at a lunch. 12 people total.
Another was that I was a guest speaker and one of the main directors was in the audience (I had no idea). She came up to me after, we talked a bit, and she offered me a job right there. I still had no idea who she was at the time!
Sometime, you’ll get VERY odd questions that are designed to check out your personality. The oddest question I ever got was “Father Sword or Atlantean Sword?” That’s the whole question. And I new exactly what they meant. A great lively discussion followed. I found out later that they loved the discussion.
I did some research from my industry friend on what odd questions have been asked:
“You come to a fork in the road. Do you turn left or right?”
“Name a Micheal J Fox movie that is NOT a Back to the Future film.”
“Have you ever attended a clown school?”
“Can you quote a line from a Monty Python movie verbatim?”
“If you had a Time Machine what form would it be in?”
Questions like these are to find out more of your personality (bonus if a good discussion rises). To see if you’d be a good fit in their team.
Always remember that you’re there to see if the company would be a good fit for you. At one interview I had I had a sense that the interview was not going well. Eventually they said I was not a good fit. I’m glad (really glad) that I didn’t get a job there.
Remember that even if you didn’t get the job it was experience to be interviewed..
I do recommend a few things:
Research the company you want to be at. Just because they made something you like does not mean it’s a place you’d want to be at. Can you discover what their culture is like? Who are the key people there? What have they made? Do you know anyone who works there and are willing to talk to you about them?
Dress well. Good hygiene is very important (I interviewed a person who looked rotten and had SEVER bad breath)
You don’t need to wear a suit, unless that’s the culture of the company or it’s you usual attire.
Be yourself. I’ve seen interviewees who think they know what the company wants. The interviewer may have a very good BS meter. They want to get to know YOU.
Ask meaningful questions. Don’t be a bump on the log.
Do your best to relax. It’s ok to be nervous. I’ve said I was nervous at an interview at the beginning of my carrer. And it helps. Remember that the interviewer may be nervous, too. It would be bad to appear desperate. Desperation is bad cologne.
Know your rights as an interviewee: https://www.findlaw.com/employment/hiring-process/legal-rights-during-the-hiring-process.html
There are some things that can’t be asked by the interviewer.
There’s more. This is a good start though.
Best of luck π€π½
