CV and Interview Best Practices

In this article, we will cover the essential aspects of preparing for and succeeding in interviews. These points are gathered from years of experience in hiring and interviewing candidates across various roles and industries. Believe it or not, most candidates (even seniors!) miss those simple but critical points that could make a huge difference in their interview outcomes.

So, stop guessing! Learn exactly what matters before, during, and after the interview.

Table of Contents

• Essentials
• Profile
• Pre Interview
• During Interview
• Post Interview

1. Essentials

• First things first, you should fit the job! That sounds obvious, but many people think they fit the job without validating that assumption. Ask a couple of people with the same title to review your knowledge.
• Understand the segment. Now you know what the job asks for, but be aware of market differences. In real life, usually each country or region has dominant skills. E.g., the EU market differs from the US market. Also, the company type has impact; for example, enterprises differ from start-ups.
• After you narrow down your options, it's much easier to make targeted efforts. Now, get 10-15 job descriptions from your target segment, and sort the common skills listed.
• Top 30% skills: You must have a solid experince/understanding of those skills; not knowing them is a no-go in the screening!
• Middel 30% skills: You should have a pretty good understanding of them. Usually, you have used these skills before but not in depth.
• Last 30% skills: You need to have a general understanding of them, like what they are and what problems they solve
• Rest 10% skills: You can ignore them. But if you can read about them, it would be nice.
• Eye-catcher: Now you have a good profile that matches your target market, yet there are probably many profiles like yours! You need at least one (or more) thing to make your profile stand out! That could be anything (the more you do it, the more your profile is noticed, but usually it should be frequent):
• Open-source contributions: Regular participation in known open-source projects or demonstrating your work through real end-to-end projects (toy projects don't make it anymore).
• Content creation: Writing posts about something you learned or creating videos about some interesting real-life topics.
• Speaking/sessions: Conducting sessions or even helping in organizing events.
• Participation in events: Again, anything, from hackathons to technical communities.
• Never underestimate the power of networking! Start early because it takes time!

2. Profile

• Like it or not, we all know that First impressions are lasting ! So, the first step is to ensure you have a good one.
• You should read a post or two about this topic, but here are some essential highlights.

2.1. CV/Resume

• Review wording and avoid typos. Also, use the correct spelling! For example, it’sDevOps, notDevops ordev-ops, and so on.
• Use a CV template; don’t create one from scratch! No need to reinvent the wheel, and there are already good templates for that purpose (recommended templates: Spearmint Resume, Easy Resume, ATS Friendly Resume).
• In all cases, ensure you use a "Sans-serif" font. It’s more readable both on-screen and on paper.
• In general, avoid a 2-column layout. It’s hard for humans and machines to read!
• Make your CV short and concise but not too tight. Many people try to make a one-page CV, but they make it unreadable!
• Write a quick summary about yourself, but not that dull “objectives” section.
• Write your skill set first, then your job experience (Summary ->Skill Set ->Experience -> Anything else).
• Sort the information in reverse chronological order (newer first, older last).
• Write in bullet points and avoid long paragraphs.
• Focus on impact before what you just did. Focus on accomplishments rather than responsibilities (use numbers/percentage whenever possible).
• It’s good to write in the footer of your CV when the last update was.
• There is no need to add unnecessary information about you, like age, marital status, etc.
• Unless otherwise requested, always export and send your CV in PDF format so it always appears the same way for everybody.
• Finally, ensure that your CV is readable for humans and machines (check the score for ATS, Applicant Tracking System), as you don’t know who will read it (you could be easily filtered because you don’t pass the initial screening).

2.2. Cover Letter

• The cover letter is usually optional, but post it anyway when applying for the job. Why would you lose a plus point?
• Unlike the CV, which doesn’t need to be changed much across job applications, the cover letter should be tailored for each application! Don’t copy/paste your cover letter as it is every time!
• Ensure to mention the position title and team in the first line of the cover letter.
• The format is basic, with just 3 sections. First is a very concise summary of you. Second, it changes completely based on each job description. The third could have any relevant, helpful information like a side project or some skill that will benefit you in that job.
• Read the job description and update your cover letter to show how you are the best fit for that position.
• Don’t write the cover letter too long; it will be less likely to be read.
• Don’t repeat exactly what’s in the CV.

2.3. LinkedIn Profile

• The previous points are more or less applicable to the LinkedIn profile, but there are some differences here and there.
• Customize your LinkedIn URL. Remove any extra characters in the URL and just keep your name, like https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-doe.
• Write your name properly capitalized; it should beJohn Doe notjohn doe (one of the most common mistakes!).
• Use a professional and up-to-date photo.
• Ensure the profile details are updated regularly.
• Add a profile “about” section and “tagline”.
• Follow people in your domain to get the best out of your LinkedIn timeline.
• Check your LinkedIn account at least once a week or so.
• Keep it professional; at the end of the day, LinkedIn is not Facebook! (There are always exceptions, but that’s still the rule of thumb).

3. Pre Interview

3.1. Searching

• Don’t apply blindly to jobs! It DOES NOT work!
• Carefully read the job description and understand the job role. You need to know whether it’s the best match for you and prepare for the interview.
• Learn more about the company’s business domain, size, and web and social media activities. It’s really bad if you apply to a company and don’t know what it’s doing!

3.2. Preparing

• When you get an interview appointment, try to know who your interviewer is and learn about their background. This will help you have a smooth conversation during the interview.
• Practice common interview questions, especially the introduction. In the first 10-15 minutes, most, if not all, questions should be the same in all interviews! So, there is no need for “real-time thinking” for those common questions. You should reply to those quests firmly and swiftly.
• Prepare your showcases! You should have 3-5 achievements or cases you are proud of and can discuss seamlessly.
• Prepare questions for the interviewers! You interview the company like the company interviews you!

3.3. Applying

• Avoid using Easy Apply on LinkedIn! Many times, applications are lost there! Apply directly to the company’s system/service.
• If you apply by email, ensure that the email has a title that is usually asked to be used in a specific format (use the exact format).
• In all cases (applying via a form or email), include 2-3 lines about who you are and the title you are applying for.
• Don’t forget the attachment, and use PDF format unless otherwise requested.

4. During Interview

• Remember,First impressions are lasting! Ensure you make a good first impression. Don’t be shy or arrogant. Be motivated.
• Be on time; it’s better to be a bit early (if the interview is on-site, go 30 minutes early and stay at a nearby cafe). and show enthusiasm.
• Listen actively, don’t rush to answer the questions, and clarify with the interviewer before you give your full answer.
• Try to find the best balance in your answers. In most cases, it MUST not beyes/no, and it shouldn’t be too short or too long.
• Stay focused and don’t get into side topics.
• Ask the questions you prepared for the company/interviewers.

5. Post Interview

• Honestly review how you did and reflect on your performance in the interview. Identify what you did well and keep doing it, as well as what wasn’t good, and enhance it for the next interview (be honest, and don’t find excuses!).
• Learn about any new topics or terminologies you heard in the interview. Some could be critical for you, and others you just need general knowledge of.
• Ask for feedback from the interviewer and enhance what could be enhanced.
• Once you get to the interview stage, try to keep the interviews between 3 and 5 to ensure you have enough time to make any enhancements. Otherwise, you will make the same mistakes again and again in many interviews!
• Prepare for the next interview.