So a friend’s just graduated with a first in Comp Sci, has a historical interest in Linux and security, and has a job interview coming up soon… and I’ve been asked to provide some feedback and advice.

This is a bit tricky since I’m an oddball case, but I’ll share a few ideas and throw it open to suggestions.

Early last year I interviewed for a colourful company which led to an argument in the second-round interview and thence to the most popular Reddit thread that I’ve ever created – but which also means that any useful advice amongst the comment threads is lost amongst the noise of opinion and imperious ranting; but there are a few nuggets in there worth reading.

I’ll split the remainder of my advice into three chunks:

presentation

Look healthy: drink plenty of water the day before, get plenty of sleep for the previous two days, and make sure you’re not going to be rushed to find clothes on the morning of the interview – lay them all out the day before, too, such that you still get to bed before 10pm.

Dress: in the City you’re allowed one personal touch – but it tends not to be piercings, so if you’ve got more than two ear-rings (F) or one (M) then lose the rest of them for the day. Everything else should be conservative but interesting. Invisible makeup where relevant.

The point is they’re hiring you and you don’t want to swamp that signal. The principle of least surprise is at play, here. Regrettable but true.

Bags: Don’t overload yourself with crap; one medium size bag.

Equipment: Take a clean notepad and pen, just in case you want to make notes of something they say – but you could always ask them to e-mail you the details.

Switch your phone completely OFF when you get on site.

expectation

Expect to be asked questions, and understand that you are actually allowed to interpret them, ask for clarification, rephrase them (to some extent) and to bend the rules with the connivance of the interviewer.

Engage with your interviewer.

If you were interviewing for me then I would make your life hell because I would be getting you to critique various network protocols and sysadmin tasks; so (exhibiting my age) I would say something like:

“What’s wrong with NFS?”

…and if you can answer, fine; but if not, don’t say “I don’t know”; instead something more like:

“That’s Network File System? I’ve never had a chance to use it, but if it’s anything like SMB/Samba then I could talk about those sorts of problem instead. Would that be relevant?”

They may throw a programming or operations problem at you, they may ask you to talk about crypto; when you can’t talk about specific implementations then ask the interviewer for more information, treat it like one of them more interesting tutorials you’ve ever attended, and don’t be afraid to engage with the person rather than being judicially cross-examined by them.

For all you know they will be your boss, eventually. Treat it like a working relationship from the outset.

negotiation

Under no circumstances say yes to the job on the day, nor should you be the one to offer a salary figure – you are currently not competent to judge your own worth.

So: Salaries? Benefits? Pensions? Compensation packages?

Frankly I’ll be surprised if they raise the matter at a first interview, but you are permitted (expected?) to ask them what sort of “benefits” (if any) they offer with the position.

Often it depends on the role, eg: contract positions may not have much in the way of benefits at all.

If the matter of money comes up, let me repeat: you are currently not competent to judge your own worth; the proper relationship of the employee to the employer is that they are compensating you for doing work for them, that they are fortunate to have you – so think of it as them trying to seduce you, rather than doing you a favour.

If they press you for a figure then respond that you are “still looking around to establish my net worth” – or something; but pressing you would be a bad sign.

If they just flat-out name a figure then retain a poker face and do not accept on the day; just say that you have to consult with your other half, or something. Smile on the inside, look pleasant on the outside.

I’ll post this now, invite other readers to correct me, and add more into the comments.