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7 Interview Tips for Software Engineers, HR Executives, Sales Directors & Other Jobs

Tips to help you interview, get ready for some boring Instagram Ads and it takes 100 AI robots to run a Starbucks

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The Deputy
June 06, 2024

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“Advertising is legalized lying.”

H.G. Wells (English Writer)

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But first a cheesy Sumato Coffee break story ☕️

Emily, The Coffee Rookie, eager to fit in with the coffee-loving executives, decided to drink coffee for the first time. At the morning meeting, she nervously poured herself a cup, mimicking their sophisticated sips. As the bitter taste hit her tongue, she struggled to hide her grimace. The execs discussed quarterly earnings, while Emily's heart raced and hands shook from the caffeine jolt. Trying to join the conversation, she accidentally knocked over her cup, spilling coffee everywhere. The room fell silent. Then, the CEO laughed and said, "Welcome to the club, Emily. We've all been there." She smiled, relieved, and finally felt included.

In today’s email:

  • Job News: 7 Interview Tips for Software Engineers, HR Executives, and Sales Directors 💯

  • Overheard at coffee: Stuck in Ad-Land - Instagram’s New ADventure 📈

  • Trending AI Tools: How many AI Robots does it take to run a Starbucks store? 🤖

  • Hot Jobs: (keep scrolling down ⬇️)

  • Recruiting Fails: Screening fake candidates. If your gut says they are fake, a quick background check can test your gut’s feeling ❌

Job News

Getting laid off is terrible but you need to immediately get back to work on finding work. If you are struggling to find work, look for ways to volunteer and help people. The YouTube channel, A Life After Layoff, offers some good tips and below is what we recommend. 

Lately we have been working across technology to HR Executives to Sales Directors and I am noticing a few consistent areas that candidates need to brush up on.

Navigating interviews can be challenging, whether you're a software engineer, an HR executive, or a sales director. Here are seven essential tips to help you shine in your next interview:

1. Understand the Role: Research the specific requirements and expectations for the position. Know the company’s mission, values, and recent projects to tailor your responses. Research the role. 

2. Prepare for Common Questions: Anticipate common interview questions for your role. For software engineers, expect technical questions and problem-solving scenarios. HR executives should be ready to discuss organizational culture and conflict resolution. Sales directors need to demonstrate their ability to drive results and lead teams.

3. Showcase Relevant Skills: Highlight the skills that are most relevant to the job. Software engineers should emphasize their coding abilities and knowledge of programming languages. HR executives should focus on their experience in talent management and employee relations. Sales directors should discuss their track record in meeting sales targets and managing client relationships. A good interviewer will ask a Sales Director about their experience hitting quota over the years. 

4. Practice Problem-Solving: Especially for technical roles, practice problem-solving and coding challenges. For software engineers, this means being prepared for whiteboard coding tests. HR executives might prepare by thinking through scenarios involving employee issues. Sales directors should be ready to discuss how they’ve handled difficult sales situations.

5. Highlight Achievements: Share specific examples of past successes. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses. This method works well across all roles, providing a clear narrative of your accomplishments.

6. Ask Insightful Questions: Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer. This shows your genuine interest in the role and the company. Inquire about team dynamics, company culture, and future projects. Tailor your questions to the specific role to demonstrate your understanding and enthusiasm.

7. Follow-Up: Always send a thank-you email after the interview. This reinforces your interest in the position and keeps you top of mind with the hiring team. Mention something specific from the interview to personalize your message.

By preparing thoroughly and focusing on these key tips, you can confidently approach your next interview, whether you’re aiming for a role as a software engineer, HR executive, or sales director. Lastly, to the best of your ability, turn the interview into more of a conversation and less of a formal interview. Get the interview team to like you and this will increase your chances of getting hired.

Overheard at coffee ☕️

Stuck in Ad-Land: Instagram’s New ADventure. Party’s over, you will soon have to watch ads on Instagram…

Meet Jamie, your average Instagram addict. Jamie loves scrolling through cute cat videos, mouth-watering food pics, and the occasional meme. One lazy afternoon, Jamie's thumb was on autopilot, swiping up, up, and up, when suddenly—bam!—an unskippable ad appeared.

"Introducing the new Ultra-Mega-Toothbrush 3000! Because your teeth deserve the best!"

Jamie groaned. "Seriously? A toothbrush ad?" But there was no escape. The seconds ticked by as a grinning actor with impossibly white teeth extolled the virtues of this revolutionary dental device.

Jamie tried everything: looking away, closing one eye, pretending the ad wasn't happening. But nope, that countdown timer in the corner was relentless.

"Only 20 more seconds," Jamie muttered. "I can do this."

The actor was now demonstrating the toothbrush's five speeds and LED display. Jamie’s mind wandered. "Who needs five speeds? Are we brushing our teeth or launching a space shuttle?"

Finally, the ad ended, and Jamie was free! Free to return to the endless scroll of cat videos and foodie photos. Jamie sighed in relief, but just as the thumb started swiping again, another ad popped up.

"Introducing the new and improved ZipRecruiter! Recruit top talent like never before!"

Jamie threw their phone onto the couch in defeat. "Alright, Instagram, you win this round. But I’m making popcorn and watching Netflix instead!"

And so, Jamie’s afternoon took a turn from scrolling to streaming, with a newfound appreciation for skippable content.

🚀 How many AI robots does it take to run a Starbucks? Well about 100 robots. 

South Korean search giant Naver has unveiled an in-office autonomous Starbucks location featuring 100 robots delivering coffee and other items throughout its 36-floor building. 

The "Rookie" robots navigate the building, delivering packages, coffee, and lunch to employees, while the dual-armed "Ambidex" robots assist with tasks requiring dexterity and safe human interaction. Both types of robots are connected to Naver’s ARC system, which handles navigation, planning, and processing through cloud computing. Additionally, Naver has developed RoboPort, a dedicated elevator system that enhances robot mobility between floors. 

This initiative showcases Naver’s commitment to integrating service robotics into everyday environments, providing a glimpse into a future where such technology becomes mainstream. It sounds like we have a ways to go until it cooks your toddlers breakfast so you can sleep in on Saturday but there is some hope.

🔥 Hot Jobs - $1K Referral Fee

Recruiting Fails: We are seeing an uptick of fake candidates interviewing for a job. As if recruiting wasn’t already hard enough…

The other day, we thought we found the perfect candidate for a critical software engineering position. Jane's resume was impressive: top-tier university, stellar references, and a list of skills longer than your Mom’s grocery list.

Excited, we scheduled a video interview. When the day arrived, Jane appeared on screen...but something was off. Her responses seemed overly rehearsed, and she struggled with basic coding questions. Our recruiter felt a twinge of doubt but brushed it off as interview nerves.

Determined to push forward, we invited Jane for a video interview with the hiring manager. She arrived, but said she had some technical issues with her camera so she wasn’t going to have her camera on. 

After some digging through her education and asking for references, we had too many red flags and have determined that Jane is not who said she is. 

Watch out for fake candidates. Double check references and school records. Always verify the person behind the resume and trust your gut. 

Do you have recruiting Fail Stories? Reply with your epic fails – we'll feature them. Own your blunders, embrace vulnerability, and let's all level up together.

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