As someone preparing for a Computer Science or Game Development coop job-search at Northeastern University, I was tasked with watching two videos of my choice that would help me in the process of getting a job and write about them:

 

First I watched a video called How to Succeed in any Programming Interview 2018 which introduces six steps. The first one is to study. Learn the key algorithms and data structures most used for time and memory efficiency these days (review each data structure search time, insertion time, and most compatible traversing and sorting algorithms). The second one is to practice: Practice what you learned online on HackerRank and HackerEarth. Thirdly, read useful books: there are two excellent books on this subject: "Cracking The Coding Interview" and "Programming Interviews Exposed." Four, have multiple versions of your resume, each tailored to specific companies, industries or positions. Finally, get the interview. Attend to events such as info sessions and hackathons to meet people on your industry that could refer you for the job. Then, Apply to the position through multiple sources, but especially directly through the job website. However, learning how to communicate once you are in the interview is also important.

 

The second video a watched was one by Cognitive Group of Microsoft Talent Solutions called Seven Body Language Tips To Impress At Your Next Job Interview. After stating the importance of body language by mentioning how recent studies show that non-verbal compose 55% of what is actually communicated, seven tips to improve it on interviews are introduced: The tip number one is to adopt an engaged posture (not closed arms, open body position). The second is to appear calm and relax (eye contact, don't play with your shit buttons or hair, etc.). Thirdly, Use the correct hand gestures (keep hands steady and only use them to emphasize on specific ways what you are saying: palms upwards for importance, touch your heart to signify honesty or steepling for expressing comfort). Tip number four is to mirror the interviewer subtly (mirror hand gestures, vocabulary, jargon, speech volume, and tone ). The fifth tip is to get your eye contact right (avoid "staring" by alternating your glaze: look at left eye then right then the mouth, repeat. For panel interviews make sure you look at everybody and focus on the speaker). Sixthly, avoid lying signals (avoid touching your face). Finally, give the perfect handshake (match the interviewers' grip, smile, apply the 2-second rule and repeat their name).

 

Watching these two videos gave me a lot of useful advice for upcoming interviews (both on getting them and what to do once in them). I hope it does the same for anyone that reads this. I know I'll do my best to apply these thirteen new tips on how to ace job search.