Hi,

I have an interview next week for a graduate position in Web Development.
The job spec requires PHP / MySQL & HTML as essential.

I've never had an IT-related interview before and I'm looking for advice and
tips.

Are they any good (ideally UK-related) websites that will give me some
useful information, or even any tips from yourselves who have applied for an
IT position.

Many thanks

JD wrote:
In 24hoursupport.helpdesk? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

IT people in 24hoursupport.helpdesk? Employed people 24hoursupport.helpdesk?
Pardon me for a moment...

BWAGAHGAHHAHA!!!! PMSFL *WHEEZE* *CHOKE* *COUGH* *GURGLE*
*GRASPS HEART*
<expires>

"JD" <mail@INVALID.mail.com.INVALID> wrote in
news:40f124b2$0$6448$cc9e4d1f@news-text.dial.pipex.com:

Do you know these skills? I "know" PHP, MySQL and HTML in that I can throw
together a PHP application that can take your name and email address, add
it to a table, or search for a name or email address, or email people from
the table, etc, but I don't really "know" PHP and MySQL at the level an
employer would want.

Um, have lots of demonstrations of your work? Like, walk in and say "Go to
<url> and you can see the web based inventory management appliation that I
developed as a demonstration of my skills". Going into an interview saying
"Um, yeah, I can do PHP" without any demos is pointless and you will not
even be considered for the job.

"JD" <mail@INVALID.mail.com.INVALID> wrote in message
news:40f124b2$0$6448$cc9e4d1f@news-text.dial.pipex.com...
solution to a problem. A guestbook would be a suitable thing to do, and it
should take no more than 5mins if they know what theyre doing.

hamman

**** Post for FREE via your newsreader at post.usenet.com ****

On Sun, 11 Jul 04 11:52:10 GMT, Kadaitcha Man wrote:

Well, you just go there and tell everything you have. That's it!

heh

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Hmmmm... dumb...

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"JD" <mail@INVALID.mail.com.INVALID> wrote in
news:40f124b2$0$6448$cc9e4d1f@news-text.dial.pipex.com:

You should look the interviewer in the eye and give a strong and confident
handshake.

Upon greeting the interviewer, you should thank them for taking the time to
have you come in for the interview.

You should be very confident in the interview process about your abilities
and tell the interviewer why you think you're the right person for the job.

If you can, bring in a couple examples of your work to show your abilities
or if you have a Web site up of the things you have done show it to the
interviewer.

Try to turn the tables in the interview process by asking a couple of
questions like the following:

1) Just what are the job requirements and what is expected of you to
perform the job?

2) Are program specifications written so that the developer knows the scope
of a project and what are the requirements?

3) Does the IT department have a development, test, and production staging
environment and how does a program move from one environment to the next?

4) What is the work atmosphere like? Is it a pressure environment?

They like it when the interviewee turns the table and ask a few questions
about how things are done.

And above all be confident and *dress for success*. I mean that. If you
have to go out and buy a new suite or sport coat and dress pants and a new
pair of shoes, you should do it. If you have the abilities, the confidence
and *dress for success*, you'll come out on top. It has never failed me.

Duane

Jim Berwick wrote:

Tell them to go to http://www.jaya123.com and tell them that you were one of
the developers on it. (JUST JOKING!) :-) <G>



Not always true. It all depends on the supply and demand with respect to the
available labor force. If I were looking for a PHP guy/gal and a VBscript/ASP
guy came in and impressed me with his knowledge about web-based apps and
convinced me s/he could pick up PHP is short order, and if the labor force
was "thin" on PHP people, I would take a chance and hire the person on a
"probation basis" and see if they would work his/her butt off to learn PHP
and be productive in a week or two.

It's not the language that is difficult. It's understanding how to piece
together a solid, secure, applicaiton in a stateless environment that is the
key. I think THAT'S what you want to sell at the interview.

The person behind the desk is not as interested in what you know about PHP as
he is in your ability to solve HIS problem. Find out what his PROBLEM is and
figure out how to address it. Is his project behind schedule? Then emphasize
how fast you can learn, work, absorb, etc. Is is project facing a
technological challange? Impress him or her with you problem solving
abilities. Is the manager looking for someone to replace him so that he can
move up? Impress him with your people skills.

There is a lot more to getting a job than meeting the silly laundry list of
requirements that the HR dept. writes. A lot more.

Al Canton, President
Adams-Blake Company, Inc.
***
JAYA123 - the new web-based total-office system for the
small biz. Order entry, billing, bookkeeping, etc. for $14.95
a month. Everyone says "It's cool as a moose!!"
See why at:http://www.jaya123.com ('ja-eye-ah' means
'victory' in Sanskrit.)
***

Hamman wrote:


That's a nice twist: having the applicant give the prospective employers an
exam. If you manage this, let us know how it works, and whether or not
you allowed them to continue working for the company or if you fired them
for not passing.

--
Blinky Linux Registered User 297263

Kinda gives a new meaning to " IT "

"Kadaitcha Man" <nospam@kadaitcha.cx> wrote in message
news:ccscq1.3ks.1@kadaitcha.cx...

d2004xx wrote:

Thanks Al...

Those are some very useful comments which i'll take on board :-)
Its useful to get feedback from professionals such as yourself.

Thanks again
"Al C." <no.spam.acanton@adams-blake.no.spam.com> wrote in message
news:10f30c15pi5g725@news20.forteinc.com...

Someone coming right out of school is not going to know how to do it. If
they don't have the technical expertise to do it off the top of the bat
(experience), then they must be trained by someone within the company a
(mentor) on the how to(s). That would be understood by the person giving
the technical interview. What you say does come in to play but what the
Project Lead is looking for is someone who is smart has some technical
knowledge and can be trained.



This person is not someone with prior work experience in the field that a
Project Lead would be expecting someone to have that kind of expertise.
The person needs to sell his ability to learn new things quickly and is
willing to work hard and work with others effectively.

The recommendation of the HR person who gives the initial interview
before the candidate moves on to the techical person or persons for that
part of the interview process carries some weight.

Duane

A) Find out what the department/company does that is looking to hire you.

B) In your interview demonstrate your knowledge of what they do (better yet,
ask more questions about it, show *interest* in their needs) and then
relate how your skills could be put to good use in said department.

They already know you are a PHP/Database guy from your resume, what they
want to know is can you implement your wisdom/skills to satisfy thier
department/company needs.

Larry

--
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Larry Anderson - Sysop of Silicon Realms BBS (209) 754-1363 300-14.4k
Set your 8-bit rigs to sail for http://www.portcommodore.com/
01010001 01010101 01000001 01001100 01001001 01010100 01011001

"d2004xx" <d2004xx@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:u3r7zyb0ur8o.dlg@caelum.no-ip.info...

Or just go in with greasy hair and humble a bit while fidgeting with your
nuts, and the job is yours.

ss.

"Kadaitcha Man" <nospam@kadaitcha.cx> wrote in message news:<ccscq1.3ks.1@kadaitcha.cx>...
Here's a good link - aligns with your credentials:
http://www.bookhim.com/

BarryMcOckner wrote:
How do you figure that, you surfeited, drooping honky-tonk?

"JD" <mail@INVALID.mail.com.INVALID> wrote in message
news:40f124b2$0$6448$cc9e4d1f@news-text.dial.pipex.com...
First off *everyone* wears a sharp suit and does that
'look-in-the-eye-firm-handshake' mullarkey - you must *do more*.

Buy this book:

Great Answers to Tough Interview Questions
Martin John Yate

and swot the answers. OK, not directly IT related but you will get a good
feel of how to turn a clever, impossible-to-answer question into something
more useful - *do not bullshit* they will get you in a corner and *you will
fail*.

Also covered is how to use other 'back door' techniques to make them put
your CV at the top.

I have been for a few ints. in my time (ooh me bones), and beleive me
professional interviewers can be proper smug bastards!! - prepare for the
worst! (a good trick is making you think the interview is nearly over, and
then they start again - in depth!).

They are looking for a graduate, not Einstein, so you have that in your
favor. What Al. C. says above is very good advice - can you solve problems
and where's the evidence? (here's one: how can you get the browser to cache
an image stored in a database?) Everyone knows a graduate knows bugger all -
so sell your ass off and don't be a limp-biscuit or a knowall-geek, you only
have one chance.

And keep a sense of humour - everyone likes a sense of humour!

Ru

"Hamman" <fuckedup@pielover.com> wrote in
news:IbidnUvRG9GJ3mzdRVn-gQ@eclipse.net.uk:

Though ideally if you are going to be using PHP and MySQL, might as well
spend another minute setting up a real webserver on the machine (as in,
apache)

"BarryMcOckner, the minimalist, allying fuckstick" <zLYTDixeUXJF@alt.binaries.pictures.erotica.modera ted> wrote in message news:<tG7o6xvXv8gW46F61BC0Br0eVXezUuJt@alt.binarie s.pictures.erotica.moderated>...
Intended for JD - but I see you're attracted to the URL as well you
gorbellied spur-galled jolt-head.

BarryMcOckner wrote:
You are delusing yourself. On two counts, no less.

A) The link wasn't followed. The link is irrelevant.

B) If the link was "Intended for JD", why did you post it in reply to
"Kadaitcha Man" and use the accusative case of the pronoun your? What lame
excuses can you conjure up for your current episode of public fuckwittery?

PS: You may lamely substitute the phrase nominative case in
lieu of accusative case if you unjistifiably feel attacked,
you useless, herbal, currish genetic disorder.