Top mistakes candidates make when applying for a tech job

An interview should be a place where you can decide if the company is right for you: Tech in Asia

We recently wrote about what tech recruiters looked for in candidates, and things candidates did that turned recruiters off.

1. Thinking that job descriptions are flexible

Frederic Bonifassy, talent manager at Pocketmath, continues to encounter candidates who believe job descriptions to be flexible, both in terms of skills and experience.

“In technical hires, it’s important to understand that the job descriptions are drafted specifically to look for candidates with those exact skill sets,” Frederic said, “Unlike non-technical hires, it is difficult to be flexible.”

2. Messing up the resume

Frederic also believes that many candidates find it difficult to include the right amount of detail in their resumes.

“Having not enough detail in your resume, and you miss the chance to be shortlisted,” he said.

Using technical jargon

Edmund Yee of Honestbee, laments the frequent dropping of buzzwords like “machine learning”, “deep link”, and “data science” in resumes, without candidates demonstrating full understanding of them.

3. Messing up the interview

John urges candidates to prepare and practice for interviews.

Cluelessness about the company and industry

Candidates should show that they’re interested in the job and excited about the role, advises Victor Neo, senior managing engineer at Carousell. “Do your research, test out the company’s products and services,” he said.

Fear asking questions

Victor urges candidates not to be afraid of asking questions. “An interview should also be a place where you can decide if the company is the right place for you to grow and contribute,” he said.

Whatever you do, never answer the following question the way Alberto’s candidate once did.

“Why do you want to work at ShopBack?” Alberto asked.

The candidate replied, “I just need a job.”
  This is an excerpt from the article published on Tech In Asia. You can read the full article here