job interview question

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OogyWaWa

Senior member
Jan 20, 2009
623
0
71
got an interview coming up...in the email she stated:
"Finally, informal dress will be fine, since that is what is normal here."
this is a software company, so most of the employees are programmers.

by informal, does this translate as business casual. like, khaki pants and polo shirt. or can i walk in wearing my school clothes (jeans, tshirt, jacket) ?

thanks :)

also, she stated:

'
Assuming that there is still interest on both sides at the close of this
meeting, we will require to have at least one reference. So please
prepare that, too. We do follow up on references, so this should be
someone that we can contact."

by reference, is all she wants a name and number? should i call this person ahead of time and let them know? i'm thinking i'll give them the name/num of my previous boss at the past software co. i worked at. he really likes me. only problem is he is in the states. i dont have any refs. in japan. i wonder if that will be an issue :/
 
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nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
42,808
83
91
everyone at the company might wear informal clothes (jeans, tshirts) but I'd still dress corporate casual at least for an interview.

pants (not jeans), collared shirt, and shoes (not sneakers)... no need to wear a tie or jacket.

I had a teacher in high school who used to say that it was only ok to dress like a slob when you've already got enough credibility in the bank that you don't have to care about making a good first impression.
 
KLin

KLin

Lifer
Feb 29, 2000
30,441
752
126
I'd go with khakis and a polo shirt just to be on the safe side.
 
S

Savij

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2001
4,233
0
71
Go business casual it's the right mix of "I want this job" and "I'm a relaxed mofo"
 
SSSnail

SSSnail

Lifer
Nov 29, 2006
17,458
83
86
Don't go to an interview dressing like the programmers that are working there, most of them are in shorts and printed shirts or camo fatigues with spike or shaggy hair.

At the very least, business casual.
 
Q

QurazyQuisp

Platinum Member
Feb 5, 2003
2,554
0
76
Originally posted by: zerocool84
At least wear a long sleeve collared shirt with slacks but not need for a tie.
Click to expand...

I agree. All the interviews I've had that have said informal dress is fine I've always worn black/dark grey wool pants and a long sleeve collared button down shirt. There will no doubt be other people showing up in suits.
 
O

OogyWaWa

Senior member
Jan 20, 2009
623
0
71


also, she stated:

'
Assuming that there is still interest on both sides at the close of this
meeting, we will require to have at least one reference. So please
prepare that, too. We do follow up on references, so this should be
someone that we can contact."

by reference, is all she wants a name and number? should i call this person ahead of time and let them know? i'm thinking i'll give them the name/num of my previous boss at the past software co. i worked at. he really likes me. only problem is he is in the states. i dont have any refs. in japan. i wonder if that will be an issue :/


finally, this is a job for some part time java programming. i'm not the best programmer in the world and don't have much prof. exp. they know that already and it doesnt seem to be a problem. however, i've never had a programmer's interview before. if they start asking in depth shit like certain APIs, how to create my own binary trees, shit like that; i'll be dead in the water. i'm just a college student with some classes under my belt. that and i've written a few maintenance apps for my previous job.
 
A

Alienwho

Diamond Member
Apr 22, 2001
6,766
0
76
you'd be a retard to walk into a job interview wearing anything less than nice business casual, at the minimum. I don't care how relaxed they are or what she tells you.
 
2Xtreme21

2Xtreme21

Diamond Member
Jun 13, 2004
7,044
0
0
Originally posted by: OogyWaWa


also, she stated:

'
Assuming that there is still interest on both sides at the close of this
meeting, we will require to have at least one reference. So please
prepare that, too. We do follow up on references, so this should be
someone that we can contact."

by reference, is all she wants a name and number? should i call this person ahead of time and let them know? i'm thinking i'll give them the name/num of my previous boss at the past software co. i worked at. he really likes me. only problem is he is in the states. i dont have any refs. in japan. i wonder if that will be an issue :/


finally, this is a job for some part time java programming. i'm not the best programmer in the world and don't have much prof. exp. they know that already and it doesnt seem to be a problem. however, i've never had a programmer's interview before. if they start asking in depth shit like certain APIs, how to create my own binary trees, shit like that; i'll be dead in the water. i'm just a college student with some classes under my belt. that and i've written a few maintenance apps for my previous job.
Click to expand...

I'd send the person you're planning on using an email, at least, asking them if you can use them as a reference.

Edit: Since your reference is out of the country, give the interviewer name/num/email.

And I've never interviewed for a programmer position, but I did recently have an interview for a Systems Analyst position, and they did ask me some technical questions (software lifecycle process, what a remote procedure call was, etc.). It also depends on who's interviewing you-- if it's an HR person, they're not gonna know the answers to these questions and you can probably BS quite a bit. If it's someone who works with it, I'd say be honest and give them the best answer you can.

It seems like they're not gonna be as hard as you're thinking though, since the position seems to be more of an entry-level one. They're gonna ask a lot about what you did in college, but I doubt they're gonna expect you to have constructed some java masterpiece.
 
Skeeedunt

Skeeedunt

Platinum Member
Oct 7, 2005
2,777
3
76
Originally posted by: OogyWaWa
finally, this is a job for some part time java programming. i'm not the best programmer in the world and don't have much prof. exp. they know that already and it doesnt seem to be a problem. however, i've never had a programmer's interview before. if they start asking in depth shit like certain APIs, how to create my own binary trees, shit like that; i'll be dead in the water. i'm just a college student with some classes under my belt. that and i've written a few maintenance apps for my previous job.
Click to expand...

That's ok, nobody really knows how to do anything. Sounds like you were already upfront about your experience, so just try to demonstrate that you can think, solve problems, and generally act like a human being. If you're lucky they'll give that the weight that it deserves.
 
BeauJangles

BeauJangles

Lifer
Aug 26, 2001
13,941
1
0
Originally posted by: OogyWaWa


also, she stated:

'
Assuming that there is still interest on both sides at the close of this
meeting, we will require to have at least one reference. So please
prepare that, too. We do follow up on references, so this should be
someone that we can contact."

by reference, is all she wants a name and number? should i call this person ahead of time and let them know? i'm thinking i'll give them the name/num of my previous boss at the past software co. i worked at. he really likes me. only problem is he is in the states. i dont have any refs. in japan. i wonder if that will be an issue :/


finally, this is a job for some part time java programming. i'm not the best programmer in the world and don't have much prof. exp. they know that already and it doesnt seem to be a problem. however, i've never had a programmer's interview before. if they start asking in depth shit like certain APIs, how to create my own binary trees, shit like that; i'll be dead in the water. i'm just a college student with some classes under my belt. that and i've written a few maintenance apps for my previous job.
Click to expand...

Regarding references: Yes, your reference is perfect.

Regarding your experience: Most of my friends work as software engineers. They didn't know shit when they started. Like the previous poster said, just demonstrate that you have a functioning brain, are honest, and are eager to learn. They don't expect you to be able to write HAL's AI the day you walk in there.

Regarding dress: Go business casual. Like others said, you want to make sure they know you are taking the interview seriously AND that you're trying to follow their directions.

 
S

ScottyB

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2002
6,677
1
0
Originally posted by: Alienwho
you'd be a retard to walk into a job interview wearing anything less than nice business casual, at the minimum. I don't care how relaxed they are or what she tells you.
Click to expand...

I went into a job interview before and I was way overdressed in business casual. They told me very casual dress for the interview, and I decided to go slightly higher on the scale. Big mistake. The workers there were wearing very casual clothes. One guy had on a wife beater and gym shorts.
 
SSSnail

SSSnail

Lifer
Nov 29, 2006
17,458
83
86
Better yet, we need :camera: to properly decide. Can't believe ATOT is slipping this much.
 
J

JDawg1536

Golden Member
Apr 27, 2006
1,275
0
76
Originally posted by: Alienwho
you'd be a retard to walk into a job interview wearing anything less than nice business casual, at the minimum. I don't care how relaxed they are or what she tells you.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Always a jacket and tie, unless otherwise instructed. Since you are unclear on her email instructions and how to interpret "informal dress", why don't you use the telephone and ask her to clarify.

Rule of thumb is always to dress at least one level above everyone else.
 
oogabooga

oogabooga

Diamond Member
Jan 14, 2003
7,806
3
81
Originally posted by: Jeff7
Originally posted by: Savij
Originally posted by: NSFW
Pants....wear pants.
Click to expand...

no no no, they want you to think OUTSIDE the box.
Click to expand...
So....find a way to whip it out, but without unzipping?
Click to expand...

if he doesn't wear a belt, maybe he can pull his pants down and thrust? (I added the thrust as the "whipping it out mechanist" since he hands would be occupied and inconveniently located after pulling down his pants)
 
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