Getting a Web Development Job For Dummies

Chapter 19

Ten Frequently Asked Questions in Web-Developer Interviews

So you got the interview! You’re getting ready for a phone screen, or a series of sit-down, on-site interviews at the company location where you hope to be working soon. What are they going to ask you? How best should you respond? We’ve prepared a list of ten frequently asked questions in job interviews, with our helpful — or simply snarky — comments.

What Is Your Greatest Strength?

This question is always “in the air” in a job interview, whether or not it’s asked explicitly. Always try to answer this question during the interview, even if you have to work the information into general discussion or your answer to another question. This question relates back to the “angular versus well-rounded” comparison between people that we mention in the previous chapter.

This is not a question to answer with a single word or a short phrase. (A disconcerting way of answering questions that many of us techie types seem to enjoy inflicting on people.)

Take the question to mean, “What is your greatest strength? Why? Please give an example of how it’s shown up in your recent work or personal life.” Answer each of those questions, briefly, and then stop talking.

When you provide a greatest strength, it should be work-relevant if possible. Whether the strength seems like something that’s work-relevant, answer the implied question, “Why?” in a work-relevant way.

For instance, say that your greatest strength was being physically ...