Thursday February 08, 2007

Student interviews

So it is the time of the year we interview students. I am following our usual method I have described before and the current batch of students who write weblogs have been documenting how they got on helping out in the interview process. As usual I warned all of them not to judge themselves based upon this years performances. I chatted to Chris on how weblogs and the web in general affected both our perception on how students should perform in interviews and if these sources of information can help prospective candidates. The interesting thing is two of this years candidates mentioned they had Googled my name and found my weblog and then also read the student links off it. We have had less candidates apply but I think the Universities are doing a better job of filtering out candidates who are not a good match for us.

My interlude in the middle of the telephone interview when I ask some non technical questions has had varied results. Most candidates in my opinion have not spent long enough researching us by looking at Sun's web page . I cannot stress enough how important it is at every stage of the job application process, sending your CV off, telephone interview etc being clued up on the company you are seeking to work for and ensuring your communication with that company is slanted towards them - not in a cheesy way though.

One positive thing is we are getting a lot more questions for us which I do appreciate. A common theme this year has been Will I be able to travel in this job?. One has even asked us on why Sun's fortunes went downhill a few years ago - which was a very good question. The best one was Do I have to shave my beard off? . The answer given as I have a beard is a resolute no. The candidate had heard of someone who had been told he had to take it off. I said that until it was a health and safety hazard - the vision of a metre long beard being sucked into a machine by its fans is too painful to dwell on...