Comments on: Dealing with interview questions http://www.rsart.co.uk/2012/01/01/dealing-with-interview-questions/ Rick Stirling, games artist Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:27:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jon Jones http://www.rsart.co.uk/2012/01/01/dealing-with-interview-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-40958 Jon Jones Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:37:35 +0000 http://www.rsart.co.uk/?p=425#comment-40958 Solid advice! Both the questions you mention are the two I hate most when I've interviewed anywhere. Where do I see myself in five years? If you're a startup or making an MMO, probably another company because of the high failure rate attached to both. If you're a social \ casual game developer, I'll probably have worked for 3 or 4 more companies after yours. If you're a AAA developer shipping a full-blown current gen product, hopefully getting close to shipping and polishing my resume. But then, I'm snarky. ;) As far as the greatest weakness question goes, I'm usually pretty direct about it. Anytime I've switched jobs, I've always gotten one better and with more responsibility, so I simply highlight that gap. I re-emphasize what I have the most experience doing and say "Frankly, I've done a lot less of [this genre\being a lead\working this closely with design]. I'm confident that I can do it based on my other experience, but I'll be honest about where my skills need further development." I've always done pretty well by that. Solid advice! Both the questions you mention are the two I hate most when I’ve interviewed anywhere.

Where do I see myself in five years? If you’re a startup or making an MMO, probably another company because of the high failure rate attached to both. If you’re a social \ casual game developer, I’ll probably have worked for 3 or 4 more companies after yours. If you’re a AAA developer shipping a full-blown current gen product, hopefully getting close to shipping and polishing my resume. But then, I’m snarky. ;)

As far as the greatest weakness question goes, I’m usually pretty direct about it. Anytime I’ve switched jobs, I’ve always gotten one better and with more responsibility, so I simply highlight that gap. I re-emphasize what I have the most experience doing and say “Frankly, I’ve done a lot less of [this genre\being a lead\working this closely with design]. I’m confident that I can do it based on my other experience, but I’ll be honest about where my skills need further development.” I’ve always done pretty well by that.

]]> By: Stuart Harrison http://www.rsart.co.uk/2012/01/01/dealing-with-interview-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-40953 Stuart Harrison Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:41:54 +0000 http://www.rsart.co.uk/?p=425#comment-40953 Having sat on both sides of the table*, this analysis rings true. Bear in mind that however much you may (or may not) want a job to be about your specific skill set, it's often as much about who you are as a person. The recruiter will often be recruiting someone for their own team and so have to work alongside the interviewee on a day by day basis. It makes the work that much easier if you can actually get along and have something in common. Don't be afraid to show your personality - personally, I'd much rather have someone turn me down for a role where I'd grate with my manager than accept me and make my work life a living hell. The "where do you see yourself in five years" question is about personal development - that sounds obvious but it's surprisingly important. It shows you have your career path planned out in your head and will be working hard to achieve it. It's the difference between getting someone in who's just going to stagnate and getting someone in who can be running the outfit in 5-10 years time. That said, once you near the senior level, there is often a choice between specialising in a skill set or becoming management (and little overlap between the two) - some people definitely prefer work to management :) *Regarding interview tables: depending on the company atmosphere you may be sat opposite your interviewer, or you may be adjacent, or across a corner. If you're opposite, that implies a more formal interview atmosphere (they value skill over personality); if you're sat adjacent, that's a lot more friendly (they value personality over skill). Tune your responses appropriately! Having sat on both sides of the table*, this analysis rings true. Bear in mind that however much you may (or may not) want a job to be about your specific skill set, it’s often as much about who you are as a person. The recruiter will often be recruiting someone for their own team and so have to work alongside the interviewee on a day by day basis. It makes the work that much easier if you can actually get along and have something in common. Don’t be afraid to show your personality – personally, I’d much rather have someone turn me down for a role where I’d grate with my manager than accept me and make my work life a living hell.

The “where do you see yourself in five years” question is about personal development – that sounds obvious but it’s surprisingly important. It shows you have your career path planned out in your head and will be working hard to achieve it. It’s the difference between getting someone in who’s just going to stagnate and getting someone in who can be running the outfit in 5-10 years time. That said, once you near the senior level, there is often a choice between specialising in a skill set or becoming management (and little overlap between the two) – some people definitely prefer work to management :)

*Regarding interview tables: depending on the company atmosphere you may be sat opposite your interviewer, or you may be adjacent, or across a corner. If you’re opposite, that implies a more formal interview atmosphere (they value skill over personality); if you’re sat adjacent, that’s a lot more friendly (they value personality over skill). Tune your responses appropriately!

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