Train Thoughts

I rarely get this question from someone we don’t hire, but today, I received this email.

Thank you for getting back to me and I’m sorry that I wasn’t a right fit for the job although I was very eager and highly interested about the position.

If you don’t mind, I’d like to ask you from your discussion … can provide me with some interviewing advice. I would like to know how I could improve and what my weak areas were. It would really help me in my job search process.

Since this was an engineering position, we’ll assume you have the technical chops.  But, if you’re a college hire you need to make up for experience.  Here is my quick reply…

If I could give you a tip or two.
1.  Use the product as much as you can before interviewing.

2.  Know competitors and have questions and insights ready to ask.

3.  Make a site or two as home projects so you can demo them.  Maybe even a facebook app.

I think the big thing to stand out is to demonstrate amazing initiative when you’re just coming out of college.  This will help separate you from more experienced candidates.