Hi fellow data professional!

Once, during a virtual interview, I had to nod politely as my interviewer apologized for coughing after their cigarette.

Oh, and to make this situation even more cringe—they were driving.

Some industries design stressful interview processes to psychologically test a candidate’s poise under pressure. Luckily (for the most part) the software engineering field is not included in this basket of high-stress tests.

Sure, we are subjected to moderate stress in the form of whiteboard sessions or system design discussions, but nothing beyond the expected pressures of on-the-job development.

So when something doesn’t go quite right during an interview, it’s understandably stressful.

Handling unforeseen obstacles requires a mixture of calm and an ability to “read the room” to determine the severity of the interruption.

In low stress situations, like when I forgot how to share my screen, it’s perfectly acceptable to call yourself out as long as it is done tactfully like: “Sorry; I’ve been coding all day and I’ve forgotten how to share my screen.”

Bookending your humble admission with a statement about being so dedicated to work that a mundane task has slipped your mind can actually work in your favor.

But if you find yourself in a “fish out of water” moment, like when I had a virtual interview my interviewer was clearly conducting while driving, it can be a bit difficult to maintain professionalism.

In broadcast journalism I learned that the mark of a good reporter is being able to maintain composure in the face of technical failure.

A trick I used if a mic wasn’t working or remote connection couldn’t be completed is to count backwards from 10 and try only one more time.

If you can’t resolve an issue on 2 attempts, it’s best to quit and alert the other party to the issue rather than extending the awkwardness beyond a reasonable timeframe.

Something candidates tend to forget is that you can end an interview for any reason; you’re not trapped.

Personally, I’ve ended two interviews in the first 5 minutes because I felt that the recruiters misrepresented the role in the posting.

Remember, when you accept a cal invite, an interview is your time too.

Thanks for ingesting,

-Zach

P.S. One of the most deceptively difficult interview steps is nailing the phone interview; I wrote a guide to prepare you for technical phone screens in just 30 minutes.

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