You’re in a job interview for a technical role. How can you show off your technical skills?

1 Prepare relevant examples

Before the interview, review the job description and identify the technical skills that are required or desired for the role. Then, think of specific examples of how you have used those skills in your previous or current projects, tasks, or challenges. Prepare to explain what you did, how you did it, and what results or outcomes you achieved. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and highlight your technical skills.

2 Use appropriate language

During the interview, use clear and concise language to describe your technical skills and avoid jargon or acronyms that the interviewer may not understand. If you need to use technical terms, make sure to define them or provide context for them. For example, instead of saying “I used SQL to query the database”, you could say “I used SQL, which is a language for managing data, to extract and analyze information from the database”. This way, you can show your technical knowledge and also your communication skills.

3 Show your work

If possible, bring samples of your work that showcase your technical skills. For example, you could bring a portfolio of your designs, a report of your data analysis, or a link to your GitHub repository. You can also use a laptop or a tablet to demonstrate your work live or show a video or a presentation of your work. Make sure to explain what your work is about, what technical skills you used, and what challenges you faced or solved.

4 Solve problems

Another way to show off your technical skills is to solve problems that the interviewer may present to you. These could be hypothetical scenarios, case studies, or technical questions that test your knowledge and skills. To solve problems effectively, follow these steps: listen carefully to the problem, ask clarifying questions, outline your approach, explain your reasoning, and summarize your solution. You can also use a whiteboard or a paper to write down or draw your solution.

5 Keep learning

Finally, show your enthusiasm and curiosity for learning new technical skills or improving your existing ones. You can mention any courses, certifications, books, podcasts, or online resources that you have completed or are following to stay updated and relevant in your field. You can also ask the interviewer about the technical skills that they use or value in their organization and how they keep learning. This way, you can show your interest in the role and the company and your willingness to grow and adapt.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?