If you've experienced a job interview before,
you probably know what to expect.
You might feel some nerves as you prepare for it,
excitement as you discuss your passions and accomplishments,
and anticipation as you wait for a job offer.
But what should you know about BI job interviews?
What might give you an advantage
in a competitive job market?
The most important topic to discuss is your data experience.
This includes your non-BI data background,
and, of course, your hard work during this course.
Projects that you complete
in a learning environment are extremely valuable,
even if you don't have an official role yet.
After all, BI professionals learn on the job every day.
It's half the fun.
Then, you want to demonstrate your BI knowledge.
You can do this by explaining your step-by-step process,
like you did while creating your portfolio write-ups.
Here, you can get into specifics.
Explain your project planning process,
your approach to data modeling,
and your dashboard design strategies.
Discuss any obstacles you encountered
and how you overcame them.
Did you ask for help, try a new approach,
or research solutions?
Explaining how you dealt with a problem
in your project will highlight your resilience,
positive attitude, and creativity.
You also want to list your skills.
It might be tempting to talk mostly about your people skills
or how you're a very hard worker.
While this is true,
interviews also wanna know about technical skills.
Describe the coding languages
and tools you're familiar with.
Make sure to discuss the technical skills you developed
in this course, such as Python and Tableau.
For instance, on our Finance and Data Analytics team,
we sometimes search for a candidate
who knows a particular coding language.
Other times, it's important for us to hire someone
who can pick up multiple new languages quickly.
Some hiring managers may even ask you
to complete a coding exercise
to demonstrate your skill level.
If so, make sure you understand
which skills they will assess
so you can prepare accordingly.
I always tell candidates,
"Don't be afraid to ask follow-up questions
if you don't have all the information you need."
No recruiter expects you to know everything.
And, finally, talk about how excited you are
to start in a BI role.
Interviewers want to hire someone
who is both competent and enthusiastic.
The hiring manager may guide most of your interview.
They may steer the conversations with their questions,
but you should make sure to discuss each of these topics
before your interview is over.
In general, it also helps
to remember some universal interview best practices.
Answer the interviewer's questions descriptively
and prioritize the most relevant information.
Speak with a friendly but professional tone.
Whether you're in an in-person or virtual setting,
dress appropriately, make eye contact,
and keep your body language as relaxed and natural
as you can.
That last one might be tough if you're nervous,
but that's okay.
Interviewers understand that you are eager
to make a good impression.
It will also help to think of questions you may want
to ask the interviewer.
You'll want to know what kinds of data you will work on,
how many people are on the company's BI team,
and what you would be expected to do in the role.
You can also ask about the organization's commitment
to inclusivity or their philosophy on work-life balance.
By asking your own questions, you demonstrate your interest
and that you're a proactive learner.
After all, asking the right questions
is a BI professional's first job.
Each interview is a new opportunity
to show off how hard you've worked
and get one step closer to an amazing new job.