Have you asked for constructive feedback from the interviewers where you thought you did well?
For my own interviews, I have always asked, and always appreciated the candor. It really help me improve my game.
Things to avoid before offer
- ANYTHING that makes you appear to be concerned with yourself or appear to be high maintenance. I get turned off when summer folks ask me about housing (I don’t know, HR helps, people seem to find it). Flexible working hours (cart before the horse - at least get me to like you first).
Things to emphasize during interview
- What you can do for employer
- How the work is so interesting you might forget to go home at night
- How you can contribute - “Contribute” is a great word. It suggests that you recognize your limitations and view your job as what you can do for your employer. It suggests a good teammate.
Asking whether you will have a mentor is a reasonable question because it shows your interest in learning and contributing. While that can be construed as being for yourself, it’s really a recognition that you need one and it shows modesty.
The other thing that many students don’t recognize, is that we expect you to retain your coursework. I don’t care if you got an A, if you can’t think about my questions out loud so that I can see how you think, so that I can determine if you are teachable.
It’s a good idea to ask during a phone screen what kind of questions to anticipate. It’s good to study a little if you get an answer. Nobody is expected to know everything, but try to engage in any question anyway.
Generally on technical questions, I will lead a student along. Failure to engage is fatal, and giving up is fatal. If you have a question ask it. I can genuinely tell if I’m torturing someone and I stop. Don’t let that be you. Think out loud, if you don’t remember, try to derive. If you are going the wrong way, your interviewer might lead you back by asking questions.
Basically, a good technical discussion will take you a long way.