It's equally important to be focused and convey what matters during the interview. First and foremost, make sure you know your audience, Hill advised.

"Typically, your first interview will be with a non-technical recruiter or HR professional. Be sure to know how to explain your technical background and accomplishments to non-technical employees."

Avoid jargon and complicated acronyms, in other words. Instead, focus on projects completed on time, the sizes of the teams you've worked with, the amount of code you've written alone, the reporting systems you've developed or used, and "most of all, time and money saved."

The Linux Foundation's Cloer added that it's wise to demonstrate your knowledge of the open development model.

Practicing your answers ahead of time can be a smart strategy. "Interviewers pay attention to the way answers are laid out, as it gives insight into process, not just finished product," said Hill of Dice.