1.Always use the STAR method when answering interview questions. It’s easy to prepare and memorize ahead of time, and it helps keep your answers structured and clear.
2.There are a few tools that let you upload your resume and paste in the job description to compare and contrast them. They’re surprisingly useful for spotting gaps.
3.Treat your LinkedIn as a living resume. Keep it updated as you learn, ship, and refine your story.
Such great points about treating interviewing like a skill all its own. Also, more people should film themselves giving presentations or talking; you learn so much just by watching yourself from a third-person perspective.
The 'think about what lands not just what you say' framing is gold. Most people prep answers but forget to prep for how those anwers get recieved. That mock interview strategy where someone watches themselves back and realizes they wouldnt hire themselves, honestly brutal but effective. Sometimes we're so deep in our own expertise we forget the interviewer's trying to solve a completely different problem than showcasing our resume.
Very timely post for me! Wish I had read it before my call. :) Appreciate the practical advice.
This is timely because I'm transitioning from freelancing to searching for a FT in-house role. Selling and pitching myself is not my strength. (In fact, I hate it.) However, as a freelancer, I grew my business with an approach that I am comfortable with. My conversations with prospects always start with, "So, what's going on?" This allows me to listen to their needs and then articulate or share how I might be able to help them (i.e. a consultative approach).
Lately, I have been pondering/ exploring if it's possible to flip the script to make a standard interview more comfortable—to reframe the conversation so I can better understand their needs, demonstrate my curiosity, and showcase my skills in a more natural way.
From your experience interviewing candidates, do you have any success stories of candidates achieving this? If so, do you have any tips? I guess if it has only backfired, that's probably helpful, too! Lol.
Many interviewers go in with a set of questions, but it a conversation. I find that asking what they are looking for (esp of the recruiter upfront) and also at the end, ask them if there are gaps or questions that remain that you can answer can be powerful ways to get information.
I agree with the substance of the article but there is also a very important point that is overlooked.
In many companies, Meta being an example, you need to know the script. Meaning you need to answer in the way the interviewer wants to hear the answer. If you do not come pre-programmed to think and talk like Meta the rest does not matter.
This is of course true everywhere but in places where the interviewing is strictly regimented, deviation is rejected as conformity is most important.
This is a really marvelous essay that is super helpful for folks with all kinds of skill levels. I would love to pass this on to others I know job searching right now because as you described, a lot of people don't fully understand the function of the interview, even if they may be perfectly qualified for the role. I think something else I've found to be really successful is either asking or knowing what problems the institution is looking to solve and positioning yourself in such a way to be the right candidate to take on that responsibility. Agency to approach the problem and readiness to deal with the new environment are really helpful qualities to display in the interview process.
Very spot on. A few more small things I’d add:
1.Always use the STAR method when answering interview questions. It’s easy to prepare and memorize ahead of time, and it helps keep your answers structured and clear.
2.There are a few tools that let you upload your resume and paste in the job description to compare and contrast them. They’re surprisingly useful for spotting gaps.
3.Treat your LinkedIn as a living resume. Keep it updated as you learn, ship, and refine your story.
Such great points about treating interviewing like a skill all its own. Also, more people should film themselves giving presentations or talking; you learn so much just by watching yourself from a third-person perspective.
Exactly. I’m trying to do that.
The first time, it feels very uncomfortable.
But if you sit with that discomfort long enough, things start to shift and it becomes easier.
If you’re afraid, do it while being afraid.
If you’re nervous, do it while being nervous. No one die of embarrassment.
"Ask for a moment if needed" - this is gold
The 'think about what lands not just what you say' framing is gold. Most people prep answers but forget to prep for how those anwers get recieved. That mock interview strategy where someone watches themselves back and realizes they wouldnt hire themselves, honestly brutal but effective. Sometimes we're so deep in our own expertise we forget the interviewer's trying to solve a completely different problem than showcasing our resume.
Very timely post for me! Wish I had read it before my call. :) Appreciate the practical advice.
This is timely because I'm transitioning from freelancing to searching for a FT in-house role. Selling and pitching myself is not my strength. (In fact, I hate it.) However, as a freelancer, I grew my business with an approach that I am comfortable with. My conversations with prospects always start with, "So, what's going on?" This allows me to listen to their needs and then articulate or share how I might be able to help them (i.e. a consultative approach).
Lately, I have been pondering/ exploring if it's possible to flip the script to make a standard interview more comfortable—to reframe the conversation so I can better understand their needs, demonstrate my curiosity, and showcase my skills in a more natural way.
From your experience interviewing candidates, do you have any success stories of candidates achieving this? If so, do you have any tips? I guess if it has only backfired, that's probably helpful, too! Lol.
Many interviewers go in with a set of questions, but it a conversation. I find that asking what they are looking for (esp of the recruiter upfront) and also at the end, ask them if there are gaps or questions that remain that you can answer can be powerful ways to get information.
I agree with the substance of the article but there is also a very important point that is overlooked.
In many companies, Meta being an example, you need to know the script. Meaning you need to answer in the way the interviewer wants to hear the answer. If you do not come pre-programmed to think and talk like Meta the rest does not matter.
This is of course true everywhere but in places where the interviewing is strictly regimented, deviation is rejected as conformity is most important.
This is a really marvelous essay that is super helpful for folks with all kinds of skill levels. I would love to pass this on to others I know job searching right now because as you described, a lot of people don't fully understand the function of the interview, even if they may be perfectly qualified for the role. I think something else I've found to be really successful is either asking or knowing what problems the institution is looking to solve and positioning yourself in such a way to be the right candidate to take on that responsibility. Agency to approach the problem and readiness to deal with the new environment are really helpful qualities to display in the interview process.
This is all so useful. I love the part about keeping some core stories.
I have also found it useful to write down my answers. It really helps me think about it rather than just memorising all of my answers.