Unlocking Interview Success: Prepare Like Top Candidates
A few months ago I wrote a post on LinkedIn about prepping for interviews and it got a lot of traction. It's always interesting what resonates with a lot of people.
I'm going to expand on the post to give you more ideas on how you can better prepare for interviews.
Quick side note: There were a few comments on that LI post that shared something along the lines of "just be yourself" in interviews.
That advice is one of my biggest pet peeves. I have heard recruiters give this exact advice on stage at conferences and I always think to myself - telling job seekers to "just be themselves" is useless.
What does that even mean? It's not tactical or strategic and doesn't help candidates change their approach in interviews.
I'm a fan of frameworks, strategies, and actionable advice to improve your interview outcomes.
Sure be yourself, but also be strategic. Interviews are somewhat of a performance after all.
Let's dive in.
Recently one of my clients got a rejection email from a recruiter with detailed feedback about why they decided not to extend an offer.
It was one of the best rejection emails I've seen because the recruiter provided actionable real feedback.
One of the lines in the email said that the skill gap was in executive presence, concise communication, and storytelling.
When I read that I thought - yes this is what every interviewer is looking for at every company all the time.
If you could nail it on those three elements you will ace interviews.
But to get good at all three you likely need to practice more intensely than you have been for interviews.
As Guy Raz once said:
"It's deep work and repetition that sear the fundamentals into your muscle memory."
This is so true for interview skills also. You must put in the reps.
Most people think they are doing enough by researching the company reading the JD.
It's not enough y'all. Getting good at interviewing requires a lot of practice.
You must analyze your performance and then improve on it.
The practice tips I'm about to share require more time, effort, and energy and most people won't go the extra mile.
The result is a lot of job seekers get frustrated, resentful, and burnt out.
But the way you prep and how much energy you put into it is in your control.
Aim to outwork your competition.
1. Write out your stories
Start a doc or grab a notebook and start writing your answers to common interview questions. Build your toolbox of stories and get them out of your head so you can practice and iterate on them.
Focus on showing rather than telling. In other words, share specific examples and stories to back up your work ethic and personal qualities.
2. Practice out loud
There are so many ways to do this - mock interviews, record yourself, pace around and talk to yourself, etc etc. The main thing is to rehearse your stories like an actor would practice lines...over and over until you can say it in your sleep.
The more you can mimic the interview environment when you practice, the better you'll get in real interviews.
3. Analyze yourself and get feedback
When I practiced for interviews I would time myself with a stopwatch because I wanted to know what it felt like to talk for more than 2 minutes. It helped me know viscerally when I was talking too much in interviews. If there is a specific element you want to improve, like executive presence, practice, track it and analyze how you're doing.
4. Make flashcards
This is an oldie but goodie study trick that can help you practice for common interview questions. It allows you to build your memory bank of strong stories and helps with recall. Quiz yourself so you can handle anything that comes at you in real interviews.
Hint: structure your stories in STAR format to stay concise.
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Pro Tip: Use can use AI tools to help you practice interview questions.
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5. Reuse strong stories and iterate on weaker stories
When you know one of your answers is strong keep reusing it. If you notice you get follow-up questions after a certain answer, go back and make it stronger. Approach your interview practice like an athlete trains for their sport. Top athletes don't just practice, they study themselves on tape to see what they need to deliberately improve on.
6. Aim to do more real interviews
The best way to get better at interviewing is to do a lot of real interviews. That way you start understanding what questions you get at every stage and you put yourself 'on stage' many times over. It helps to build confidence and leverage which makes you a more compelling candidate.
Hint: if you are not applying for 30+ jobs per week you are likely not doing enough interviews.
My clients who get offers the fastest (in all kinds of markets) always double down on interview prep.
I've seen it several times over, those who go above and beyond beat out their competition.
All that to say, if you start doing a few of these tips it will make you better, and in this job market you need to do whatever it takes to win.
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