Ready to nail your next interview?

Too many job seekers walk into interviews underprepared—but not you. Here are 7 steps to take BEFORE your next interview to help you stand out and show up with confidence.

1. KNOW THE BASICS

➡️ What’s the role?
➡️ Who do you know at the company?
➡️ What recent news or trends could you mention?

2. GET INSIDE THE ROLE

Identify the top 3 skills or qualifications the job requires. Then ask:

🛠 What problems does this role need to solve?

4. CRAFT YOUR OPENING

Your “Tell me about yourself” answer should highlight your skills and the reason you’re excited about this role.

🎯 Use Past, Present, Future to structure your 1-2 minute answer.

5. BUILD YOUR STORIES

Use the STAR method to structure 3 compelling examples that prove you’ve got what it takes.

✔️ Situation
✔️ Task
✔️ Action
✔️ Result

6. ASK SMART QUESTIONS

Come prepared with 3-5 thoughtful questions that show you’ve done your homework.

• You can ask AI to generate some questions for you using a prompt like this:

  • “Acting as a career coach, what questions would you recommend a job seeker ask during an interview for the following job? [cut and paste the entire job posting and include the company description/information if provided]”

• And you can find some questions in this post “Interview Questions YOU Can Ask”

7. CLOSE STRONG

Remind them what makes you the right fit—and why they should remember you.

When you prepare in advance, you'll feel more confident! Go get 'em!

Do you want my Interview Prep Cheat Sheet? Just reply to this email and I’ll send you the pdf.

I posted a version of this on LinkedIn.

🔎 JOB SEARCH

6 Big Mistakes Job Seekers Commonly Make - Fast Company

These are common problems job seekers make: 

Applying to too many jobs, not revising the resume for jobs, not using network/connections, insufficient interview prep, poor word choice during interviews, and not following up. 

Navigating the Modern Job Market: Data & Practical Strategies - Career Thought Leaders

This newsletter is packed with information about the current state of the job market. While it is geared towards career coaches, it’s a deep dive into the factors impacting job search, particularly AI. From job search automation to avoiding scams, you’ll see what job seekers are doing to compete in the tight labor market. 

How Others Find New Jobs (and How You Can Too!) - Jan Tegze, The Job Search.Guide

Refreshing your LinkedIn profile with the right jobs in mind, rekindling relationships of all kinds, and contacting insiders before applying- These are real examples of how job seekers beat the odds. There are many solid tips in here to help improve your job search. Bonus: Sign up for Jan’s upcoming webinar on personal branding!

💻 LINKEDIN

Successful Content Pillars for Profiles - Richard von der Blom

If you want to be smarter about what you post on LinkedIn, you’ll want to check out this free data from Richard’s extensive report. Top tip: Daily life posts are up 21% in engagement. Personal story telling and ‘how-to” posts perform well. Check out the carousel in his post.

🗨 INTERVIEWING

Free Interview Practice Tools - The Job Hopper 

With so many options available, there’s no reason you shouldn’t practice interviewing. Alison Doyle and Jen Luckwaldt recommend this list of free practice interview tools.

⚙ AI

Actually excited about this surprising new A.I. - Ann Handley, Total Anarchy

I’m slipping this in here for all of you who are looking for the latest and greatest A.I. hack! I don’t want to spoil the surprise, so have a read.

🔮 WORKFORCE

Klarna Is Hiring Customer Service Agents After AI Couldn't Cut It on Calls, According to the Company's CEO - Entrepreneur

What happens when you rely on AI to support your customers? Klarna found out and is reversing course. They said that “while AI customer service chatbots were cheaper to employ than human staff, they resulted in a 'lower quality' output.” This is an interesting case study. Perhaps AI isn’t the answer to every problem. 

Why aren't Americans filling the manufacturing jobs we already have? - NPR

This is a complicated question with many solutions, but it will take time. There’s the history of poor reputation of manufacturing jobs, low pay, and insufficient skills., The biggest successes happen when apprenticeships are implemented. When employers partner with community colleges or high schools, it feeds a pipeline of future employees in manufacturing. 

💰 CAREER

"When someone tries to create a personal brand, they are manufacturing an impersonal perception." - Kelli Hrivnak

Is personal branding fluff? It took me a minute to find Adam Grant’s podcast mentioned by Kelli, but the comments in her post are worth a read. Is personal branding actually how we want to be perceived or something else? Read, listen and you be the judge. 

JOB SEARCH VISUAL

Before you start obsessing over your resume, why don't you create these 3 lists so you have clarity on what you want to include and what you are looking for!

25 accomplishment stories (ID things you are good at) 50 target companies (ID the skills you need) 100 people you know (message these first)

Follow me on BlueSky

Follow this Starter Pack of Job Search Allies

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7 Tactics that Beat Searching the Job Boards

4 Ways to Update Your LinkedIn Status

WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

SmartBrief on Your Career 

This is a newsletter aggregating top career articles. It is easily skimmable with a summary and link to each article. “Career tips and best practices written for rising stars looking to get ahead and professionals on the move, delivered twice weekly.”

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