interview strategy

That Interview Sucked. What’s Going On? 

Many candidates find themselves frustrated and disheartened after encountering one of these common pain points:

• “I got ghosted after making it to the second round.” You spent hours preparing and felt confident, only to never hear back from the company. The silence can be deafening and leaves you wondering what went wrong.

• “I just didn’t know how to answer their questions and stumbled over my responses.” You know you’re qualified and have the right experience, but when it comes to answering tricky interview questions, you find yourself at a loss for words.

• “I felt like the interviewer wasn’t tuned into the Zoom call at all.” Virtual interviews add another layer of complexity. Technical glitches, lack of eye contact, and distractions make it feel like the interviewer isn’t engaged, leaving you unsure if you made a good impression.

If any of these scenarios sound familiar, you’re not alone.

Many job seekers are finding that landing a job today takes more than just having the right qualifications on paper.

It requires perseverance, a well-thought-out strategy, and, most importantly, preparation.

With companies often putting candidates through multiple rounds of interviews (sometimes as many as eight!), you need to be ready to showcase your skills and personality in a way that makes you unforgettable.

The key to moving from being ghosted to getting hired lies in your ability to tell your story, demonstrate your value, and connect with the interviewer. 

How I Helped a Talented Project Manager Stand Out in an Oversaturated Market

When I first met my client, a skilled Project Manager with five years of experience, she was feeling defeated.

Despite her impressive track record and strong skill set, she was having terrible luck in an oversaturated market.

She was consistently facing challenges like:

• Being ghosted by recruiters after initial contact.
• Not making it past the second-round interview despite being highly qualified.
• Going months without receiving any interview requests at all.

She felt stuck and was starting to question her abilities, even though she knew she had a lot to offer.

This is a scenario I’ve seen countless times—talented professionals feeling lost in a sea of applicants, unsure of how to differentiate themselves and get noticed.

When we began working together, I immediately identified several opportunities to enhance her messaging.

Her resume and LinkedIn profile were strong but generic. They didn’t fully convey her unique strengths or the breadth of her accomplishments.

In a mock interview, she didn’t talk with confidence or assurance. 

Transforming Generic Messaging into a Compelling Narrative

Together, we revamped her professional story.

We moved away from vague descriptions and focused on specific achievements that highlighted her value.

We crafted a narrative that demonstrated not just what she had done, but the impact she had made in each role.

By emphasizing her leadership skills, her ability to deliver projects on time and within budget, and her knack for driving cross-functional team success that led to not only completing projects on time but saving companies hundreds of thousands of dollars!, we created a compelling personal brand and communication strategy that set her apart from the competition.

Making an Impact Beyond Words

But it wasn’t just about what was on paper.

We also worked on how she presented herself in interviews (this is the money piece!) 

We focused on adjusting her body language to exude confidence and openness, even during virtual interviews.

She learned to assert her worth, speaking clearly about her achievements and how they aligned with the company’s needs. This not only helped her build rapport with interviewers but also showed that she was someone who knew her value and could bring significant contributions to the team.

Negotiating a Salary Above Expectations

The results were transformational.

After implementing these changes, my client started getting noticed. Not only did she begin receiving more interview requests, but she also progressed further in the interview process.

And when she finally received an offer, she was able to negotiate a salary 20% above her initial expectations, reflecting the true value of her skills and experience.

This is the power of the right positioning and preparation.

Mastering the Most Important Question: “Tell Me About Yourself”

This question seems straightforward, but it’s one of the most critical moments in an interview.

It’s often the first question asked and sets the tone for the rest of the conversation.

Surprisingly, many candidates struggle with this question because they either ramble without focus or provide a bland summary that doesn’t capture their unique value.

How to Stand Out:

• Craft a Compelling Story. Start with a brief overview of your professional background, highlight a few key achievements, and end with what excites you about the role you’re applying for. Tailor your answer to the job, focusing on experiences and skills that align with the company’s needs.
• Be Concise and Impactful. Keep your response to about two minutes. This is your opportunity to make a strong first impression, so ensure every sentence adds value and demonstrates your expertise and passion.

Pro Tip: Practice your answer to this question until it feels natural. Record yourself to refine your delivery and ensure you’re hitting all the right points.

Navigating “Describe a Time When…” Questions with Confidence

Behavioral questions like “Describe a time when you faced a challenge at work” are designed to assess how you handle real-life situations.

These questions require you to provide specific examples that showcase your problem-solving skills, teamwork, leadership, and adaptability.

How to Stand Out:

• Use the STAR Method. Structure your answers using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). This approach helps you deliver a clear and concise story that highlights your abilities and achievements.
• Focus on Results. When answering, emphasize the positive outcomes of your actions. Did you improve a process, increase sales, or enhance team productivity? Quantify your results whenever possible to show the tangible impact of your efforts.

Pro Tip: Prepare at least three to five STAR stories that you can adapt to different questions.

Practicing these stories will help you feel more prepared and confident during the interview.

Preparing for the Most Common Interview Questions of 2024

Interviews in 2024 are focusing more on a candidate’s ability to think critically, demonstrate emotional intelligence, and adapt to a fast-changing work environment.

Aside from behavioral questions, employers are also asking about your adaptability to new technologies, your approach to remote or hybrid work settings, and your understanding of diversity and inclusion.

How to Stand Out:

• Research and Reflect: Before your interview, research the company’s culture, values, and recent news. Reflect on how your skills and experiences align with their goals and challenges.
• Showcase Adaptability and Growth: Be ready to discuss how you’ve adapted to changes, learned new skills, or overcome setbacks. Employers want to see that you’re proactive, resilient, and continuously learning.

Pro Tip: Have answers prepared for these common questions:

• “How do you handle tight deadlines or high-pressure situations?”
• “What steps do you take to stay updated with industry trends?”
• “Can you give an example of how you’ve promoted diversity and inclusion in the workplace?”
• “Can you provide an example of a project where you used data to make a decision? What was the outcome?”
• “How do you prioritize tasks when you have multiple deadlines approaching?”

Job interviews are tough, but I make them much easier to take. 

I also ensure that you get a job offer for a position doing work you love. 

About Heather Constantine

Heather Constantine is a seasoned career coach with 14 years of  marketing experience in building brands through strategic positioning, interview prep and job search strategies. 

If you’re ready to equip yourself with customized and strategic interview prep to land an incredible job offer, schedule a strategy call with Heather today.