Preparing for Job Interviews

I've interviewed 100s of people for 6-figure roles. (Here's what nobody tells you...) It's not the most qualified candidate who gets the job. It's the best prepared for the interview. How to prep like the top 1%: 1. Research the company like you already work there. ↳ Know their challenges, victories, and latest news. 2. Practice your answers out loud. ↳ What sounds good in your head may not when spoken. 3. Prepare 3 specific stories that showcase your skills. ↳ Focus on your adaptability and leadership. 4. Study the job description. Find the top 3 skills they want. ↳ Then craft examples proving you have them. 5. Do a mock interview with a trusted person. ↳ Someone who will give you honest feedback. 💡 And 7 questions to ask that make YOU stand out: 99% of candidates ask basic questions at the end. Don't waste this opportunity to impress! Ask these instead: ➟ What does success look like in the first 90 days? ➟ What are the biggest challenges facing the team that I could help solve? ➟ How would you describe the management style of the person I'd be reporting to? ➟ What distinguishes your top performers from everyone else? ➟ How does the company support professional development and growth? ➟ What made YOU decide to join this company, and what keeps you here? ➟ What do new employees find surprising after they start? The best candidates don't just answer questions. They create meaningful conversations. Remember: Interviews are a two-way street. You're evaluating them just as much as they are you. You spend 90,000 hours of your life at work. Choose a company and manager that support your growth. Your career will thank you. P.S. What's your best tip for nailing your interview? Share in the comments to help others prepare. ♻️ Valuable? Repost to share with your network. 🔖 Follow Justin Wright for more on career success. Want my 80 best cheat sheets? Get them here for free: BrillianceBrief.com   

Mechanical, hardware, and chemical engineers are among the hardest-to-fill/hardest-to-hire roles for climate tech companies, with time-to-fill times longer than even machine learning engineering roles. ClimateTechList teamed up with data scientist/engineer Jason Zou to analyze our dataset of ~60,000 job posts from 900 climate tech companies posted in the last 6 months. Specifically, we found that the time-to-fill for the following roles were: - Sales: 31.9 days - Marketing: 35.9 - Analyst: 36.0 - Design: 38.5 - Data Science: 40.3 - Product Management: 41.5 - Operations: 42 - Electrical Engineer: 47.1 - Software Eng: 48.2 - Machine Learning Eng: 48.3 - Mechanical Eng: 49.0 - Hardware Eng: 50.2 - Chemical Eng: 51.5 Engineering jobs associated with physical production are hard to hire, namely mechanical engineering, hardware engineering, and chemical engineering, all of which take almost 2x as long to fill (50 days) as sales jobs. Even machine learning engineering positions, in high demand from the AI boom, are filled at a slightly faster rate than these 3 positions Possible reasons for this effect - many of these jobs require in-person work, which makes job matching jobs to candidates inherently more difficult - Federal legislation of the last few years- Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, CHIPS Act are all driving massive investments into U.S. physical infrastructure and manufacturing. These investments disproportionally require talent with physical-product engineering skills more than software engineering skills. 👉 For more insights on hiring trends by company, country and climate tech vertical, see our latest climate tech hiring trends report here: https://lnkd.in/gpMCaSZ6 #climatetechlist #decarbonization #energytransition #chemicalengineering #mechanicalengineering #hardwareengineering #hiringtrends

Over the last few years, I’ve switched jobs, given many interviews, and spent hundreds of hours optimizing my resume and profile. During this journey, I made plenty of mistakes that cost me time and opportunities. So today, I want to share these genuine mistakes—and more importantly, how you can avoid them: Applying Randomly & Everywhere: In the early stages, I thought applying to as many jobs as possible was the key. Big mistake! Quality always beats quantity. Lesson: Tailor each application to the job role. Research the company and make sure your resume aligns with their requirements. Ignoring LinkedIn & Online Presence: Initially, my LinkedIn profile was incomplete and poorly optimized. I underestimated the power of LinkedIn visibility. Lesson: Your online presence matters. A complete, active LinkedIn profile attracts opportunities you’d never find by traditional methods alone. Sending Generic Cold Messages: I used to send cold messages like "Hi, can you refer me?" which rarely received replies. Lesson: Craft a concise, clear message. Always include the specific role, job link/ID, your resume, and a short summary of your skills. Poor Resume Formatting: My resume had too many graphics, complicated formatting, and lacked the right keywords. This reduced my ATS compatibility. Lesson: Keep your resume simple, structured, and ATS-friendly. Use clear headings, bullet points, and keywords from the job description. Not Preparing for the "Tell Me About Yourself" Question: I used to treat this question lightly and gave long, vague answers. The interviewer would lose interest quickly. Lesson: Prepare a structured 1-minute summary focusing on your experience, skills, and how you match the job you're interviewing for. Underestimating the Job Description: I didn't closely analyze the job description and often missed key details required by employers. Lesson: Job descriptions are gold. Analyze them carefully and reflect their highlighted skills and requirements in your application and interviews. Overlooking Company Research: During interviews, I would have limited knowledge about the company's products or mission. This made my answers generic. Lesson: Always research the company’s recent activities, products, and news. It helps you answer questions meaningfully and shows genuine interest. Getting Demotivated by Rejections: Early rejections made me question my capabilities, negatively impacting future interviews. Lesson: Every rejection is a lesson. Ask for feedback, reflect, and improve. Rejection means redirection—not the end of the road. Negotiation Mistakes: I used to accept offers quickly without proper negotiation due to the fear of losing the offer. Lesson: Negotiate politely but confidently. Companies expect this. Always understand your market worth, and clearly communicate your value. Have you made similar mistakes or learned something valuable from your own job search? Share your experiences in the comments—let's help each other grow!

I’ve reviewed > 400 portfolios this year. Observation #1: The ones that got interviews weren’t the prettiest. They were the clearest. → Clear intent (what roles they’re targeting) → Clear structure (who they helped + what changed) → Clear thinking (how they made decisions) Observation #2: Hiring managers responded best to portfolios that made it easy to scan, not admire. → 3-5 second headlines that told the story → Metrics up top, visuals in the middle, lessons at the end → Less storytelling. More signal. Observation #3: The portfolios that ‘failed’? → Opened with “Hi, I’m Alex and I love solving problems” → Contained 30+ screenshots with no explanation → Didn’t articulate business impact or their role → Had no opinion, no POV, no process If I were applying today? → I’d restructure my case studies to lead with outcomes → I’d add a design philosophy section to show how I think → I’d cut 40% of the fluff and focus on what actually matters → I’d communicate my USP and elevator pitch up front Your portfolio isn’t a gallery. It’s a business case for why you’re worth hiring. ----- Just thought I'd share this after reviewing some notes over the weekend. Hope it helps! ----- #ux #tech #design #ai #business #careers

Lately I have noticed a few patterns during interviews. Here are the two that stand out: Poor attitude and scripted answers. Here Are 10 Ways I’d Prepare to Not Just Get Through the Interview Loop—But Stand Out: 1. Do your research. Know the company’s mission, recent news, and products. Understand the role and how your experience connects to it. If you know your interviewers’ names, look them up on LinkedIn. If there’s a shared interest or experience, bring it up early to build rapport. Interviews are conversations—starting with curiosity sets the tone. 2. Practice with intention. Amazon interviews (like many others) go beyond the basics. It’s not just “Tell me about a project.” They’re looking for: • Did you own it? • Did you think ahead? • Did you drive real outcomes? Build a story bank: • 3 strong projects • 1 launch • 1 blocker you overcame • 1 failure you learned from Each story should reflect clear ownership and align with the company’s leadership principles or values. 3. Go deep, not wide. Choose stories that show real depth. • What decisions did you make? • What tradeoffs did you weigh? • What metrics did you move? If you didn’t drive the outcome, don’t use the example. 4. Use the XYZ format. Frame accomplishments like this: “Did X in Y time, which resulted in Z.” Example: Launched a new internal tool in 6 weeks, saving 15 hours/week for the support team. 5. Use “I” statements. Unless the question is about collaboration or team dynamics, focus on your individual contributions. Use action verbs like “I optimized,” “I led,” “I implemented.” 6. Prepare for follow-ups. Practice high-pressure questions. Ask clarifying questions before you respond to make sure you fully understand. Example: “Tell me about a time you got pushback from leadership.” Interviewers want to see how you stay composed under pressure. 7. Use the STAR(T) method. Structure answers clearly: • Situation • Task • Action • Result • Takeaway This helps you communicate clearly and keep your answers on track. 8. Mirror your interviewer. Pay attention to your interviewer’s tone, pace, and energy. Some are direct and fast-paced, others are more conversational. Adjust your communication style to match theirs and build connection. 9. Be respectful, always. Kindness, curiosity, and professionalism go a long way. Don’t try to prove you’re the smartest person in the room. Focus on being the most thoughtful. 10. Interview them, too. You're not just being evaluated—you’re evaluating them. Ask smart questions to learn more about the role, team, and company culture. Avoid HR-related questions (like time off or salary) in early rounds unless prompted. Resumes get you in the door. The way you communicate, connect, and own your story—that’s what gets you the offer. Don’t aim to sound perfect. Aim to sound prepared, thoughtful, and real. What’s one thing you always do before an interview? Would love to hear how you prep.

When I interviewed at Google, they asked me: “How many soccer balls fit in a school bus?” Here’s what went through my brain: "WHAT did this guy just ask me?! … I think I’m going to barf… No, Sarah, you can do this.  Wait - what’s the area of a circle? π r²? No, that’s not it. ... How big is a school bus? Does it have seats? Are there kids in it? … This is such a dumb question. WHY are they asking me this?! ... They’re trying to see if I’ll squirm. I actually might barf. SAY SOMETHING, ANYTHING!!." 👉 Don’t be like me. Don’t freeze and spiral in your inner dialogue. So, how’d I handle it? I took a breath, forced a laugh, and said, “Hm. Great question!” - trying to buy myself a few extra seconds. Back to my inner dialogue: “F*ck. AH! Okay, take a step back - What are they *really* asking? Why would *anyone* NEED to fit lots of soccer balls in a school bus? 💡 Oh - that’s a good place to start. Maybe if I understand the problem, I can make a plan.” So, with all the fake confidence I could muster, I said, “Well, to get started, I’ll need to know why we’re putting soccer balls in a school bus; What's the end goal?" The interviewer nodded. I was on the right track. Now that I’ve trained Google interviewers and analyzed thousands of interview feedback reports, I know the right way to answer.  When you get hit with a curveball question that seems totally unrelated to the job, here’s what they want you to do: ✅ Ask clarifying questions to understand the end goal & business needs.  Who’s involved, why, what are the timelines & budgets? Has this been done before?  ✅ Take notes to organize your thoughts. ✅ Make your assumptions explicit. To solve hypothetical problems, you’ll likely have to make assumptions.   ✅ Think out loud. ✅ Don’t rush into solutioning. ✅ Consider alternate approaches. ✅ Address risks & dependencies. At the end of the day, your thought process matters more than the answer. You’ve got this!! Drop the wildest interview Q you've been asked in the comments section & follow me, Sarah Goose, for job search strategies that actually work. ♻️ Repost to help your network.

“My mind went blank. I knew the answer… but the words wouldn’t come out.” That’s what a student told me after freezing in front of an Accenture recruiter. He had the skills. He had the resume. But his nerves cost him the job. And trust me — he’s not alone. Even the most brilliant candidates lose offers not because they aren’t capable, but because the brain treats interviews like survival threats. 💡 Here’s what science says: 👉 The amygdala hijacks your brain under stress, triggering “fight or flight.” 👉 Cortisol spikes, reducing clarity of thought and memory recall. 👉 That’s why even well-prepared candidates stutter, sweat, and forget. But here’s how I help my students flip the script ⬇️ ✅ Reframe the Interview Stop thinking of it as a “test.” Think of it as a business conversation. You’re not proving yourself, you’re solving a problem for the company. ✅ Use the 4-7-8 Breathing Rule Science-backed by Harvard Medical School — inhaling for 4, holding for 7, and exhaling for 8 lowers cortisol within minutes. It instantly shifts your body from panic to presence. ✅ Anchor Yourself With Cue Cards Instead of memorizing paragraphs (which sounds robotic), write 1–2 keywords per common question. This activates memory recall while keeping your answers natural. ✅ Practice in “High Pressure” Mode Most people rehearse in front of a mirror. But that’s not how real interviews feel. Do at least 2 mock interviews with a coach/peer on Zoom. Record yourself. Watch for tone, pauses, and body language. Research shows candidates who rehearse under “simulated stress” perform 33% better in real interviews. ✅ Stack Your Wins Before You Enter Write down 3 achievements you’re proud of and read them before the interview. This primes your brain with confidence and reminds you that you belong in that room. ✅ Leverage STAR + Data Every behavioral question should be answered with the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). But here’s the secret most miss: add numbers. Recruiters skim for impact. “Improved process efficiency” won’t land. “Reduced process time by 30%, saving ₹5 lakh annually” will. I’ve seen anxious candidates walk into rooms shaking… and walk out as leaders once they mastered these shifts. If you’ve been ghosted after interviews despite having the right skills, it’s not your capability, it’s your strategy. Preparation + Psychology + Practice = Job Offer. 👉 Save this post before your next interview. And if you want me to personally guide you with resume building, LinkedIn optimization, or mock interviews, drop me a message. Let’s turn your anxiety into offers. #interviewtips #careergrowth #jobsearch #dreamjob #resumetips #linkedinoptimization #salarynegotiation

Here are 5 mistakes that kill even "good" portfolios: (Do you recognize yourself?) ❌ Company slang everywhere: "We improved the DXP for our B2B2C SAAS platform" What? Just tell me: "We made it easier for businesses to manage customer data." Your abbreviations mean nothing to me. ❌ Blurry Miro / Fgjam boards with 500 sticky notes My clients: "But I wanted to show the process!" Please do, but not with dirty visuals. Show me: → The problem you identified → The activity you did → 2-3 KEY insights (not 50) → What you built from those insights → The impact Not your messy whiteboard. ❌ The umbrella problem vs the actual problem of your case study So many designers fail to show that they took a huge initiative and broke it down into smaller pieces. Then the took that ONE SPECIFIC PIECE. Solved it. And now this case study is about it. Honestly, if you think about it as a waterfall, it gets so much easier to build this narrative. But what I mostly see: Start: Users couldn't find products Middle: So we redesigned the entire checkout End: Here's our new design system What? Pick ONE problem. Solve it. Show the impact. ❌ Zero context about your role "We designed..." Who's we? Were you leading? Following? Contributing? Be specific: "I led the design while collaborating with 2 engineers and a PM" ❌ Process without purpose Showing me you did card sorting means nothing. Tell me WHY you chose that method. What did you learn? How did it change your direction? ❌❌❌ Unfinished products presented as wins "We're launching next quarter!" Cool. Come back when you have results. You have 2 minutes to impress me. Why waste it on maybes? Your portfolio isn't a museum of your work. It's a sales tool. Every word should convince me you can solve MY problems. The bar is higher than ever. But most people are still showing Miro boards (And that's coming from ex-Miro) Know your audience.

As a recruiter, I’ve seen it all. Many of you sabotage your job interviews without even knowing it. Here are 7 mistakes that could cost you the job (and how to fix them): 1. Talking Too Much ↳ Mistake: Rambling and going off-topic. ↳ The Fix: Answer what’s asked—nothing more, nothing less. 2. Skipping Company Research ↳ Mistake: Walking in without a clue about their mission. ↳ The Fix: Research thoroughly. Show them you’re prepared. 3. Bashing Past Employers ↳ Mistake: Complaining about your boss or coworkers. ↳ The Fix: Keep it professional. Focus on what you’ve learnt. 4. Not Asking Questions ↳ Mistake: Saying, “No, I’m good,” when asked for questions. ↳ The Fix: Prepare a few thoughtful ones—culture, challenges, next steps. 5. Dwelling on Weaknesses ↳ Mistake: Overexplaining flaws instead of strengths. ↳ The Fix: Acknowledge and pivot to how you’re improving. 6. Giving Generic Answers ↳ Mistake: Sounding like you’re reading from a script. ↳ The Fix: Connect your experience to their needs. 7. Forgetting to Follow Up ↳ Mistake: No thank-you email = missed opportunity. ↳ The Fix: A little gratitude goes a long way. 👉 Final word: Interviews are make-or-break moments. Don’t let avoidable mistakes sabotage you. So, which of these are you guilty of? And what will you do differently next time? --- ♻️ Share this to help someone today! ➕ And follow Shulin Lee for more.

Don't reach out cold until you have spoken and reconnected with all these people first and have asked for AIR + explained exactly what you are looking for. 🎈 Advice - career advice, job search advice, career pivot advice 🎈 Information - What's going on in the company, industry? What trends are they seeing? 🎈 Recommendations - Who do they recommend you speak with to learn more? What professional associations or groups do they recommend? Where do they go or what do they read to stay current? 🎯 Contact ALL these People So They Know What You Are Looking For 1. People You Used To Work With Your past work colleagues have seen you perform in the job and know your strengths and work ethic. These people make an excellent source of information to find out what changes are going on in the business and industry. You want to let them know you are looking for a new opportunity. 2. Friends, Family, Neighbors People you know are most likely to want to help you if they can. Your friends have a vast network of contacts you don’t know about. 3. Past Managers Assuming you and your previous manager or supervisor got along, it’s a good idea to reach out to them. Your past boss may know of upcoming opportunities at your old company 4. Target Company Employees Talking with people who work inside a company you're interested in allows you to learn what it is really like to work there. Plus they can provide advice and/or insight on the best way to apply. 5. Alumni/Classmates Don’t forget to tap into classmates, professors, and alumni as another potential pool of people to network with. Use LinkedIn's Alumni tool plus your school’s Advancement or Alumni office database. 6. Customers/Clients The people you’ve served already know you and are familiar with your work. Lean on them as a source of information about what’s going on. Your customers and clients have a feel of the work landscape and future needs. This information will help you position your most important skills and experience. 7. Vendors/Suppliers Similar to your clients and customers, these people know what it’s like to do business with you. They also have a finger on the pulse of what’s happening in your industry because they are still servicing businesses. 8. Service Providers (Doctors, accountants, hairdresser, etc.) Don’t overlook the business relationships you have with professionals who provide you with services. These people have their own vast network of contacts. 9. Fellow Volunteers If you volunteer, you’ve likely established relationships with other volunteers and people within the organization. These people have seen you give your time and effort.