Interview Communication Tips for Job Seekers

I’ve interviewed hundreds of people for top positions. And in 90% of cases — it’s not your resume that makes the strongest impression. It’s how you speak about yourself. If you’re preparing for your next opportunity, here’s how to upgrade your interview communication: 🔻 Don’t say: “I’m willing to do anything.” ✅ Say: “I’m excited about roles where I can contribute in [specific way].” 🔻 Don’t say: “Sorry, I’m really nervous.” ✅ Say: “I’m so excited about this opportunity and our conversation.” 🔻 Don’t say: “I don’t have experience in that.” ✅ Say: “I haven’t done that yet, but I’m eager to learn…” 🔻 Don’t say: “My last boss was terrible.” ✅ Say: “I learned a lot from my previous roles, even the challenging ones.” 🔻 Don’t say: “I’m a perfectionist.” ✅ Say: “I take pride in delivering high-quality work while staying efficient.” 🔻 Don’t say: “I’m good at everything.” ✅ Say: “My strengths are in [skills], and I’m always improving in [growth area].” 🔻 Don’t say: “I did everything in my last project.” ✅ Say: “One key project I led was [specific example]. Here’s the impact it had…” 🔻 Don’t say: “In five years, I’ll be a manager.” ✅ Say: “I see myself growing into [role] and developing [specific skill].” 🔻 Don’t say: “I just want to work here.” ✅ Say: “I’m excited to bring [skills] to your team and help achieve [goal].” 🔻 Don’t say: “I don’t have any questions.” ✅ Say: “What does success look like in this role after six months?” 🔻 Don’t say: “What salary do you offer?” ✅ Say: “Based on my experience and market rates, I’m looking for [range].” 🔻 Don’t say: “Okay, bye!” ✅ Say: “Thank you for your time! I’m excited about this opportunity.” Here’s one key point I’m sure about: Interviews are a two-way street. You’re not just proving your worth — You’re also learning if this is the right fit for you. ↳ Speak with clarity. ↳ Communicate with value. ↳ Leave them remembering you. Which of these tips would’ve helped you in your last interview? Or better — which one will you use in your next? ♻️ Share this with your network. ✅ For more valuable insights, follow me, Victoria Repa.

I've interviewed 100s of candidates for $100k+ roles. It's not the person with the best experience who wins. It's the one who is best prepared for the interview. 6 common questions you need to prepare for: 1. Tell me about yourself. ➟ Don't recite your resume. Tell them a story. ➟ Share a defining moment in your career journey. ➟ Tie it to your enthusiasm for the role and company. 2. What are your strengths? ➟ Focus on strengths crucial for the role. ➟ Back them up with numbers and examples. ➟ Show how they'll directly benefit the company. 3. What's your greatest weakness? ➟ Choose a skill not critical for the job. ➟ Show self-awareness and a focus on growth. ➟ Explain how you're actively working to improve it. 4. How do you handle stress or pressure? ➟ Share an example of a high-pressure situation. ➟ Highlight your approach to stay calm and focused. ➟ Demonstrate how you lead by example. 5. What are your salary expectations? ➟ Show you've done your research on market rates. ➟ Provide a range rather than a single figure. ➟ Emphasize your value and openness to negotiation. 6. Can you tell me about the gap in your resume? ➟ Be honest and brief about the reason for the gap. ➟ Focus on skills or experiences gained in that time. ➟ Express your excitement to re-enter the workforce. And just as important... Remember, you're interviewing the company too. Ask smart questions about: The role The culture The company An interview is a two-way street. It's not just about impressing them. It's about finding the right fit for you too. So don't hold back. Be curious. Be authentic. Be confident. You've got this. P.S. Find this valuable? Repost to help others too ♻️. And follow Justin Wright for more. Want a PDF of this and my 50 best infographics? Get them here for free: brilliancebrief.com

One of the things that brings me so much satisfaction in my work with SheFi is helping candidates connect the dots about how to be more effective in their job search and interview processes. Our recent #interview skills workshop was a big hit, with some key takeaways worth sharing more broadly. → Practice your elevator pitch: Be prepared to spend no more than 2-3 minutes sharing a clear picture of your career history, what you’re seeking next, and why you are a fit for the role you’re seeking. No, really. Practice! Clearly articulating your value, experience and career goals at the outset can set the tone for the rest of the interview. → Throughout the interview, be mindful of time. This one commonly trips people up – it’s better to answer a question with a high level overview, pause and say something like “happy to expand on this”, then to ramble with no awareness of time, which flies quickly, especially in a 30-minute interview. It’s natural to be nervous, but rambling can kill an interview. Again, practicing ahead of time can make all the difference! → Have a few STAR stories ready to share. That stands for Situation-Task-Action-Result. This helps your interviewer understand your real experiences about how you’ve solved problems and created impact. These questions usually start with “Tell me about a time when…” or “Share an example of how…”. Include concrete examples and measurable results. These can be challenging to answer on the fly, so spend time preparing. → Be ready to discuss your strengths & weaknesses. Most of us have some idea of our strengths, but it can feel uncomfortable to shine a light on weaknesses. A great way to approach this is to think of your areas of growth. We all have them, and usually the interviewer is seeking to learn more about your self awareness than your weaknesses. → Lastly, have a few thoughtful questions ready, showing your interest in the role and the company. Don’t ask anything that you could easily find on the internet. If you’ve been selected for an interview, CONGRATS! You’re already rising above others in a competitive market. Hoping these tips will help you move to the next round, and eventually, the offer!