Clever ways to pause during an interview so you can appear more confident. Because you should speak with PURPOSE. Don’t just talk to respond. Talk to win the interviewer. Here’s how you can do that. ➡ 1. Acknowledge the Question Example: "That's a great question." This buys you a few seconds and shows you are engaged and thoughtful. ➡ 2. Repeat or Paraphrase the Question Example: "So, you're asking about my experience with project management?" This not only gives you time to think but also ensures you understood the question correctly. ➡ 3. Ask for Clarification Example: "Could you please clarify what you mean by...?" This can buy time and also ensures that you answer precisely what the interviewer is interested in. ➡ 4. Take a Deep Breath A deep breath can naturally create a short pause and help you calm your nerves, providing a moment to gather your thoughts. ➡ 5. Use Transitional Phrases Examples: "Let me think about that for a moment." or "That's an interesting point. Let me consider it." These phrases indicate that you are thinking carefully about your response. ➡ 6. Sip Water Taking a sip of water is a natural way to pause. Keep a glass or bottle of water handy during the interview. ➡ 7. Summarize Your Thoughts Example: "There are a few things that come to mind..." This allows you to start talking while organizing your thoughts for a more detailed answer. ➡ 8. Think Out Loud Example: "Well, there are a couple of ways to approach this..." This technique can help you structure your thoughts as you speak, making your thinking process transparent to the interviewer. ➡ 9. Jot Down Notes Keep a pen and paper handy. Jotting down a quick note or keyword can help you organize your response and provide a visual cue to help you remember key points. ➡ 10. Pause Intentionally It's perfectly acceptable to take a brief pause without feeling the need to fill the silence immediately. A short silence can come across as thoughtful rather than unprepared. ----- Ready to upgrade your career? Apply to our open roles: https://lnkd.in/g4GdHnCW
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Specialist in recruitment/headhunting and upscaling teams within Consultancy, Strategy & Transformation. Bramcote Consulting Ltd - Company Owner/Director
Never make these 6 job interview mistakes ‘that could instantly destroy a first impression' It’s a statistic you’ve probably heard before: 30 seconds to make an impact During that very short time, a hiring manager will make crucial determinations about you. Here are some of the biggest that will instantly destroy a first impression: 1. Arriving late You don’t want the very first thing you say to be: “I’m sorry I’m late.” Whether it’s virtual or in-person, don’t be that hapless person who shows up late because they got lost or underestimated the travel time or had tech issues. It also gives people a taste of what it would be like to work with you — and by not being punctual, you’re telling others that you’re unreliable. 2. Forgetting to use body language. Some quick body language tips that will make you look more confident: If the call is virtual, make sure the screen is nicely lined up with your face . Don’t use a propped up iPhone. Smile: First thing to do when you meet the interviewer. You’ll convey happiness and confidence Make eye contact: Avoid looking down: Arms free, not folded: Sitting forward/back: Leaning forward helps you present your ideas. If you lean back while listening, keep your posture open. Don’t sit on a swivel chair to be interviewed: Without knowing it you will start swivelling and that’s not only very distracting for the interviewer but makes you look nervous. 3. Having no relevant examples of accomplishments The interviewer asks you to elaborate on the accomplishments/projects you’ve listed on your resume, and because you’re nervous, your mind goes blank... But the interviewer is listening for specifics to determine how you match the demands of the job and how well you would communicate with colleagues and clients. The examples you give should cover four key areas: The challenge (or opportunity) faced Actions taken Results achieved Lessons learned *The S.T.A.R. technique can be used here 4. Talking too much or too little The interviewer asks you a question that you’re not prepared to answer: “Tell me how you would handle [X] challenge…” In a panic, you either you go on and on, or you give a short answer and then go silent…. The best way to prepare is by rehearsing. Practice giving clear and concise responses to common interview questions. Always ask lots of questions in an interview, this is essential 5. Lying, exaggerating or inflating You tell the hiring manager that you’re still working at your last job, even though you’ve already quit, made redundant or even fired. Big mistake! . Someone will verify the facts of what you say, so always tell the truth. People want to know who you are, not discover who you aren’t. 6. Not having a ‘Plan B’ If your interview is a video conference, please test the technology ahead of time. Have a backup phone number in case of tech issues. How’s the lighting? Are there pets or kids in the background? Bear this in mind and I’m sure you’ll do well!
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People ask me for interview advice all the time. While there is no one size fits all guarantee to get the job, these are some great tips to help you prepare.
Director, Software Engineering | Building a community for leaders in tech | Learn how to use AI to be more productive at work.
How to pass your interview. 5 tips from a manager at Amazon. Here are 5 tips you can use to improve your interviews that I learned from Eugene Polonsky, a Manager at Amazon: STAR format is a way of answering questions in a structured way: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Answer behavioural questions in this format. 1) Build a story bank - Create a library of 10-15 stories in STAR format - Link each story to common interview questions it might apply to - Bias towards recent stories, if possible 2) Mistakes level you - When asked about mistakes, don’t choose trivial examples to look good - Mistakes give clues about your level of experience - If your biggest career mistake is “breaking a software build”, you probably haven’t had a big scope. 3) Audit your stories for clarity - Ask family or friends for feedback on your stories - Make the situation, task, and result short and clear. - If your stories confuse strangers, they will confuse the interviewer. 4) Specificity matters - Be specific in your answers about what you did - “I led the project” leaves an open loop. Close it. - Numbers build trust - “Improved wait time” vs “Improved wait time from 4 hours to 10 minutes” 5) Don’t use “we” statements: - When answering questions, don’t use “We”. Use “I”. - An interviewer wants to know what “you” did - When you say “we”, your answer loses credibility 💡 Bonus tip: How to find good stories You can find good stories for interview questions - Performance review highlights and feedback - Big projects you’ve worked on - Projects you initiated, projects you’re proud of ~~~ Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Owain Lewis for more. Want to master the mindset, skills, and systems needed to grow your engineering leadership career? Subscribe to my free Engineering Manager newsletter (link in bio).
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Having been a panelist and hiring manager for several recruitments over my career, I think that these are some very clear and pragmatic tips for levelling up interview performance.
Director, Software Engineering | Building a community for leaders in tech | Learn how to use AI to be more productive at work.
How to pass your interview. 5 tips from a manager at Amazon. Here are 5 tips you can use to improve your interviews that I learned from Eugene Polonsky, a Manager at Amazon: STAR format is a way of answering questions in a structured way: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Answer behavioural questions in this format. 1) Build a story bank - Create a library of 10-15 stories in STAR format - Link each story to common interview questions it might apply to - Bias towards recent stories, if possible 2) Mistakes level you - When asked about mistakes, don’t choose trivial examples to look good - Mistakes give clues about your level of experience - If your biggest career mistake is “breaking a software build”, you probably haven’t had a big scope. 3) Audit your stories for clarity - Ask family or friends for feedback on your stories - Make the situation, task, and result short and clear. - If your stories confuse strangers, they will confuse the interviewer. 4) Specificity matters - Be specific in your answers about what you did - “I led the project” leaves an open loop. Close it. - Numbers build trust - “Improved wait time” vs “Improved wait time from 4 hours to 10 minutes” 5) Don’t use “we” statements: - When answering questions, don’t use “We”. Use “I”. - An interviewer wants to know what “you” did - When you say “we”, your answer loses credibility 💡 Bonus tip: How to find good stories You can find good stories for interview questions - Performance review highlights and feedback - Big projects you’ve worked on - Projects you initiated, projects you’re proud of ~~~ Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Owain Lewis for more. Want to master the mindset, skills, and systems needed to grow your engineering leadership career? Subscribe to my free Engineering Manager newsletter (link in bio).
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Preparing for a job interview is vital because it demonstrates your genuine interest in the position and organization, showcases your knowledge and skills, and boosts your confidence. Proper preparation allows you to anticipate questions, formulate thoughtful answers, and present yourself as a well-qualified and enthusiastic candidate. It also helps you understand the company culture and align your responses with their values, ultimately increasing your chances of making a positive impression and securing the job.
Director, Software Engineering | Building a community for leaders in tech | Learn how to use AI to be more productive at work.
How to pass your interview. 5 tips from a manager at Amazon. Here are 5 tips you can use to improve your interviews that I learned from Eugene Polonsky, a Manager at Amazon: STAR format is a way of answering questions in a structured way: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Answer behavioural questions in this format. 1) Build a story bank - Create a library of 10-15 stories in STAR format - Link each story to common interview questions it might apply to - Bias towards recent stories, if possible 2) Mistakes level you - When asked about mistakes, don’t choose trivial examples to look good - Mistakes give clues about your level of experience - If your biggest career mistake is “breaking a software build”, you probably haven’t had a big scope. 3) Audit your stories for clarity - Ask family or friends for feedback on your stories - Make the situation, task, and result short and clear. - If your stories confuse strangers, they will confuse the interviewer. 4) Specificity matters - Be specific in your answers about what you did - “I led the project” leaves an open loop. Close it. - Numbers build trust - “Improved wait time” vs “Improved wait time from 4 hours to 10 minutes” 5) Don’t use “we” statements: - When answering questions, don’t use “We”. Use “I”. - An interviewer wants to know what “you” did - When you say “we”, your answer loses credibility 💡 Bonus tip: How to find good stories You can find good stories for interview questions - Performance review highlights and feedback - Big projects you’ve worked on - Projects you initiated, projects you’re proud of ~~~ Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Owain Lewis for more. Want to master the mindset, skills, and systems needed to grow your engineering leadership career? Subscribe to my free Engineering Manager newsletter (link in bio).
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I love this post but I would add some reservations. There is an assumption in economics that all investors are rational. The reality is decisions are nuanced based on imperfect information and emotions affecting the investor. So too interviewers and the interview process. A "perfect" interview for one employer might be a complete fail for another. Interview tips are great and having a positive mindset is important, but far from everything. A perfect interview is one where you both find out you can work together, or you both understand it won't work out. The advice here is state what you did, not we. The interviewer might be looking to see how you apportion credit and step back a little from you taking all the credit for success instead of your team. Yes, talk about how you motivated the team but talk about them too, it is part of your story. Best to go into an interview fully prepared. Understand the job and company and listen to the interviewer. Try to understand them and what they are looking for. Set plans are great, but be prepared to discard them once you say hello at reception. The interview is a two way process and it is just as important you assess the interviewer and the company. Don't lie or pretend to be someone you aren't. If they don't want you as a result that is fine. Far better to find out at the interview than suffering a job you later cannot stand.
Director, Software Engineering | Building a community for leaders in tech | Learn how to use AI to be more productive at work.
How to pass your interview. 5 tips from a manager at Amazon. Here are 5 tips you can use to improve your interviews that I learned from Eugene Polonsky, a Manager at Amazon: STAR format is a way of answering questions in a structured way: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Answer behavioural questions in this format. 1) Build a story bank - Create a library of 10-15 stories in STAR format - Link each story to common interview questions it might apply to - Bias towards recent stories, if possible 2) Mistakes level you - When asked about mistakes, don’t choose trivial examples to look good - Mistakes give clues about your level of experience - If your biggest career mistake is “breaking a software build”, you probably haven’t had a big scope. 3) Audit your stories for clarity - Ask family or friends for feedback on your stories - Make the situation, task, and result short and clear. - If your stories confuse strangers, they will confuse the interviewer. 4) Specificity matters - Be specific in your answers about what you did - “I led the project” leaves an open loop. Close it. - Numbers build trust - “Improved wait time” vs “Improved wait time from 4 hours to 10 minutes” 5) Don’t use “we” statements: - When answering questions, don’t use “We”. Use “I”. - An interviewer wants to know what “you” did - When you say “we”, your answer loses credibility 💡 Bonus tip: How to find good stories You can find good stories for interview questions - Performance review highlights and feedback - Big projects you’ve worked on - Projects you initiated, projects you’re proud of ~~~ Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Owain Lewis for more. Want to master the mindset, skills, and systems needed to grow your engineering leadership career? Subscribe to my free Engineering Manager newsletter (link in bio).
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This is a great example of how to prep for any role. Remember to try to use examples that are not only recent, but relevant.
Director, Software Engineering | Building a community for leaders in tech | Learn how to use AI to be more productive at work.
How to pass your interview. 5 tips from a manager at Amazon. Here are 5 tips you can use to improve your interviews that I learned from Eugene Polonsky, a Manager at Amazon: STAR format is a way of answering questions in a structured way: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Answer behavioural questions in this format. 1) Build a story bank - Create a library of 10-15 stories in STAR format - Link each story to common interview questions it might apply to - Bias towards recent stories, if possible 2) Mistakes level you - When asked about mistakes, don’t choose trivial examples to look good - Mistakes give clues about your level of experience - If your biggest career mistake is “breaking a software build”, you probably haven’t had a big scope. 3) Audit your stories for clarity - Ask family or friends for feedback on your stories - Make the situation, task, and result short and clear. - If your stories confuse strangers, they will confuse the interviewer. 4) Specificity matters - Be specific in your answers about what you did - “I led the project” leaves an open loop. Close it. - Numbers build trust - “Improved wait time” vs “Improved wait time from 4 hours to 10 minutes” 5) Don’t use “we” statements: - When answering questions, don’t use “We”. Use “I”. - An interviewer wants to know what “you” did - When you say “we”, your answer loses credibility 💡 Bonus tip: How to find good stories You can find good stories for interview questions - Performance review highlights and feedback - Big projects you’ve worked on - Projects you initiated, projects you’re proud of ~~~ Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Owain Lewis for more. Want to master the mindset, skills, and systems needed to grow your engineering leadership career? Subscribe to my free Engineering Manager newsletter (link in bio).
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Found this helpful
Director, Software Engineering | Building a community for leaders in tech | Learn how to use AI to be more productive at work.
How to pass your interview. 5 tips from a manager at Amazon. Here are 5 tips you can use to improve your interviews that I learned from Eugene Polonsky, a Manager at Amazon: STAR format is a way of answering questions in a structured way: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Answer behavioural questions in this format. 1) Build a story bank - Create a library of 10-15 stories in STAR format - Link each story to common interview questions it might apply to - Bias towards recent stories, if possible 2) Mistakes level you - When asked about mistakes, don’t choose trivial examples to look good - Mistakes give clues about your level of experience - If your biggest career mistake is “breaking a software build”, you probably haven’t had a big scope. 3) Audit your stories for clarity - Ask family or friends for feedback on your stories - Make the situation, task, and result short and clear. - If your stories confuse strangers, they will confuse the interviewer. 4) Specificity matters - Be specific in your answers about what you did - “I led the project” leaves an open loop. Close it. - Numbers build trust - “Improved wait time” vs “Improved wait time from 4 hours to 10 minutes” 5) Don’t use “we” statements: - When answering questions, don’t use “We”. Use “I”. - An interviewer wants to know what “you” did - When you say “we”, your answer loses credibility 💡 Bonus tip: How to find good stories You can find good stories for interview questions - Performance review highlights and feedback - Big projects you’ve worked on - Projects you initiated, projects you’re proud of ~~~ Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Owain Lewis for more. Want to master the mindset, skills, and systems needed to grow your engineering leadership career? Subscribe to my free Engineering Manager newsletter (link in bio).
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Director, Software Engineering | Building a community for leaders in tech | Learn how to use AI to be more productive at work.
How to pass your interview. 5 tips from a manager at Amazon. Here are 5 tips you can use to improve your interviews that I learned from Eugene Polonsky, a Manager at Amazon: STAR format is a way of answering questions in a structured way: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Answer behavioural questions in this format. 1) Build a story bank - Create a library of 10-15 stories in STAR format - Link each story to common interview questions it might apply to - Bias towards recent stories, if possible 2) Mistakes level you - When asked about mistakes, don’t choose trivial examples to look good - Mistakes give clues about your level of experience - If your biggest career mistake is “breaking a software build”, you probably haven’t had a big scope. 3) Audit your stories for clarity - Ask family or friends for feedback on your stories - Make the situation, task, and result short and clear. - If your stories confuse strangers, they will confuse the interviewer. 4) Specificity matters - Be specific in your answers about what you did - “I led the project” leaves an open loop. Close it. - Numbers build trust - “Improved wait time” vs “Improved wait time from 4 hours to 10 minutes” 5) Don’t use “we” statements: - When answering questions, don’t use “We”. Use “I”. - An interviewer wants to know what “you” did - When you say “we”, your answer loses credibility 💡 Bonus tip: How to find good stories You can find good stories for interview questions - Performance review highlights and feedback - Big projects you’ve worked on - Projects you initiated, projects you’re proud of ~~~ Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Owain Lewis for more. Want to master the mindset, skills, and systems needed to grow your engineering leadership career? Subscribe to my free Engineering Manager newsletter (link in bio).
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Enterprise Risk Management | Lead Process Engineer | Lean Six Sigma | Lean Practitioner | Continuous Improvement Leader
The story bank suggestion is very powerful. It’s easy to forget all the great work you’ve done. Having a story bank also helps with the other 4 tips.
Director, Software Engineering | Building a community for leaders in tech | Learn how to use AI to be more productive at work.
How to pass your interview. 5 tips from a manager at Amazon. Here are 5 tips you can use to improve your interviews that I learned from Eugene Polonsky, a Manager at Amazon: STAR format is a way of answering questions in a structured way: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Answer behavioural questions in this format. 1) Build a story bank - Create a library of 10-15 stories in STAR format - Link each story to common interview questions it might apply to - Bias towards recent stories, if possible 2) Mistakes level you - When asked about mistakes, don’t choose trivial examples to look good - Mistakes give clues about your level of experience - If your biggest career mistake is “breaking a software build”, you probably haven’t had a big scope. 3) Audit your stories for clarity - Ask family or friends for feedback on your stories - Make the situation, task, and result short and clear. - If your stories confuse strangers, they will confuse the interviewer. 4) Specificity matters - Be specific in your answers about what you did - “I led the project” leaves an open loop. Close it. - Numbers build trust - “Improved wait time” vs “Improved wait time from 4 hours to 10 minutes” 5) Don’t use “we” statements: - When answering questions, don’t use “We”. Use “I”. - An interviewer wants to know what “you” did - When you say “we”, your answer loses credibility 💡 Bonus tip: How to find good stories You can find good stories for interview questions - Performance review highlights and feedback - Big projects you’ve worked on - Projects you initiated, projects you’re proud of ~~~ Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Owain Lewis for more. Want to master the mindset, skills, and systems needed to grow your engineering leadership career? Subscribe to my free Engineering Manager newsletter (link in bio).
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Co-Founder - MindCruize | Gen AI and Prompt Engineering Coach | Professor of Practice - Sales & Marketing
"From Sweaty Palms to Managerial Charms: My Hilarious Job Interview Adventure!" The Pre-Interview Jitters I arrived at the office building 30 minutes early, heart racing faster than a Bollywood dance number. I wiped my sweaty palms on my trousers and took a deep breath. "You got this," I told my reflection, which didn't seem convinced. Perspective: Handling pre-interview anxiety is crucial. Approach it with humor and self-affirmation. The Reception Desk Debacle At the reception, I confidently stated my name. The receptionist gave me a blank stare. "You're here for the interview with...?" she asked. I drew a blank. "Umm, Mr. Sharma, I think?" She shook her head. "There's no Mr. Sharma here today." My confidence deflated like a punctured balloon. Perspective: Double-check the interviewer's name and details before arriving. Approach it with meticulous preparation. The Waiting Room Wisdom In the waiting room, other candidates looked nervous. One was muttering answers under his breath, another scribbling notes furiously. I struck up a conversation with a girl next to me. "First interview?" I asked. "No, fifth," she sighed. "Each one gets better with practice." Perspective: Networking with fellow candidates can ease nerves. Approach it with camaraderie and openness. The Suit Mishap Finally, my name was called. As I stood up, my coat snagged on the armrest, and I heard a rip. Panicking, I tried to cover it as I walked into the interview room. Perspective: Wardrobe malfunctions happen. Approach it with quick thinking and composure. The Interview Interrogation I was greeted by a panel of three stern-looking interviewers. The questions began, and I felt like I was on "Kaun Banega Crorepati" with no lifelines left. "Tell us about a time you handled a difficult situation," one asked. I animatedly described managing a chaotic college event, noticing one interviewer stifling a laugh. Perspective: Storytelling makes experiences memorable. Approach it with confidence and humor. The Unexpected Tech Test Midway through, they sprung a surprise technical test. "Can you explain this Gantt chart?" My mind blanked, but then I remembered my project management class. I took a deep breath and started explaining, relating it to real-life projects. Perspective: Be prepared for unexpected challenges. Approach it with a calm mind and practical examples. The Final Question "Why should we hire you?" came the inevitable final question. I took a moment, then said, "Because I believe in teamwork, innovation, and learning from every experience. Plus, I promise not to rip any more suit jackets in your office!" The panel chuckled, and I felt the tension ease. Perspective: Ending on a positive, memorable note leaves a lasting impression. Approach it with sincerity and humor. PS : The above story was written with the help of AI. My interviews were a lot less eventful and quite boring. 😂 #interviewprep #jobsearch #careerdevelopment #placementseason #collegeplacements #TPO #
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