Alright, let’s talk interviews.
Most guides give you a checklist, a bunch of buzzwords, and those copy-paste answers like, “My biggest weakness is that I care too much.” Yeah… no thanks.
This isn’t that kind of guide. This is what I wish someone told me before I walked into that tiny conference room at 22, sweating through my shirt, trying to remember what STAR meant.
If you’ve got a job interview coming up—virtual, in-person, phone, whatever—here’s how to prep without turning into a robot.
First Things First: Don’t Fake It
Forget trying to be someone you're not. The goal here isn’t to perform. It’s to connect.
Interviewers? They're people. Tired people. People who’ve seen a lot of the same answers. So if you sound like every other applicant they’ve talked to that week, you’ll be forgotten before your Zoom call even ends.
You don’t need perfect phrasing or a resume that reads like a TED Talk. You just need to know your story—and how to tell it without rambling.
“Tell Me About Yourself” – Ugh, That Question
Classic opener. It’s not meant to trick you, it’s just the easiest way to kick things off.
How I usually approach it:
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Where I started
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What I’ve done (related to the job)
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Where I’m headed (and why this job makes sense)
Something like:
“I got into marketing almost by accident—I was originally in journalism but ended up loving brand storytelling. For the past three years, I’ve been focused on social strategy at a startup. Now I’m looking for something a bit more structured, which is what drew me to this role.”
No need for your life story. Just connect the dots.
You Don’t Need to Memorize Answers—Just Have Stories
Forget rehearsing word-for-word scripts. Instead, have a few stories ready.
A time you:
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Solved a problem
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Dealt with a tough client or team dynamic
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Learned something the hard way
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Made something better
Keep it real. No need to make it sound fancier than it was.
If the interviewer asks about failure and you accidentally deleted a shared drive once—cool. Talk about how you fixed it. What you learned. That kind of honesty hits harder than pretending you’ve never messed up.
Body Language Stuff (Yeah, It Matters)
Even if you're saying all the right things, if your posture says “I want to disappear,” that’s what they’ll remember.
IRL Interviews:
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Sit like you belong there (but don’t go stiff as a board)
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Make eye contact, but blink for the love of God
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Smile when it makes sense—don’t force it
Virtual Interviews:
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Look at the camera, not your reflection (we all do it)
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Use headphones to avoid echo weirdness
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Tidy up your background—nobody wants to see your laundry pile
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Wear pants. I’m serious.
Questions You Should Ask (Because Yes, You’re Interviewing Them Too)
Please don’t say, “So, what’s the company culture like?” Everyone says that.
Ask about:
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What success in the role actually looks like
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How they handle feedback
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How the team communicates
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What they’re excited (or worried) about in the next 6 months
It’s not about impressing them. It’s about figuring out if you even want this job.
A Few “Don’ts” I’ve Learned the Hard Way
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Don’t talk trash about your last job (even if it sucked)
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Don’t say you’re a perfectionist unless you can prove it with a real story
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Don’t forget to breathe—awkward silence is fine, better than word vomit
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Don’t ask about vacation days before they ask if you're hired
Also: don’t panic if the interview feels weird. I’ve had ones that felt super flat and still got the job. And others that felt amazing and heard nothing. You just never know.
Zoom-Specific Tips (Because We’re Still Doing This)
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Test your tech 15 mins before
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Have a glass of water handy
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Close Slack, Discord, email tabs—you don’t want a ping mid-answer
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If something goes wrong (your dog barks, camera freezes), own it. Laugh. Move on.
Seriously, most interviewers get it. They’ve been in Zoom hell too.
Before You Log Off or Walk Out: Say Thanks Like a Human
Not, “Thank you for your time and consideration.”
More like:
“Really appreciate the chat—this sounds like a team I’d love to work with.”
Or:
“Thanks for walking me through the role. Excited to learn more.”
Then follow up with an email the next day. Doesn’t need to be long. Just kind and clear.
TL;DR (If You Scrolled Straight Here)
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Be yourself, not a resume with a mouth
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Know a few good stories, not perfect answers
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Don’t fake enthusiasm—find something real to get curious about
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Talk to the interviewer like a colleague, not a teacher
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Be prepared, not rehearsed
