I used to wing my interviews because I felt like my work should speak for itself. I wanted to show them on tape, what they could already see, that I could do the job.
For a while, that worked. I got promoted and continued to progress. But when I started applying for manager roles, I wouldn’t even make it past the screening call.
I was disappointed and frustrated, but a mentor and good friend taught me how to actually practice and prepare for a role, even when the role wasn’t open yet.
One of the biggest lessons I learned was this: don’t be the person who clicks Apply and then starts preparing like you’re already in the role. Preparation should start way before that.
You have to understand what the interviewer is actually asking, listen for what they care about, and then tell a story that clearly shows how your experience connects to it.
The better your preparation is, the easier it is to adapt your stories without sounding scripted.
And if you don’t get the role, don’t waste the feedback.
Write down the feedback you received while it’s still fresh. Look for the specific things they want you to develop, then create a plan to work on those areas before the next opportunity comes around.
Getting turned down doesn’t always mean you weren’t capable of doing the job. Sometimes it shows you where you need to get better at communicating your experience, where you need more exposure, or what skill you still need to build.
The goal is to make sure that when the next opportunity comes, you can show what you did with the feedback.
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