Let me tell you, I used to dread interviews like they were a dental appointment. My first real one? Oh man. Fresh out of community college, wearing a stiff suit from Men’s Wearhouse that made me sweat like a Thanksgiving turkey. The hiring manager asked, “What’s your biggest weakness?” and I panicked. “Uh… chocolate cake?” She blinked. I didn’t get the job.
But after 5 years of fumbling through interviews (and eventually hiring people myself at a small tech startup here in Austin), here’s what actually works:
1. Ditch the Scripts, Embrace Stories
I used to memorize answers like I was prepping for the SATs. Disaster. At my Amazon interview, I robotically recited a “strengths” answer… only to realize halfway through they’d asked about weaknesses. Cue awkward silence. Now? I jot down 3-4 bullet points per common question (think STAR method — Situation, Task, Action, Result) and practice riffing. Example: When “Tell me about a conflict at work” comes up, I talk about the time my Starbucks team ran out of pumpkin spice syrup during peak hours. (Spoiler: We improvised with cinnamon dolce and freebie coupons. Crisis averted.)
2. Research Like You’re Stalking Their LinkedIn
Not literally, but close. Last year, I applied to a eco-friendly startup. Instead of generic “I love sustainability” fluff, I mentioned their partnership with a local Austin farm — which I’d found buried in their Instagram comments. The interviewer lit up: “Wow, nobody else noticed that!” Pro tip: Check their Glassdoor reviews for hinted pain points. If employees complain about slow tech support, highlight your knack for troubleshooting under pressure.
3. “Do You Have Any Questions for Us?” Is a Secret Weapon
Early on, I’d shrug and say “Nope, all good!” Big mistake. Now I ask things like:
- “What’s something your team stopped doing recently that improved morale?” (Shows you care about evolution, not just the job description)
- “How do you handle [industry-specific challenge]?” (Proves you’ve done your homework)
Once asked a manager at a Zoom interview, “What’s your favorite part about working here that’s not on the website?” She laughed and admitted, “Honestly? The 4pm ‘kitten cam’ breaks during crunch time.” Instant connection.
4. Embrace the “Coffee Spill” Moment
My worst interview ever involved tripping over a conference room cord and sending my iced coffee flying onto the CEO’s shoes. Instead of bolting, I joked, “Well, at least you’ll remember me!” (Spoiler: They called back.) People hire humans, not robots. When I confessed to a Zoom glitch mid-interview last year — “Hold on, my Wi-Fi’s acting like a toddler refusing nap time” — the hiring manager later told me it showed adaptability.
5. The 24-Hour Rule
Send a thank-you email within a day, but make it specific. Not “Thanks for your time” — try “I loved hearing about your pivot to AI tools after the pandemic slump.” Even if you bombed, it matters. I once sent a follow-up for a sales job I thought I’d tanked, mentioning a case study they’d discussed. Got the offer.
The Real Secret
Interviews are like first dates — they’re figuring out if they like you, not just if you’re qualified. My now-boss still ribs me about admitting in my interview that I binge-watch The Office to de-stress. But guess what? He does too.
So take a breath. Wear the comfy blazer. And remember: If they don’t vibe with your zombie-apocalypse team-building idea (yes, I used that), maybe you dodged a cubicle-shaped bullet.
Go get ‘em, kid.