Picture this: you’re sitting in the interview hot seat, and the stakes feel higher than ever. How do you ensure that you leave a lasting impression and stand out from the competition? We asked nine seasoned professionals, including interview coaches and company founders, to share their secrets for acing job interviews. From showcasing your skills through storytelling to emphasizing your ability to deliver results, these experts reveal their most effective techniques. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, their insights will help you shine in your next interview and land that dream job.
- Focus on Delivering Results
- Utilize the STAR Method
- Showcase Your Authentic Self
- Practice Answers Aloud
- Demonstrate In-Depth Company Knowledge
- Prepare for Common Interview Questions
- Position Yourself as a Problem-Solver
- Engage in Active Listening
- Highlight Skills Through Storytelling
Focus on Delivering Results
My favorite technique for helping my clients ace their job interviews is to focus on the results they will deliver for their new employer. Remember that what you have done is captured in your resume and LinkedIn (or should be!), and your new employer wants to know what you will do in the first 30, 60, 90, or 180 days to help them solve the problems they’ve listed in the job posting.
Communicate your accomplishments and results from a place of value and service. Share how what you’ve done in the past will apply to what you will do for your potential employer.
As interviews have changed over the last few years, hiring managers want to know how your talent and expertise will help them get the results they desire. Make sure your story is focused on results and tangibles so they can see why you are an excellent fit for this position.
John Neral, Owner, John Neral Coaching, LLC
Utilize the STAR Method
One highly effective technique for acing a job interview is the STAR method for answering behavioral questions. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result.
When asked about past experiences, candidates can use this framework to provide a clear, concise, and compelling answer:
- Situation: Describe the context or challenge you faced.
- Task: Explain your specific responsibility in that situation.
- Action: Detail the steps you took to address the challenge.
- Result: Share the outcomes of your actions, ideally with measurable success.
To make your answers even more impactful, it’s crucial to quantify your experience and focus on results. Whenever possible, include metrics that highlight your achievements, such as percentages, dollar amounts, time saved, or growth figures. For example, instead of saying you “improved sales,” you could say you “increased sales by 20% within six months.” This approach demonstrates your ability to deliver tangible results, making you a more attractive candidate to potential employers.
Margaret Buj, Interview Coach and Sr. Talent Acquisition Partner, Mixmax
Showcase Your Authentic Self
Be yourself. I know it can be tempting to feel like you need to fit yourself into the mold of the job description, the look and feel of this potential employer, and their overall vibes. But it’s also important to show them who you are. Be brave and confident in letting them know your skills and experiences, the unique perspective you bring, and your personality. If you can bring your authentic, professional self to an interview and the interviewer likes what they see, then you get to bring your authentic self to that job every day.
But if you show up to the interview as a fake version of who you are, because you think that’s what they’re looking for? Well, now you have to keep being fake-you if you land that job, and that sounds pretty exhausting. Show them who you are, and know that you’ll work best in a place that lets you be you.
Pat Fligge, Director of Temple Professional Network, Temple University
Practice Answers Aloud
Practicing your answers is a game-changer. A tip is to speak your answers aloud, either to a friend or family member, or just to yourself (record yourself if you can). You’ll then have an opportunity to hear what the interviewer will hear, and nine times out of ten, you will tweak your answers, sometimes several times, to improve them beforehand. In addition to refining your answers, you’ll also boost your confidence in the process.
Amri Celeste, Interview Coach, A Celeste Coaching
Demonstrate In-Depth Company Knowledge
I’ve consulted on hundreds of hires. What makes a candidate stand out? First of all, they’re prepared for the interview. They’ve found out everything they can about the organization and the position.
The best-prepared applicant I ever encountered went far beyond checking out the company’s website and online articles about the company and actually called a number of employees who held the type of position she was applying for, as well as several of their managers. So, she was able to show her understanding of the specific issues these employees faced and the ways the company wanted to deal with those issues.
Barry Maher, Principal, Barry Maher & Associates
Prepare for Common Interview Questions
The best thing to do is to prepare for common interview questions and have answers already ready to go in your head. I’ve seen too many great, experienced candidates walk into interviews unprepared.
This doesn’t mean you should be totally robotic. React to and get feedback during the interview about how to answer the questions and what the interviewer is asking.
It’s also important to ask questions at the end of the interview. The two I recommend are, “What is the rest of the team looking for?” if that is applicable to the position. You also want to ask, “When are you looking to make a decision?” This helps show you are interested and want to hear back from the company.
Adam Yamada, Founder, Green Jobs
Position Yourself as a Problem-Solver
To ace a job interview, start by showing genuine curiosity—ask the hiring manager what their biggest challenge is right now. This positions you as a problem-solver. Then, confidently and succinctly explain how you can be the solution. Your confidence, clarity, and focus will make it easy for them to see you as the right choice. Don’t just answer questions—solve problems.
Karen Kunkel Young, Executive Career Coach for Creative Leaders, Karen Kunkel Young Coaching
Engage in Active Listening
Practicing active listening is one of the best strategies, in my experience as an interview coach, for acing a job interview. I had dealt with a client who was well-informed but frequently overly preoccupied with providing practiced responses. I observed he wasn’t really interacting with the questions provided during a practice interview.
We turned our attention to helping him become more actively attentive. In one session, I instructed him to pause after each question, allowing him to thoughtfully consider the content and respond thoughtfully. That little change made a big difference. In his next real interview, he was able to identify minute signals and adjust his answers to fit the interviewer’s actual interests.
In addition to helping you give more pertinent responses, active listening shows your involvement and flexibility. I advise everyone getting ready for an interview to concentrate on actually hearing the questions and answering in a manner that captures a real conversation.
Volen Vulkov, Co-founder, Enhancv
Highlight Skills Through Storytelling
One technique that consistently sets candidates apart in interviews is storytelling. Instead of just listing qualifications, share a compelling story that highlights your skills in action. Whether it’s overcoming a challenge or leading a project, stories resonate because they provide context and emotion, making your experience memorable. This approach not only showcases your capabilities but also allows the interviewer to connect with you on a deeper level, leaving a lasting impression.
Barbara McMahan, CEO, Atticus Consulting LLC