Do you have the keys to interviewing success?

Interviews are an inevitable part of the job search journey. Whether it's an informal introduction, a networking chat, a recruiter screen, or a panel session (yikes), you can't avoid the time and place where someone else is going to assess your fit for a role. Are you prepared? If you're unsure whether your interviewing skills could use some work, here are a few questions that might help.

Can you tell your career story in 2 minutes or less?

Yes, after about 2 minutes, you're going to start to lose the interviewer's interest (with just this question, that is). You'll have more time throughout the interview to go into detail, so think of this as your personal elevator pitch to captivate interest and set the stage for further conversation. In 2 minutes or less,

Do you know enough about the company and the opportunity to ask thoughtful questions?

Researching a company and the role you're interviewing for takes minimal time (30 min or less), and will help you become enthusiastic, curious, and engaged for an interview. It sets the stage for you to ask thoughtful questions - more than, "what's the culture like?" and "how many days of PTO do you offer?" (Please don't ask these questions! Your interviewing time is for gathering valuable, detailed information.)

I get it - job application fatigue is real. Learning about numerous companies is exhausting. But you only have to spend time researching the ones you interview for. Make your work count.

Do you have 3-5 interview stories that add depth and dimension to your resume?

After interviewing thousands of candidates, I can tell you that one of the most common mistakes job seekers make is not being able to go into detail about what's written on their resume. This tells a recruiter or hiring manager either a) your resume isn't accurate or b) you haven't done any prep for the interview.

This is a simple ask. What are the 3-5 examples that showcase your skills, your experience, and your character? Write them down. Think about how they uniquely apply to the role you're interviewing for. And yes, you might have to think of some different stories for each interview. But they payoff will be worth it.