How To Get An Interview – And How To Nail An Interview
- May 7, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 19, 2025
Written by: Michelle Schafer, Senior Level Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Are you looking for work, and applying for lots of jobs – but not getting interviews? Want to know one of the single most impactful ways to get the interview in the first place? And one game-changing new tip to help you prepare for your interview – likely something you haven’t done before?
I love interview coaching. It’s rewarding to see a client’s confidence significantly boost after time discussing interview preparation, practicing answering key questions and receiving feedback to help them elevate their response for the “big day.” Working your network and investing a proportionate amount of preparation based on how badly you want the job, are key to securing a job you covet. Here’s how:
Elevate your profile by looking “through” your network
To secure an interview for a job you apply for, ask your network to get your resume into the right hands. And instead of looking "at" your network, look "through" it (note – here’s the link to another article I wrote on this topic. Each person you know likely knows hundreds of people. Any one of those hundreds might work at the company you are applying to – or know someone who does. So how do you find those people? Easy. Type the company name you are applying to into the LinkedIn search bar. Access the company's LinkedIn page, and your 1st-degree contacts will be highlighted first. Reach out to those people to let them know what job you applied for, and ask them if they could get your resume into the hands of a decision-maker, or put in a good word for you. And what if you don't have any 1st-degree contacts who work there? LinkedIn is smart and triages your 2nd-degree contacts. These are connections of your connections – one of the hundreds of people your 1st-degree connections know. Look for 2nd-degree connections who would be good to speak with when you are exploring possibilities, such as someone in HR or Talent Management. Then ask your mutual connection if they could introduce you, or send your resume to that person with a recommendation to review your application. Instant "warm lead"! And warm leads are far more effective than cold calls. Just remember to apply for the job first through the regular channels – either by email or setting up an account and uploading your information to the company site. When you ask your network for help, you stand a better chance of getting the interview. And people love to help – especially if they know how they can help. Otherwise, you will be one of the hundreds of applications in the company's database for that job. It's harder to stand out when you are one of the hundreds applying. Wouldn't you rather be in the shorter pile of applications to be considered for an interview? I bet you would!
Create a “themes matrix” to capture your career stories
Forecasting potential questions based on the job posting and documenting responses before the interview will help you be ready for questions that are likely to be asked. But what if you tend to feel flooded in an interview and your brain freezes?
Create a "themes matrix." This is an easy way to capture your “career stories” and access these stories in the heat of the interview. On the left side of the page, list all the themes from the job posting. For example, leadership, project management, client service, research, and relationship management. On the right side, briefly document 2 examples for each theme. Why 2 examples? This way when you use one example to answer a question, you still have another example to share if you get another question on that theme. It can also help you easily remember your "career stories" to share. When you hear the question, you can quickly determine if it's a leadership question or a relationship management question – and share your specific example. Examples are the proof and evidence you have done your job well. And even if the question doesn't ask for an example, provide one anyways! So - if the question is "Describe how you build relationships with external stakeholders", describe your approach, then give a specific example of a time when you did this well. And - if you needed to get through some big challenges to build this relationship, this makes an excellent story to share! Specific examples that showcase the challenges you overcome highlight your ability to be persistent, resilient and creative. What other interview preparation strategies are “tried and true” for you? I’d love to hear below!
Wishing you a positive and confident experience for your next interview!
Michelle Schafer, Senior Level Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Michelle Schafer is an International Coaching Federation Certified Coach and Facilitator specializing in career transition and leadership. She is the owner and founder of Michelle Schafer Coaching, empowering people to achieve career fulfillment. Michelle has personally experienced two significant career transitions through restructuring and has reinvented herself for new careers both times. She deeply understands the physical, emotional and mental impact associated with a job search. Michelle is passionate about people and inspired by their progress, working with clients at all levels of an organization and across sectors including federal and municipal government, high tech, not-for-profit and financial services. Michelle offers coaching 1:1 in groups and recently was certified in the foundations of team coaching with the Global Team Coaching Institute.
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