I've always been obsessed with crushing job interviews. I wanted to know exactly what the companies were looking for and how I could master it. After 5 years of working in Australia, I found the perfect formula.

Spoiler alert: this article will change the way you see interviews for good.

How many times have you walked towards that interview feeling sick, wanting to run away, asking yourself “what’s the point”? And, effectively, the interview didn’t go well; you could not elaborate on the answers, or even worse, you did not know the answers.

I've had all that happen to me.

After leaving the worst interview of my life at a consulting company in Torquay, Victoria, where I was overqualified for the role, I received an email: “At this time, we will not be progressing further with your application as your current skillset does not match the requirements for this particular role.”

Ouch.

I was overqualified, yet I could not prove it.

From that day, I decided that I was going to learn how to crush interviews in my second language.

These are my learnings:

1. Research the company

This is a must. Not only because companies love to be loved, but because it will give you material for your questions and answers. This research has to be reflected in your stories and examples.

You should spend at least 30 minutes reading the company website, checking the latest news, and understanding their revenue. Research the person interviewing you as well.

Once you know who they are, make sure to connect their values to your answers. If you do that, you’ll start to stand out from the crowd.

Key information to look for:

Top 5 values
Latest news
Recent hires
Products on the market
Subsidiary brands

2. Structure of your answers

Forget STAR (Situation - Task - Action - Result).

Just talk FACTS in a way that you provide enough information so they know it’s not made up.

Use my method: WHAT - HOW - RESULT.

This is much easier to remember and apply.

WHAT: Start with an action verb and explain what you did, providing a bit of context about your contribution.

HOW: Explain how you did it, including the methodology, technology, process, and if you developed the process, mention it.

RESULT: Highlight the main achievement, the tangible or quantifiable result with metrics. Numbers always bolster the facts.

Example:

Managed a project to set up a new branch in Melbourne by coordinating 7 departments from planning to execution. Utilised structured methodologies and technologies to streamline the process, resulting in the project being finalized 2 months ahead of schedule.

How long should you speak for?

Keep your answers between 30 seconds to 2 minutes.

But don’t stress too much about this - the most important thing is to check in every two minutes to see if it’s okay for you to continue.

3. Prepare your answers

Have your stories and examples ready before any interview.

And remember to link the company values to your answers!

This is how I do “Tell me about yourself.”

Quick story about background + why you are a great fit for the role + company values.

For example, when I was transitioning from the food industry to IT, I answered:

“As an engineer, I've always loved processes and continuous improvement. After moving to Australia, I experienced various leadership roles within the food manufacturing sector, particularly in Quality Assurance. These roles allowed me to develop exceptional communication skills and initiative (their values). For instance, within the first six months, I took on part-time project management responsibilities, introducing project management methodologies to the company for the first time. This was extremely rewarding and now, I am ready to take on a full-time Project Manager role”.

Here are some insights for you to prepare your answers.

“Why are you looking to leave your current company?”

Never. Badmouth. Your. Employer.

No matter how toxic they were.

If you badmouth, you’re out of the game.

For example:

"I really enjoy my current job and my team. They have provided me with a range of experiences and opportunities for growth. In fact, one of the things I have learned is how to implement systems. I have discovered that I am passionate about implementing new technology and helping people through the transition. So much so that now I would like to expand on it further in the technology industry.”

Questions I have come across in 5 years of interviews:

Why do you want to work for us?
Tell me about a time where you overcame a challenge.
Tell me about a time where you solved an issue.
Tell me about a time where you exceeded expectations,
Could you share about a time where you had a conflict with someone and what you did about it?
Tell me about a time where you could not meet a deadline.
What are your strengths?
What’s your greatest weakness?
Where do you see yourself in 5 years.

Prepare technical answers:

How do you think a typical day looks like?
What do you think the main challenges of the role are?
Tell me more about your achievement X at your last role, what else can you add?
Have you ever been part of an auditing process?

💡 Remember: Grab 5 company values and try to include them in your answers.

4. Prepare questions to ask them

If you don’t ask any question, it will mean that you’re happy with anything.

This is your time to raise your bar and show yourself even more!

It’s very easy, I promise.

How I ask about the role

If I am selected for this role, what are 3 things I should achieve in the first 90 days?
What are the key metrics of this role? How will I know I'm doing a good job?
How do you see this role in the future?

I have seen some jaws drop when I brought up these questions.

How I ask about ‘culture’ in a sneaky way

Don’t ask: What’s the culture like? or Are you a micromanager?

Instead, ask:

What's your favorite office tradition?
How often does the team gather after work?
When was the last time an idea from a team member was implemented?
When was the last time a team member had a promotion?
What's the process for addressing employee failures?
What’s your management style?

5. What to wear?

If you want to upgrade your career, you must upgrade your wardrobe to reflect the role you want.

And I’m not talking about buying designer clothes. I’m talking about quality.

Go shopping. Buy one quality item.

And since you asked, I’d go for a Classic elegant style, because you will look amazing and this will give you more confidence.

Remember, the way you dress is part of your personal brand.

Don’t worry about those $200 you spent. If you found a classic elegant matching outfit, you will recover 10x because you will negotiate your salary easily.

I wish someone had told me this before.

If you look cheap, you will get paid cheap.

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

When I had my first project manager interview, I went shopping and refreshed my image with one item: a blazer.

This was when I got my first full-time Project Manager role 2 days after moving to Perth - my biggest career change ever - moving from the food industry to IT.

The wardrobe was a small detail; however, that killer look made me feel like a badass international professional that deserved the role.

I’m sure I could pay for the $190 blazer with my 50% salary increase.

Don’t worry, if you’re not fashion-savvy, google some inspiration looks and go shopping. Prioritize quality items for shoes and blazer/suit. You will use them for your job for many years!

My advice is to buy 1 quality item a month, so you can do incremental upgrades in a sustainable manner.

6. Practice, rehearse, repeat

Call it what you want, but stand in front of the mirror 😅

Check your gestures, facial expressions, posture, and appearance.

Is this the image you want to show? If not, adjust it.

If English is your second language: an interview is not the place to experiment with new sentence structures. If you don’t normally use the structure “In order to… then…”, don’t use it for the first time in an interview because it’s high risk.

What I do:

I play it safe to reduce the risk. I provide the information they ask for in the best way I know. I focus on pronunciation. I pause and think for a few seconds to get the start right.

If you feel extremely confident using eloquent expressions, go for it. Otherwise, simple is best.

Focus on pronunciation so you sound clear and pause if you need time. There is a lot of power in a good and relaxed pause!

7. How to exude confidence, even when you don’t believe you deserve the role

There is a lot of research and neuroscience behind visualization practice. I have personally done visualizations before moving to Australia without knowing I was doing them. Last year, I decided to learn more about them, and here is what I learned.

A visualization is the creation of scenes in your mind about something that didn’t happen. We do it all the time when we prepare for something like a trip, plan for the future, or just imagine. However, proper visualization consists of creating the movie in our mind with a little more detail. We may add aromas, textures, sensations, scenery, sounds, anything.

I first learned about them at the book fair in 2011 in Buenos Aires. I randomly grabbed the “Silva Mind Control Method” book. I've been reading about the Silva Method to this day.

Later, I read the book "The Source" by Dr. Tara Swart (a famous Neuroscientist), where she expands on this practice. Mind-blowing.

Finally, I’ve heard Jay Shetty say that before giving a big speech, he visualizes himself on stage speaking calmly and focused.

“Whether you think you are right, or you think you are wrong, you are right.” - Henry Ford.

My Visualization Exercise for Job Interviews

Visualization practices have helped me:

Naturalize job interviews,
Stop feeling sick,
Start feeling sharp and intelligent,
Show my skills and strengths in my behavior.

That’s why I want to share this script with you.

Feel free to read it while you create the scenes in your mind as you go:

I take 10 deep breaths. I visualize myself entering the building. I look down at my feet and I like the way I’m dressed. I’m completely rested, focused, and feeling perfectly fine. I see myself greeting the interviewers, saying their names, entering the meeting room, and sitting at the table. I see myself relaxed, speaking properly, at a perfect pace so that I sound clear, and it gives me time to think answers through. I see myself flowing with questions and answers like I am a natural. I smile, I speak with enthusiasm. I show my healthy mind and body in my answers. Everything flows, and I keep focused and talk calmly and fluently. I listen attentively, I add their views into my answers. I have examples where I add value to companies, and I describe those examples clearly and calmly.

8. Should I email them after?

Absolutely. And if you need proof, let me tell you a little email story.

I sent this “Thank you” note within 24 hours from the first Teams interview:

The bad news was that I didn’t receive a response.

However, I didn’t give up.

I sent this 8 days later:

And they replied! After a couple more emails, I had a second interview and got the job offer.

I am working there now and I love it!

Conclusion

If I had to say what’s the most important thing to sort before going to a job interview, I would say: Mindset. You can be super smart, emotionally intelligent, and hardworking, but if you don’t believe you deserve the role, then it’s like building a house starting from the roof.

By reading this article, you have already started your journey. You are believing in your capabilities and your brain is seeing it!

Now it’s my turn to ask: What’s one thing you can do in the next 24 hours to get ready for your next job interview?

DO THAT.

And tell me later.

Stay tuned in my socials! Links below!