Redeployment Interview Preparation Tips

“Tell me about yourself…” It seems like a softball, but it’s where most candidates start to stumble. A few weeks ago, I met with someone preparing to re-enter the job market after years in the same role. They had the experience. They had the skills. But their confidence was shaky, and they weren’t sure how to talk about themselves in a way that felt authentic and strategic. So we worked through it together. Because here’s the truth: Preparation isn’t just about your answers. It’s about the impression you leave behind. If you’re getting ready to interview, or know someone who is, here’s what I always recommend: 1. Craft a clear, confident elevator pitch Don’t recite your resume. Give a 60-second story of who you are, what you bring, and why you’re interested in the role. Keep it structured and memorable. 2. Bring printed copies of your resume Even if it’s a video interview. Having it in front of you keeps you grounded, and offering it in person shows forethought and professionalism. 3. Know your numbers Be ready to talk about the size of your team, budgets managed, growth achieved, and problems solved. Specifics build credibility. 4. Prepare thoughtful questions Ask about the team’s biggest challenges, how success is measured, or how the company supports internal growth. Generic questions won’t cut it at senior levels. 5. Research beyond the job description Know who’s interviewing you. Look at their LinkedIn profiles. Understand the company’s mission, values, and recent news. It shows respect and curiosity. 6. Have one success story ready for every core competency Whether it’s leadership, conflict resolution, or innovation, bring examples that are recent, relevant, and measurable. 7. Bring your presence Dress for the part. Sit up. Smile. Listen as much as you speak. Interviews aren’t just about what you say. They’re about how you show up. At the end of the day, the best interview isn’t memorized. It’s practiced with intention. You don’t need to sound perfect. You need to sound like you. What else would you add to this list? #ResetToRehire #HRRealTalk #InterviewTips #CareerCoaching #LeadershipDevelopment #JobSearchSupport #ExecutivePresence

Interview prep isn’t about sounding impressive. It’s about removing doubt. That means putting the manager at ease. And helping them see you in the role. (Here's my prep list so you have it handy: https://lnkd.in/ed3_PA-W) What I can tell you after helping 100s of candidates prep for high-stakes interviews is that being "qualified" won't get you hired. The folks who make it to the next round? They never "wing it" no matter how many interviews they've done. This is exactly what they do differently: 1️⃣ Company Research ↳ Study the website like it's a final exam ↳ Do a "news" search to learn the latest ↳ Find out about the interview process on Glassdoor 2️⃣ Become Fluent in YOU ↳ Have 5-7 stories of achievement that can apply to various questions ↳ Tailor your "Tell Me About Yourself" answer to every job ↳ Have answers ready for gaps or other issues 3️⃣ Practice with Purpose ↳ Anticipate potential questions (with help from AI) ↳ Prepare answers and record them on video ↳ Watch the video and tweak (at least 15 minutes per question!) 4️⃣ Research Your Interviewers ↳ Get the full names of your interviewer(s) ↳ Check out their LI profile and connect with each ↳ Find something in common with them 5️⃣ Nail the Logistics ↳ Make sure you have the tech you need and test it ↳ Have a backup plan for camera, audio, and workspace ↳ Set out your notes & clothes the night before 6️⃣ Be Ready With Your Questions ↳ Have 4-5 questions ready to ask them ↳ Focus on questions that go deep ↳ Avoid questions that Google could answer 7️⃣ Get Your References Ready ↳ Let your references know you're job hunting ↳ Give them details about every role/interview ↳ Share what you want them to emphasize This is the part most people rush or skip. It's also the prep that makes all the difference. You can grab my prep list here: https://lnkd.in/ed3_PA-W ♻️ Repost for others who have interviews coming up. 🔔Follow Sarah Baker Andrus for more practical career guidance.

Candidates prepare answers. Hires prepare insight. Most candidates prep like students: → Study the website → Memorize the mission → Rehearse generic strengths That gets you a 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘵. Not a signed offer. If you want the job, prep like a strategist. Not a student. — 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘂𝗽𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀: 1. 𝗢𝗿𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗫-𝗥𝗮𝘆 ↳ Study your future manager, not just the CEO. 2. 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗟𝗲𝗻𝘀 ↳ Listen to how execs 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬, not just what's on the company website. 3. 𝗘𝘅𝗶𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 ↳ Look at who left, when, and why. 4. 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗥𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗿 𝗦𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗽 ↳ Google recent moves, launches, and shifts. 5. 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱 ↳ Mirror how they write in their job posts. It builds trust fast. 6. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗦𝗹𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗻 ↳ Know their tools. Talk shop (not buzzwords). 7. 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱 ↳ Study competitors so you sound like an insider. 8. 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗣𝘂𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 ↳ Watch hiring trends. Culture lives in movement. — 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹: Move from outsider → 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳. Save this. Prep smarter. Walk in ready. 👇 What would 𝘺𝘰𝘶 add to this list? ♻️ Repost to help your network prep like pros. Follow Jonathan Whipple for more.

✍️ How to: prep for an interview and stand out because of it. You'd be surprised how few candidates prepare well, and how many bonus points it gets the ones that do. A section of my unedited prep notes for my mercury interview in 2022 are below as an example. They don't have to be perfectly formatted (clearly), but they do need to work for how you think under pressure. 1. Establish a deep understanding of the company's priorities. 〰️ What has the leadership team been saying? What themes do you notice in focus, challenges, wins, etc. 〰️ What press has the company gotten recently? What can you learn about what's most important to their success? 〰️ Understand their business model - what drives results? What opportunities are there to accelerate growth? 〰️ What other roles is the company hiring for? This can point to where they're focusing resources. 2. Get very familiar with the role you're interviewing for. The better you understand the problem set the hiring manager is solving for, the better you'll be able to prepare. 〰️ Is this role a backfill or a net new role? Search LinkedIn for the company and job title to see what you can find out. 〰️ How is the current team structured and where does it seem like this role will fit into that structure? 〰️ What is the hiring manager and the team currently focused on? Check out their LinkedIns, Twitters, company blog etc. to see what you can learn about projects they're working on. 〰️ How might this role might ladder up into the company's primary focus areas? 3. Define why you're the perfect candidate for this role. Write these down and bold a header for each to make them easy to skim while you're interviewing. 〰️ When have you successfully accomplished the goals of this role before? How can you quantify that success? Which parts of that success did you directly own, vs. collaborate with or support others to achieve? 〰️ What differentiating personality traits do you possess that will make you exceptional at this role? 〰️ Why are you excited about spending so much of your valuable time working on this problem set? 〰️ How does this role align to your long term goals or vision for yourself? 〰️ What do you find most interesting or exciting about the company's current strategy and why? 4. Prepare thoughtful questions and follow up questions. There will be time for questions at the end of the interview, and this is your time to differentiate yourself by asking thought provoking questions that show you've done your research. 〰️ What recent feature release, announcement, or piece of press did you find most interesting about the company, and what questions do you have about it? 〰️ Instead of asking what will make a candidate successful in the role, ask which goal they're hoping this person will make the most progress against. Listen critically, ask a clarifying question. 〰️ Prepare follow up questions to your questions - it'll demonstrate critical thinking and curiosity.

Transitioning from military to civilian career? As a veteran, you've got incredible skills and experiences that translate powerfully to the professional world. But nailing the job interview takes strategic communication. Here are some game-changing interview tips specifically tailored for veterans: ❌ Don't say: "I don't have specific civilian job questions" ✅ Do say: "What would success look like in the first 6 months of this role?" 🎖️ Veteran Insight: Your military training of mission analysis shines here - show your strategic thinking! ❌ Don't say: "I hated my last boss/command" ✅ Do say: "I learned a lot in my previous role, especially about X, and I'm excited for a new challenge now" 🎖️ Veteran Insight: Maintain the professionalism and positive attitude that made you an exceptional service member. ❌ Don't say: "I know I'm underqualified, but..." ✅ Do say: "I'm excited to use my experience to learn into the challenges of this role and grow quickly" 🎖️ Veteran Insight: Adaptability is your superpower - highlight your rapid learning and mission-focused mindset. ❌ Don't say: "When can I get promoted?" ✅ Do say: "What does career growth look like, and how are employees supported in reaching their potential?" 🎖️ Veteran Insight: Just like in the military, you're focused on continuous development and mission advancement. Pro Tip for Veterans: Your military background has equipped you with unparalleled leadership, discipline, and problem-solving skills. Translate these experiences into civilian language, and you'll stand out in any interview! Need additional pointers? Follow and reach out to Veteran Hiring Solutions #VeteranEmployment #CareerTransition #InterviewTips #MilitaryToCivilian

Transitioning service members, let’s talk interviews. If you’ve recently interviewed for a civilian role, what question stopped you in your tracks? Was it: • “Tell me about yourself.” • “Tell me about a time you failed your team.” • “Tell me about a time you had conflict with a coworker, supervisor, or direct report.” • “Why should we hire you?” Many of you are more than qualified for the roles you’re applying for, but you’re bombing the interview. Not because you lack experience. Because you lack preparation. You’re: – Using military jargon and acronyms civilians don’t understand – Over-explaining context instead of answering the actual question – Leaning on rank instead of impact – Winging it instead of using a structured interview method As someone who conducts interviews every week and occasionally sits on interview panels with hiring managers, I see the same patterns over and over. I want to share some insights that can immediately improve your performance. So today, we’re fixing that. Drop the hardest question you were asked in the comments. Tell me what role you were applying for (Project Manager, Intel, Ops, HR, etc.). I’ll respond with: • How to structure your answer • Which interview method to use • What to avoid saying • How to translate your military experience without sounding like a walking acronym Don’t be afraid to ask. If you struggled with it, someone else did too. I WILL answer every question. Let’s sharpen you up. Maloney out. ✌ #militarytransition #interviewtips

Lately I have noticed a few patterns during interviews. Here are the two that stand out: Poor attitude and scripted answers. Here Are 10 Ways I’d Prepare to Not Just Get Through the Interview Loop—But Stand Out: 1. Do your research. Know the company’s mission, recent news, and products. Understand the role and how your experience connects to it. If you know your interviewers’ names, look them up on LinkedIn. If there’s a shared interest or experience, bring it up early to build rapport. Interviews are conversations—starting with curiosity sets the tone. 2. Practice with intention. Amazon interviews (like many others) go beyond the basics. It’s not just “Tell me about a project.” They’re looking for: • Did you own it? • Did you think ahead? • Did you drive real outcomes? Build a story bank: • 3 strong projects • 1 launch • 1 blocker you overcame • 1 failure you learned from Each story should reflect clear ownership and align with the company’s leadership principles or values. 3. Go deep, not wide. Choose stories that show real depth. • What decisions did you make? • What tradeoffs did you weigh? • What metrics did you move? If you didn’t drive the outcome, don’t use the example. 4. Use the XYZ format. Frame accomplishments like this: “Did X in Y time, which resulted in Z.” Example: Launched a new internal tool in 6 weeks, saving 15 hours/week for the support team. 5. Use “I” statements. Unless the question is about collaboration or team dynamics, focus on your individual contributions. Use action verbs like “I optimized,” “I led,” “I implemented.” 6. Prepare for follow-ups. Practice high-pressure questions. Ask clarifying questions before you respond to make sure you fully understand. Example: “Tell me about a time you got pushback from leadership.” Interviewers want to see how you stay composed under pressure. 7. Use the STAR(T) method. Structure answers clearly: • Situation • Task • Action • Result • Takeaway This helps you communicate clearly and keep your answers on track. 8. Mirror your interviewer. Pay attention to your interviewer’s tone, pace, and energy. Some are direct and fast-paced, others are more conversational. Adjust your communication style to match theirs and build connection. 9. Be respectful, always. Kindness, curiosity, and professionalism go a long way. Don’t try to prove you’re the smartest person in the room. Focus on being the most thoughtful. 10. Interview them, too. You're not just being evaluated—you’re evaluating them. Ask smart questions to learn more about the role, team, and company culture. Avoid HR-related questions (like time off or salary) in early rounds unless prompted. Resumes get you in the door. The way you communicate, connect, and own your story—that’s what gets you the offer. Don’t aim to sound perfect. Aim to sound prepared, thoughtful, and real. What’s one thing you always do before an interview? Would love to hear how you prep.

I recently pitched in with a colleague during an interviewing session, six interviewees in all, and a mixed bag of applicant preparation. After interviewing countless persons over decades expectations of applicant decorum and prep were, well, a mixed bag. In a world of virtual interviews (some multi-media, some not), and a need to for an applicant to stand out in a session where key aspects of human connection are not present it seems there are basics that are table stakes to move your potential hiring forward: 👉 Test the meeting link ahead of time. 👉 Be on time accessing the link (this means be a little early). 👉 Ensure your presentation background is appropriate for others to see, should not distract from attention on you. Dress appropriately. 👉 Have a tech contingency plan in case things don't work as expected. 👉 Review the hiring company information thoroughly- website, news, profiles of leadership, profile of co. interviewer, company content. 👉 Have an effective digital copy of your CV available to share if asked. 👉 Have links available for produced work. 👉 Have an idea of why the company is searching for a new hire- growth, replacement, other? 👉 Understand- or ask- how the role for which you are interviewing fits within company operations, goals, etc. Interviewing has never been easy and having comfort is a result of being ready to put your best foot forward during the session. Consider the interview your first work for your new employer and be ready to outperform their expectations. There are many basic pieces of advice you can gain from others; I count on Audry Torrence and Jason Tasker, MSc for words of wisdom regarding hiring and searching for your next position.

My high school football coach (and Vince Lombardi) used to say, practice doesn’t make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect. I think about that a lot during interviews. After sitting in hundreds of them, it’s usually obvious who has spent time preparing thoughtfully versus who is trying to figure things out in real time. Here are some prep habits I recommend: Start with the job description. Read it closely. If you want extra support, drop it into AI and ask for likely interview questions. Themes show up fast. Core skills, problem-solving, collaboration. Those themes tell you where to focus. For each theme, think through two or three real examples. Different projects, different outcomes, different lessons learned. You’re not memorizing answers, you’re giving yourself options so you don’t freeze when a question is phrased differently. Say it out loud. This part matters more than people think. You’ll catch rambling, overused jargon, and spots where your confidence fades. Trust me, this is going to feel weird, but it will pay off big time. Do your research. Know what the company does, what they’ve shipped recently, and what they’re proud of right now. Recent news, wins, and growth can be found with a quick search. Bringing these up in the interview shows genuine interest. Also helpful: • A clear 60-second “about me” • One challenge story and one win • Pay attention to how the conversation is flowing and leave room for back-and-forth When you prepare, you spend less energy remembering and more energy connecting. #Recruiting #TalentAcquisition #InterviewPrep

Client just got her 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 🌏 🙌 3 specific things we did to prepare (that are 10X better than free online guides or writing 'scripts') ⬇️ 1. 𝗪𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗿 We found the interviewer on LinkedIn and reviewed their profile together. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹? Find something in common that can build a good human connection. ✅ Around 5 years ago, this interviewer made a similar career pivot to my client! Based on what the interviewer wrote in his profile, both him and my client made the pivot for similar reasons. This similar experience (and more importantly, the similar values behind it) is something my client can mention in the interview to: • Show how prepared she is   • Build a better connection with the interviewer 2. 𝗪𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 We reviewed the job requirements line by line. We identified the 4 most important skills/actions for that job. For each skill/action, we planned 1 specific story from my client's career of them performing that action well. We organized each story so it • Will be easy for the interviewer to understand • Fully highlights the skills and value my client added This is 100X more effective than: ❌ Just saying 'I have <skill>' ❌ Explaining your entire career as one long, unorganized summary. 3. 𝗪𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 We found: ✅ Long video interviews with the CEO sharing the story behind the company/brand ✅ Clips of specific employees ✅ News related to the company's APAC growth plans in 2025 And more Thoughout all this research, my client looked for: ✅ Specific details about the company that gets her excited to potentially work there ✅ Plans, goals, and projects at the company that she would love to contribute to Effective interview preparation is not: ❌ Trying to memorize tons of general answer templates ❌ Writing a script and reading it over and over ❌ Watching Youtube videos/free online guides 𝗕𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰. 𝗕𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲. 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗷𝗼𝗯, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗿. And when the hiring team is reviewing candidates after, you'll be the one that stands out 🤝. Not sure how to do this? Here's how I can help ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/gShv3bvz