After 12+ years in recruiting, I can usually tell in 10 minutes who’s getting the offer.
Top candidates consistently do these 5 things differently:
1️⃣ They come prepared for the person.
They know the interviewer’s name.
They’ve looked them up on LinkedIn.
They understand how that role connects to the team.
Opening with,
“I saw you moved from engineering into product. I’d love to hear how that shaped this team.”
That’s signal.
2️⃣ They treat it like a conversation.
They engage.
They build on answers.
They don’t sit back and wait.
Hiring managers remember how you made them feel.
3️⃣ They ask clarifying questions.
“Are you looking for a leadership example or a cross-functional one?”
“Is this about speed or long-term impact?”
Five seconds of clarity can turn a good answer into a great one.
4️⃣ They use CARL, not vague storytelling.
Context.
Action.
Result.
Learning.
That last piece separates strong candidates.
Companies want learn-it-alls.
5️⃣ Their best questions come from the interview itself.
Not something Googled.
Something you heard.
“You mentioned stakeholder alignment was tough last quarter. What shifted?”
Now you’re memorable.
And your thank-you note writes itself.
Most people think interviews are about saying the right things.
They’re about signaling the right behaviors.
If you want to become the candidate hiring managers remember…
DM me OFFER.
And send this to someone interviewing this week.
#jobsearch #interviewtips #careergrowth #midcareer #hiring
Tips for your cabin crew interview PART 2 💄🫶🏾✈️ are you having your interview soon? Let me know in the comments 👀
#cabincrewinterview #cabincrew #interviewtips #cabincrewlife #flightattendant
My take on this super common interview question!
#jobsearch #corporatelife #interviewtips #jobinterview #interviewadvice
Hiring Manager:
“We’ve decided to move forward with another candidate”
Hiring manager:
“We’ve decided to move forward with another candidate.”
Most people read that as a dead end.
It usually isn’t.
In hiring, a “no” often just means not right yet.
The candidate they chose might fail checks.
They might turn the offer down.
They might leave within weeks.
And when that happens, they don’t go back to the people who spiralled or disappeared.
They go back to the person who handled rejection with composure and confidence.
That’s how you become the first call back.
Here’s how to respond without closing the door 👇
Option 1 The polished response
“Thank you for the time and transparency.
While I’m disappointed, I respect the decision.
I really enjoyed learning about [specific project or goal].
Please keep me in mind for future roles. I’d love to contribute”.
Option 2 The confident pivot
“Thank you [Name]. I was genuinely disappointed as I was excited about [specific challenge].
That said, I love what you’re building.
If anything changes with the selected candidate or another role opens up, I’d love to be your first call.”
This is how you stay memorable.
This is how offers come back around.
Save this. Use it.
And stop treating rejection emails like the end.
#jobsearch #interviewtips #careerchange #techsales #jobrejection
One question that catches so many people out in interviews is this.
“You’ve only been in your current role for 6 months. Why are you leaving?”
And this is where people panic and start explaining everything.
Talking about bad managers.
Low pay.
Or how the company was toxic.
But strong hiring managers are not interested in workplace drama. They care about how you think.
The key is to position it as progression not escape.
Instead of focusing on what you are leaving, focus on what you are moving towards.
Show that you explored your options internally, realised where you want to take your career long term, and that this opportunity aligns better with your strengths and growth.
Keep it calm. Keep it intentional. Keep it future focused.
That is how professionals move in interviews.
I broke into tech sales with zero experience and have now helped 100+ women do the same and land high paying remote roles.
If you want the exact step by step training, comment TECH and I will send it to you.
#interviewtips #careeradvice #techsales #jobsearch #interviewquestions
After interviewing thousands of candidates, here’s the truth:
The best ones don’t try to be impressive.
They try to be useful.
Be specific.
Tell stories.
Show how you think.
Bring energy.
Clarity > perfection.
Save this for your next interview.
#InterviewTips #CareerAdvice #JobSearch #businesstips #leadership
Want to answer interview questions confidently? 💼✨
This short and simple script will help you respond like a pro!
Learn how to answer:
✔️ Tell me about yourself
✔️ Why should we hire you?
✔️ Where do you see yourself in 3 years?
#InterviewTips #JobInterview #EnglishSpeaking #CommunicationSkills #CareerGrowth JobPreparation InterviewQuestions
You've got to learn to master small talk for an interview #interview #interviewtips #careercoach #careeradvice #jobsearch
I’ll be honest with you. Your honesty? Is a mistake.
“I’m currently making $55,000.”
I know it feels like being "honest" or "transparent," but here’s what’s actually happening behind the scenes:
If the company budget is $80k, but you anchor at $55k, the recruiter thinks:
“Great! If we offer $63k, they’ll be thrilled. That’s a 15% raise.”
You just left $17,000 on the table.
Your past salary isn't your current market value. It’s just a data point from a version of you that didn't have the experience you have today.
Stop negotiating against yourself.
✅You deserve to be paid for the role you’re entering, not the one you’re leaving.
Want to level the playing field?
1. Comment MONEY and I’ll DM you the 5 silent negotiation killers + the scripts to flip the script.
2. Hit Follow 👈🏼 if you want the "view from the other side" to help you get paid what you’re worth.
I’m in your corner.
Toni
#careeradvice #salarynegotiation #interviewtips #jobsearch
Hiring Manager: “We’ve decided to move forward with another candidate.”
Most people reply with:
“Thank you for letting me know.”
And then… that’s it.
But here’s what most candidates don’t realize:
That email is still an opportunity.
Hiring decisions change all the time:
• Candidates decline offers
• Roles reopen
• New positions come up
And when they do…
they remember the candidates who handled rejection professionally.
💡 Instead of a one-line reply, include these 4 things:
1️⃣ Show appreciation
“Thank you for the update and for the opportunity to interview.”
2️⃣ Acknowledge the outcome
“While I’m disappointed, I appreciate the decision.”
3️⃣ Personalize it
“I really enjoyed learning more about your team and the work you’re doing.”
4️⃣ Keep the door open
“I’d love to be considered for future opportunities that may be a better fit.”
Simple. Professional. Memorable.
Because sometimes the opportunity doesn’t come from the interview…
it comes from how you respond after.
⸻
💬 Comment REPLY and I’ll send you a ready-to-use rejection response template.
📌 Save this — you’ll need it at some point.
#careeradvice #jobsearchtips #interviewtips #corporatelife
Interviewer asked,
“How are you?”
You just say:
“I’m okay, Thank you”
Big mistake.
You just lost your first impression.
That moment is your chance to show:
• Confidence
• Energy
• Professionalism
Say this instead:
“I’m doing well, thank you. I’m excited to our conversation.”
Simple. Strong. Memorable.
Then comes the pressure.
Some candidates try to be “savage.”
They push back.
They argue.
That never works.
Smart candidates reframe.
Examples:
“You’re less certified”
→ “I focus more on practical experience and results.”
“You’ve changed jobs a lot”
→ “Each move helped me grow and take on more responsibility.”
“You’re arrogant”
→ “I stay confident, but always open to learning.”
And those “annoying” HR questions?
They’re not stupid.
They’re filters.
“Why should we hire you?”
→ “I focus on delivering results from day one.”
“Why do you want to join us?”
→ “Your work aligns with the problems I enjoy solving.”
The rule is simple:
Don’t try to be clever.
Don’t try to be savage.
Be clear.
Be calm.
Be confident.
That’s what gets you hired.
Hope you have found these useful. Do reshare with others.
#interviewtips #careerguidance
⬇️ You aren’t “bad at job interviews” you were probably never taught. Interviewing is a skill that you can learn, and you get better the more you do it.
👋🏻 Hi, I am Anna Papalia, I discovered interview styles, wrote the book Interviewology: The New Science of Interviewing, taught interview skills at Temple University’s Fox School of Business and career influencer with over 5 million followers.
👉My mission is simple, I want to teach you how to interview better to get a job you love and get paid what you deserve.👈
📝 If you’d like to discover your interview style, get an Interviewology Profile
📘 If you’d like to learn about all 4 Interview Styles, get my book Interviewology: The New Science of Interviewing
👩🏼💻 If you’re stuck and need to find out what’s holding you back, book a one-on-one session with me
🆓 But you don’t need to do any of that to get better at interviewing, you can get better at job interviews by simply watching my videos and practicing!
📌And remember, you aren’t “bad at job interviews.” I am glad you’re here, thank you for allowing me to help you.
#jobinterview #interviewtips #jobsearch #jobinterviewprep