167 Applications and 40 Interviews Over 1.5 Years – Here’s What I’ve Learned
For non-management roles, Interviews not only assess your skills/experience fit, but more so the level of submission, hiring managers are more keen on the most submissive ones, not the most skilled ones as they need someone listens to their commands with minimal questioning or challenging. They need working machines, not trouble makers with critical thinking.
For less technical roles, first impressions are hard to reverse and trump everything else, Decisions are often made within the first few minutes. If you feel the interviewers are not quite interested in knowing about you during the interview, do not waste your time on follow-up calls/emails post interviews, just move on.
When being asked company value related questions, do your homework beforehand and emphasize on 1 or 2 values you feel unique, let's take Amazon's leadership principals as an example, unlike other values are popular too across the board. "Bias for Actions" is not always encouraged in certain companies/industries, indicating this is a unique value of Amazon, then you should craft a nice story around it to impress the interviewers and make them feel you're a like minded person.
Learn how to respond to questions using questions, when facing questions like "How is your skill/experience about XXX" or "Have ever used XXX in your work", do not respond with statements only like "Yes, I've been using XXX for Y years and I'm confident about it". You'd better ask questions using facts and your own experience to drive the conservation, e.g., "Yes, XXX can be used in ABC scenarios, based on the nature of your business/operation, I think XXX may bring more value if use in these ways, which one/s you're particularly interested in?" - Sounds more professional, isn't it?
Lastly, a few tools I find helpful in interview prep.
Google's interview warmup. AI-powered mock interview agent, free, reliable and responsive and questions are tailored to your background, but the question list is pre-scripted.
Offer Bell AI. It provides AI-powered mock interviews too while the questions are dynamically generated based on your responses, making the experience feel more realistic. They also provide an AI assistant for real online interviews. While it's not particularly useful for non-technical roles, it can be quite helpful for tech and engineering interviews, as it gives real-time prompts when you’re struggling to recall specific technical concepts or problem-solving approaches.
Hope this helps and good luck!
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some key takeaways and strategies to enhance your interview performance:
First Impressions Matter: For less technical roles, decisions are often made within the first few minutes. Ensure you present yourself confidently and professionally from the start. Smile, maintain good posture, and engage actively in the conversation.
Crafting Responses to Company Values: When asked about company values, focus on unique aspects that set the company apart. For example, if interviewing at Amazon, highlight values like "Bias for Action" and back it up with a compelling story that aligns with this principle. This demonstrates alignment with the company's culture and values.
Driving the Conversation: Instead of simply answering questions, engage the interviewer by asking thoughtful, experience-based questions. For instance, when asked about your experience with a specific tool or skill, respond with something like:
"Yes, I’ve used XXX in ABC scenarios. Based on your business operations, I believe XXX could add value in these ways. Which of these areas are you most focused on?"
This approach not only showcases your expertise but also positions you as a proactive and strategic thinker.
Recognizing Interview Dynamics: If you sense disinterest from the interviewer, it may be a sign to move on rather than investing time in follow-ups. Focus your energy on opportunities where there’s genuine interest and alignment.
Preparation Tools: Utilize AI-powered tools for mock interviews to refine your responses:
Behavioral Question Prep: Prepare answers for common behavioral questions in a storytelling format. Examples include:
Practice these until they feel natural, layering in emotions and tonality to make your responses engaging.
Practice and Confidence: Over-preparation builds confidence. Record yourself answering questions, listen back, and refine your delivery. This ensures you sound polished and natural during the actual interview.
By implementing these strategies, you can stand out as a confident, prepared, and culturally aligned candidate. Good luck!
Sources: The 24 Interview Lessons I Learned on the Way to Getting My First Full Time Job, Would appreciate some advice, Guide to Hirevues, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/sa-interview-prep-techniques?customgpt=1, 10 Friendly Reminders While Networking for SA Programs (from a BB Analyst Perspective)
Thanks ChatGPT
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