1.3M
NEAfter 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
@nextwavewithmike
