Interview Update

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You have heard these words before: “You were a great candidate, but we went with someone who aligns….” Blah, blah, blah, blah, and more blah.

I recently heard those words when I was rejected for a role. Of course, I knew that I wasn’t the most technically aligned prospect, but I will never remove myself from something because I think I have no chance.

I interviewed, and I didn’t succeed, but here is the one lesson I took from the interview. Don't do the HR department's job for them. Let them be the ones to say no.

Show up and show them what they are missing. That is your only job.

• Take bold risks in your technical answers.

• Highlight your strengths, and when they ask about your weaknesses, turn that into a positive.

• Admit what you don’t know without losing your footing. Redirect the conversation to what you do know

That generic rejection I received didn't sting because I didn't lose anything. I gained confidence in my communication skills. I proved that alignment is often just a code word for safety, and while they chose the safe route this time, I walked away with the data I need to win the next one.

Stop counting yourself out. If you're 60% qualified, you're 100% worth their time. Let them be the ones to say no. Your only job is to show up and make that decision as hard for them as possible.

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