Feel confident in every job interview
There's nothing quite like the panic that sets in when a hiring manager starts an interview with, “Tell me about yourself.”
When I was early in my career, I reacted to this panic by listing my job history and responsibilities. I tried really hard to make myself sound as influential and important as possible.
But my post-layoff job search last year gave me an opportunity to really re-work how I made a first impression. I decided the interviewer doesn’t need me to read them my resume. They need to hear about what I actually bring to the workplace beyond a list of previous accomplishments.
Look, I know most people don't find personal branding as thrilling as I do. You're probably thinking, “This sounds great, Teagan, but how on earth am I supposed to know what makes me unique at work? I just do my job well, and then I go home! Now you want me to spend my summer analyzing myself instead of hanging out at the pool?”
These are reasonable concerns. That's why I'm breaking this down into two manageable parts: finding your professional theme, and creating your career story bank.
Part 1: Finding your professional theme
Remember back in the day when you had to write 5-paragraph essays for standardized tests? Maybe you’ve forgotten most of that lesson, but I’d bet the idea of a thesis statement probably stuck with you.
Your professional theme is the thesis statement for who you are at work. It’s the common thread that you come back to,
Even this stock photo demonstrates that interviewers have your resume in hand. They’re talking to you to learn something new!
both when you’re talking about yourself in your interviews, and, more importantly, it’s the spark that animates you when you’re doing your best work. It’s especially important for answering the dreaded “Tell me about yourself” question in job interviews.
Here’s how to find your professional theme:
Look back at the times when you felt like you were doing your best work. What’s the connection between those moments? Do you bring order to chaos? Spot opportunities others miss? Find a path forward when others give up?
Ask yourself: “If I left my job tomorrow, what would my colleagues say they'd miss most about working with me?” Words that might come up for you could include collaborative, driven, conscientious, focused, helpful, creative, gregarious, or adaptable. If you’re not sure how to answer, ask trusted colleagues for some input.
Combine your answers to these questions to create your professional theme. This can look like: “You can see from my resume that I'm a [your job title], but really, I'm someone who [your theme].” Then give 2-3 examples of how this shows up in different contexts.
When asked “Tell me about yourself” before, here’s what I would have said: “I’m a marketing leader specializing in data-driven content strategy, messaging development, and campaign testing. I’ve led high-performing teams that bring in leads and revenue and blah blah blah snore.”
Here’s what I say now: “You can see that I’m a marketer, but really, at heart, I’m a problem-solver. I see a shortfall, inefficiency, or gap, and I can’t keep myself from rooting out the issue and fixing it. The problem could be something structural, like not enough high-quality leads. Maybe it’s a creative quandary, like needing fresh messaging for an existing service. Or an interpersonal issue, like handling a challenging situation with a colleague. It’s the common thread throughout my career: I fix what’s broken and make it more effective or engaging.”
Want some help figuring out your professional theme? Book time with me!
Part 2: Creating your career story bank
The most important thing to do in an interview is tell stories that demonstrate your expertise. You can find lots of resources about using the STAR or CARL methods for structuring responses. But to even use those methods, you need to know which stories you’re going to tell.
So let’s make a career story bank so you never grasp for an example during an interview!
Step 1: Scribble down every potentially relevant story from your past 3 jobs. Go deep into the past, knowing you may not tell those stories, but they help you remember all your accomplishments.
Step 2: Connect stories to the job description. Look for gaps—which responsibilities are missing a relevant story? See which stories can be used for multiple responsibilities. Aim to get about 75% of the job duties covered by concrete examples.
Step 3: If you’re feeling stumped, reach out to former or current colleagues to ask for help remembering details. It’s amazing what memories you can dredge up when you’re reminiscing about being in the trenches for a product launch or seasonal rush.
Step 4: Use a 1-person video call to practice telling the stories. Record yourself and watch the recording so you can see how you come across and how clear the stories are. Refine the stories by adding detail and making sure every story demonstrates your effectiveness, impact, or influence.
Step 5: Re-read the job description. Re-read the resume and cover letter you tailored for the role. Make a cheat sheet of each relevant story. Tell the stories out loud one more time.
If this seems overwhelming to do on your own, let me know, and we can tackle it together.
Does this really work?
Sure does. Here’s what one of my clients has to say:
“I loved working with Teagan to create my career story and connect my work to organizational impact. She really helped me feel more confident going into interviews because I knew my responses would be concise and impactful.”
And guess what? We did 2 interview prep sessions, and now she’s starting a new role in pharma after many years in the federal workforce! (Read more testimonials)
Remember, you can’t totally eliminate interview nerves. Instead, transform those jitters into fuel for better preparation. When you clarify your professional theme and practice your stories, you’re building your confidence and getting closer to finding your next role. Whether you land the job or not, each interview can help you become a stronger, more self-aware professional.
If you’re looking for 1:1 interview prep or want personalized support crafting your professional story, I'm here to help.
