Pitch Perfect

Not sure how to get ready for a soft skills interview (or if you should even bother preparing)? Here's a simple technique that will definitely help you 🎁

Job interviews can be nerve-wrecking, but it's easier to approach them if you know what to expect and how to prepare. These days, a lot of companies use behavioral questions in their interviews, which aim to understand how you handle situations and tackle tasks based on your past experiences. They often start with phrases like:

▪️ Describe a situation where you had to …
▪️ Can you share a example of a …
▪️ Tell me about a time when you …

Having been on both sides of the table as a recruiter and a candidate, I know the best way to approach such questions is by sharing your story with clarity and structure. That's where the STAR technique comes in handy ⭐ Go through the pictures in this post to learn how to use it in your job interviews and leave a lasting (positive! 😅) impression on recruiters.

If you know any other useful techniques, be sure to share them in the comments and empower others to succeed 💪

Let’s talk about one of the most important parts of your LinkedIn profile - the headline☝🏻

LinkedIn automatically populates your headline with your current job title, so theoretically, you don’t even have to worry about what to write. But is it really a good choice to leave it as is? 🤔 To better understand the idea behind headlines, let’s take a look at where they can be seen on LinkedIn (check the screenshots I've posted).

As you can see, your headline is usually the very first thing other LinkedIn users get to see. It’s your introduction - both to your contacts and to those who have no idea what it is that you actually do 👩🏻‍💻

The character limit for headlines is 220. That’s quite a lot if you think about it, but only about 60 will be visible under your name without opening your full profile. Read on to learn how to make the most of it 👇🏻

1️⃣ Move away from the simple job title and think of your headline as an elevator pitch. How would you describe yourself (professionally) in a few words? 💁🏻‍♀️

2️⃣ Share your value proposition: how do you help your clients, community, company or fellow colleagues? You can use a simple formula like “I help X do Y” or “Helping X do Y”.

3️⃣ Add relevant keywords. If you focus on a specific technology or have a narrow area of expertise, this is a good place to mention it. This will help you rank higher in search results, when recruiters look for this particular skill 🔎 You can use | or / as visual dividers.

4️⃣ Think of your target audience - who do you want to attract to join your network? 🎯 The same person can have two totally different headlines depending on whether they’re currently looking for a job (and targeting recruiters) or new clients.

5️⃣ Make it personal and catchy! This is your chance to stand out from the crowd and grab attention. Avoid stiff cliché phrases and go for something that sounds natural and personal, show what makes you unique as a professional ✨

Reimagine your intro to the professional world and see where it takes you 🙃 If you've found these tips helpful, don’t forget to like, save or share this post!

*Bonus question for the creative ones: what would Punchy’s headline sound like? 🤔

There’s no one-size-fits-all instruction for a perfect (purrrfect? 🐈‍⬛) job interview, but from the recruiter’s perspective, these red flags are universal. Avoid making these mistakes and you’ll be one step closer to getting an offer 📃

❌ Not admitting to making mistakes or having weaknesses. There’s nothing wrong about either of them! Don’t be afraid to openly talk about both, just make sure to also mention the lessons you learned and the steps you took / are currently taking to improve.

❌ Coming unprepared. Research is key! Show that you know the industry and the particular company you’ve applied to, make sure to review the job ad before the interview to refresh all the details.

❌ Avoiding direct answers. Even if you lack experience with something, it’s always better to openly admit that than to try and change the subject - it’s usually pretty obvious anyway 🤷🏻‍♀️ Trust me, honesty is always the best strategy.

❌ Complaining about your previous job(s) without showing that you attempted improving the situation. It’s totally ok to be unsatisfied with some past experiences, but recruiters will want to see that you didn’t just quietly observe the issue, but actually tried to find a solution.

❌ And finally, demonstrating arrogant or straight up rude behavior. Be assertive, know your boundaries (although I truly hope you’ll never have to deal with inappropriate questions 😔), disagree if necessary - but do it all politely and in a professional manner!

What do you think could also be perceived by a recruiter as a red flag? Share in the comments and I’ll let you know my thoughts 😊👇🏻