Ilham El mhadder (ACIM)’s Post

Outline For Interviewing Professionals or Biz Owners in a Conversation Being a genuinely interested and good listener is not an easy skill to master, as we may believe. One of the big mistakes salespeople and other professional consultants make is in not taking the time to understand the customer's needs adequately. Instead, they focus on selling their product or service without considering whether or not it fits the customer. To grab a person's full attention or to stand out in your industry is a vital skill to not only to learn but also to maintain and update as the world evolves. Here is an easy-to-use interviewing template. When followed, it will allow you to gain more confidence in the questioning and in the listening. It is a great activity to practice with your friends by taking turns to be both the interviewer and the interviewee.   **Thank you, (name), for taking the time to make yourself available today.   If I may please begin by asking you (name) when you first became interested in what you do, and how you got involved in doing it?   Can you outline what led you to become such an expert?   What do you think is the best way for someone to get started?     How long does it take to become proficient at……………………………?     Will your methods or advice work in any area and for anyone?     How much experience does a person need to get before they can do what you do…………………?     Can you provide some real-life examples of other people who have followed your advice?     If you had one secret tip to share about (what you do), what would it be?     Would you be able to give me some examples of common problems that may people experience in ……………?     Some people might think that it all sounds too good to be true. Is there a catch?   Where can people find out more information about you?     How can people contact you?

“Why should we hire you?” is a make-or-break interview question. The wrong answer? Talking solely about yourself. The right answer? Showing how you solve their problems. Here’s how to craft a standout response: 1. 𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸. Study the job description like it’s your new best friend. • Understand the company’s mission, values, and needs. • Practice tailoring your experience to their priorities. 2. 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵. Connect your skills to their challenges. Example: “Your company’s innovation in AI aligns perfectly with my 5+ years in health tech.” 3. 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝘁. • Employers want people who thrive in their environment. • Example: “I love how you recognize top employees. That aligns with my drive to excel in supportive cultures.” 4. 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲. • Stick to three key benefits you bring to the table. • Wrap up with enthusiasm: “I’m excited to contribute to your team and help achieve [specific goal].” 5. [𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀] 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵. • Think of the question: Why should we buy your solution? and show how you focus on understanding client needs before pitching solutions. • Show you know them and you know the industry before recommending 𝗔𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀: ❌ Overusing “I” or “me.” ✅ Instead, focus on how you’ll add value to the company. 💡 Pro Tip: Listen carefully during the interview and tailor your answer to insights from the conversation. 🔍 Preparing for interviews? Save this post for your next opportunity. P.S. What’s YOUR best strategy for answering this question? Share it in the comments!

As an executive you have a big job. This means, when you interview for a new role, you'll be meeting with established and senior professionals who also have big jobs. In every interaction, from email to text to Zoom, the interviewees will be thinking about a number of things, but really it's centered on two areas. 1. Will this person help our company grow? 2. Will I be able to work alongside this person? This means, that they'll have underlying thoughts around what you, how you say it, and when you say it. What you say - are you able to speak about your success? Can you unpackage it in a way that people understand it? Is it repeatable? Can you own mistakes? Do you showcase gratitude for the wins? How you say it - were your prior experiences positive? Does your tone change or shift when you get asked difficult questions? When you communicate via text/email, is it easy to follow When you say it - are you promp to respond? Are you showing up on time and prepared? Is it easy to schedule time with you? Most executives get to the top of the mountain because they are good at what they do. That's the trailer that gets you the interview. It's the rest of it, a lot of which is referenced above which is what helps you secure the job. There's a lot of talented people out there. When you are presented with opportunities you are excited by, never take them for granted. You can rest assured that companies hire people who can do the job, exhibit enthusiasm along the way, and people they want to work alongside on the journey.

What is the goal of an informational interview? It's to build rapport quickly. It is NOT to ask for job. It's to uncover information you didn't already know about. Such as to learn about new companies. Or about another person you should know and speak to in your industry. While building your network. And hopefully, if and when that contact hears about a role they will reach back out to let you know. To give you a referral to their company. Or give you an introduction to their friend's company that is hiring. 🔑 That's it. So stop thinking your networking isn't working just because you didn't get a referral or hear about a job on your initial call. Networking absolutely works. 90% of my clients get their jobs through networking. But it's not a quick fix. It's a process. That needs to be done day in and day out until you have found your next right role. It isn't all-consuming either. Which is great. Like the rabbit hole of applying online can be. You can spend a couple of hours each weekday and network very well. We all know applying to 1000’s of jobs to have a few interviews isn't a quick fix either. It also doesn't build any momentum that will pay off down the road does it? It absolutely does not. No one is calling you at a later date when something else comes up at a company. Sure they kept your resume. But you're in a pile of resumes in a filing cabinet per se within the ATS system. They already passed you up. Remember stop thinking networking is sending your resume and asking for a job. Because it is not that. That's a turn-off. How you network matters! (And recruiters don't find you jobs. They find candidates for their client companies. That's not networking. ) #jennsjobs #informationalinterview

You are almost completed with your interview. The interviewer and / or the interview panel asks you lots of questions about your strengths, weaknesses, other projects, where you see yourself in 5 years. And now, just when you think you are done, the interviewer asks: Do you have any questions for us? No, you answered them all. I used that a lot when the job was not right for me. (I have different thoughts on using an official interview for practice, but that’s another story). Or No, I don’t and you think “just hire me please, because the interview went great and I need a job.” Or YES! I do have questions. By the way, this is the correct answer. Here is what you should do: ·      Research the company. ·      Research the people, employees, management, owners. ·      Research the budget, finances (follow the money).    ·      If you want to / have to relocate, then do your research. Do you have LinkedIn connections and / or friends that work there or in the area? Open a line of communication with them. Research the area, where the company is in relation to where you want / should live, area churches, area recreational areas, crime rates, traffic and transportation. And lastly… ·      Google the company. Take a deep dive. Search the company on LinkedIn and Google comments on the culture as it will have a huge impact on your success and mental well-being.  Then STOP and think of everything you just learned. What’s missing? Look for holes in your research. The job, although historically, has been all about what you can give the company has switched to being a reciprocity relationship where you help the company grow and the company will help you to grow and achieve your goals.  You are also interviewing them to help you achieve your goals. Do you have career goals (advancement, education, owning your own business, etc). Here are some questions to ask:  Is there room for advancement? Do they have education reimbursement? Do they offer relocation reimbursement? If traveling, what is the per diem rate? What is the culture? How big is the department? Who is your team? What this turnover rate? What else do you want to know? Be inquisitive. Then watch eye contact and body language between you the panel members and also between each other. This will tell you a lot. Write everything down (unless your memory is spectacular). After your questions get answered, thank them by name. Go home and write them a thank you email using your elevator pitch and tell them why hiring you can achieve their goals. Peaked your interest? More strategies on how to be the best mid-level leader are located at kathygademer.com #definingleadership #intangibleproducts #tangibleproducts #goalsettingstrategies #teams #customers #interviewing #mentorship #coaching #Job #Jobsearch #Jobopening #Jobposting #HR #Recruitment #Recruiting #LinkedIn #Hiring #CV #Openings #Jobvacancy #Jobalert #Interviewing #Jobhunters #wellness #kathygademer

Connecting with a recruiter means they’ve already recognized your skills, on paper, and see potential in you for the role. Our conversations are not merely skill assessments; they are also a chance to explore if your personality fits well with the company culture. Achieving the right cultural fit is essential for your career fulfillment. So, when you engage with a recruiter, let your personality shine and be honest about your preferences. We’re here to help you find that ideal match. This is your opportunity to speak about your passions, skills, and experiences. Remember, you are selling yourself and showcasing why we should hire you (and vice versa). Approach the phone screen with the recruiter confidently, and bring even more enthusiasm and self-assurance to your interview(s) with the hiring manager(s). Say it with gusto and believe you are the best at what you do. Often, I see hiring managers pass on candidates based on the interview alone. Sometimes, you only get one shot with the hiring manager, and confidence is key. I can only advocate so much on your behalf—your interview is the defining moment. Dont be nervous, take a deep breath and make it count! To excel in your interview, use the STAR method to structure your responses: - Situation: Describe the context within which you performed a task or faced a challenge. - Task: Explain the actual task you had to complete, highlighting your responsibilities. - Action: Detail the specific actions you took to address the task. - Result: Share the outcomes of your actions, emphasizing what you accomplished and what you learned. Using this method helps you provide clear and concise answers that demonstrate your skills and experiences effectively. Make sure to convey your confidence throughout the process. 🤝💼

Curiosity isn’t just a trait - it’s a competitive advantage in interviews. You can't always know what the hiring manager will be looking for, but one thing that regularly comes up is curiosity. Curiosity is vital for success in sales, marketing, and senior roles, yet it's often overlooked in interviews. A lot of research suggests that a large majority of the jobs that exist today won't be around in 5 - 10 years. Curiosity is a good indicator of being able to adapt to change. One of the best ways to showcase curiosity is by thoroughly researching the company and its challenges. Here's 4 ways to demonstrate curiosity in an interview: Research the company in depth - Go beyond the surface. Understand their industry, competitors, and recent developments. Show that you've taken the time to learn what's important to them. Identify potential challenges - Every business has hurdles. Dig into the company's market position or current trends and think about challenges they might face. Present solutions - Don't just highlight problems; suggest how your skills and experience could help overcome these challenges. It shows you're not only curious but proactive and solution-oriented. Ask Thoughtful Questions - Prepare a few open-ended questions about the company's goals, challenges, and how they see the company adapting. By doing your homework and presenting thoughtful insights, you demonstrate a level of curiosity that's crucial for success. Make your interview stand out by showing you're ready to make a real impact!

How to prep for a smooth case study interview 👇 I’ve written my fair share of B2B case studies over the last few years. I’ve had some great ones and some not so great ones. 😬 Here are some quick tips to save yourself some pain: 1. Prepare thoroughly 🧐 Do your research on the client. By this, I don’t just mean desk research, but speak to the stakeholders who work with this client regularly – glean as much info as you can about their daily interactions with your product. This will help you ask better questions built on insider knowledge, and get more quality results in the short time you have. When done well, a case study can also support user research and product discovery for your team. 📝 2. Send your interviewee reminders and an agenda in advance They might have accepted your call but that could have been weeks ago. C-Suite and enterprise customers are often super busy, and every minute counts. If they use Microsoft teams and you use Google Meet for example, these kinds of reminders are actually really useful to prevent awkward starts. 3. Build rapport When you join the call, it’s tempting to launch straight into the interview, but build some rapport first. Ask them about their day. Do you have anything in common you can bring up? It makes the interview so much less formal and they’re more likely to open up about their experiences honestly. 4. Hit Record and leverage AI It’s an obvious one but I literally have to remind myself every time! Just make sure you get permission first. If you’ve got access to tools like Otter.ai, they really help you make the most of the call with recording and set summaries, so you can focus in on the big topics. 5. Follow a set questions template – it’ll help you stay on track and ensure you’re hitting the key points But don’t be so married to those questions that you forget to really listen to the details – don’t be afraid to follow the conversation to an interesting place. 6. Listen out for these key themes: Their frustrations and pain-points, how your product helps them solve those challenges, any good stats and facts that create that hook. 7. Think about the end result By this, I don’t mean have a predetermined outcome, but think about the goal of the case study; what feature, value or proof point do you want to highlight? Generally, following the story framework pictured below can help keep on track and focus on the story you know you have to tell. 8. The most important one: let them speak 🎤 The split should feel more like 70% them and 30% you. Let them speak for minutes without interruption if needed. Because that’s where the golden insights come. ✨ Just getting started with client case studies? I’ve been there. 🤯 I go into more detail about the case study framework and other B2B marketing strategies in my monthly Bravebird newsletter. Sign up in the comments to get it delivered to your inbox 💌 #contentmarketing #B2Bmarketing #B2Bcasestudies

Interviewing can be a nerve-wracking process. In this article there is some great information to help you navigate the process effectively.

💥 Want to Ace Your Next Interview? Here’s the Inside Scoop on What Recruiters REALLY Ask! 💥 Walking into an interview without a clue about what’s coming? Intimidating, right? But what if you had a sneak peek at the exact questions recruiters love to throw at candidates across different roles? From Sales and Marketing to IT, HR, and Engineering, we’ve created the ultimate cheat sheet to help you deliver standout answers that will leave a lasting impression! Here are some role-specific questions to watch out for: 🔹 Sales How do you handle difficult clients? What’s your go-to strategy for consistently hitting sales targets? Describe an experience where you built a strong, long-term relationship with a client. How do you identify and prioritize high-potential prospects? 🔹 Marketing What’s your take on the latest industry trends? How would you plan and execute a marketing strategy for a new product? Can you share a successful campaign you helped run and what you learned from it? 🔹 IT What are your steps to ensure data and system security? How would you handle an urgent situation like a system outage or data breach? How do you manage IT projects to stay on schedule and within budget? 🔹 HR How do you assess a company’s culture, and what’s your approach to maintaining it? What’s your method for handling conflicts between employees? What’s your strategy for attracting and retaining top talent? How do you measure the success of training and development programs? 🔹 Engineering What’s your first step in tackling a complex technical problem? How do you prioritize tasks and projects in a fast-paced environment? Can you share a challenging technical project you successfully completed? Bonus: Looking for open roles in Sales, Marketing, IT, and more? Don’t miss out, click here to explore 👉 https://bit.ly/4871zE1 Hope these questions give you the edge you need to ace that interview and land your next big opportunity!