Ben Watkins’ Post

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SaaS Recruiter / Helping SaaS firms hire senior talent from a network of 35k+ SaaS Execs

Great Senior Execs often perform badly at job interviews. Frozen like a rabbit in the headlights. Poor at selling themselves. Lacking practice. Rusty. Here's a mini-guide to help you interview brilliantly: THE INTRO: → Introduce yourself with a sharp 30-sec pitch → Explain the problems you solve for them → Describe the impact you can make → Make it a 2-way conversation → Don't talk at the person THE INTERVIEW: → If you're talking 75%+ of the time, then you're losing → Get ready to answer why you're leaving or looking → Demonstrate industry, competitor, market insight → Discuss the fires they need extinguishing → Describe how you would put them out → Don't come across as "needing" a job → Use humour, interviewing can be dull →Tell them things they don't know → Don't be negative or complain → Provide evidence of success → Focus on storytelling → Be memorable → Ask questions → Smile THE CLOSE: → Discuss their timescales → Ask to book a follow up → Ask how you rank 🔥 TIP→ Present the OUTCOMES you offer THEM. ♻️ Save a copy and share with others who may need it. PS- Getting interviews is tough and competitive. Perform your best.

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Emma Quinlan

Enterprise Account Executive @ Revolut. 🚀

2w

Genuine question, why should someone not need a job? Id find if someone oversells themselves and alludes they don’t need a job I would get grifter vibes… are transparency and courage not good leadership qualities?

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Edward Stanaway

Head of Technical Support | Service Delivery Leader | IT Operations | Information Technology | Quality Assurance and KPI Management | Customer Satisfaction Expert | Healthtech Pioneer | Policy Changemaker

2w

Definitely found myself falling into this camp. After a decade in what in many respects was a dream role leading some projects that ended up having global relevance, I found myself looking for work. Even now after a number of years it's difficult to succinctly describe what I did there in meaningful language. How do you condense a decade of experience down into a few sentences? It's a work in progress.

Carla Álvarez

Account Executive | Tech Sales

2w

Guilty! 🙋♀️ I might be great at smashing quota or meeting deadlines , but when it comes to talking about myself in an interview? Cue the rabbit-in-headlights moment. 🐰💡  This mini-guide is pure gold. Guess I’ll also be brushing up on storytelling and smiling more. Thanks for sharing, I’m saving this for my next "big moment"!

Michael Price

IT Sales recruiter with 193 recommendations. Grown up who will tell you truth. 24 years experience. I only work on roles I'd take myself.

2w

When I talk to someone who has a stable track record (you know I like them!), I always talk to them about the fact that they run the risk of losing to people with hookytrackrecords because they're better in interviews (because they've had more).

Paul Thomson

Helping Enterprise SaaS/Cyber/Data Sales Leaders bring amazing GTM professionals into their teams. Padel tennis and hockey fanatic!

2w

Nice post Ben Watkins and agree with your points. These are key - provide market insights and have an opinion. Loads of times I get feedback that candidates are stating the obvious so be a bit sparky or even mildly provocative- just have some ideas and don’t be vanilla.

Carolyn Harrington

Developing Strategic Plans That Deliver Growth ★ Building High Performance Teams ★ Improving Operational Efficiency

2w

I would flip this. Some managers/company employees are terrible at interviewing people. It’s a skill that a lot of people don’t have. Also if using teleconferencing they are distracted and not listening as much if they were face to face.

Grant Burrup

SALES OPERATIONS LEADER | SALESFORCE INNOVATOR | DATA & DIGITAL SOLUTIONS

2w

Very informative, thanks for sharing 👍

Judith K.

Operations and Strategy Leader | Specializing in Business Transformation, Technology Integration, Product Management, Supply Chain Optimization, and Strategic Sourcing & Planning

2w

I think flunking an interview has happened to everyone I know. Like anything else, its a skill. I once rambled in an interview, and it was mortifying. At the end of the day, I think its best to come to the interview with an understanding of how you can help the company move forward - what is their problem, and how are you the solution. And just focus on that.

Wolfgang Weisl

Leading Sales & Business Growth | Championing Customer Success & Strategic Partnerships Across DACH | Passionate About Team Development & Sustainable Revenue

4d

Any ideas for a return if you are the best choice for this job but the interview went sideways?

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Lisa Collins-Board

Sales & Customer Experience Director / Driving Sales / Customer Focused Account Management / Delivering Growth / Strategic Thinker / Data Driven / High Performing Teams / Leadership / Collaboration

2w

As a total novice in looking, finding, applying for jobs let alone interviewing, this is really helpful. Thank you for sharing.

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