Interviewing Techniques That Will Get You Hired

An interview strategy shared by a consumer-products sales professional who successfully turned her interview into a consultative conversation and received a job offer.

About the strategy

Shift the focus from yourself to the interviewer by uncovering their pain points. Once you understand the challenges, demonstrate how you can solve them through your experience and process.

Example conversation flow

• Begin by acknowledging the interviewer’s interest in your profile (e.g., a promise to bring in five new customers per month).
• Explain your sales philosophy: understand the customer’s pain points before proposing a solution.
• Share a concrete example of your process:
  • Study market research to identify the best social media platforms for your target audience.
  • Create a survey asking prospects to rate products and request samples, capturing their contact information.
  • Analyze results: for every 100 survey responses, speak with 10 prospects, converting 4–5 into subscription customers.
• Ask the interviewer about their current strategy and conversion rates to identify gaps or challenges.
• Respond to their pain points by offering insights from your research and proposing a plan for your first 90 days.

Outcome

By adopting this consultative approach, the candidate secured a job offer. The method transforms the interview from an interrogation into a two-way conversation, positioning you as a problem-solver rather than just an applicant.