The comparison sounds funny, but stay with me: a successful interview, like a successful first date, comes down to how well your needs and theirs align, and whether the conversation feels easy and natural. A lot of candidates treat the interviewer as a gatekeeper — a person representing a company — rather than an actual human being with preferences, blind spots, and their own career interests. That mistake costs people.
Before I walk into any interview, I've done serious research. Company website, industry news, competitors, social media, annual reports if they're public, Crunchbase if they're a startup. I want to understand what role my team or function plays in the company's larger strategy, and what challenges they're likely facing. Then I can walk in with specific examples of how my experience maps to their needs — not just "I have relevant skills" in the abstract.
My self-introduction is under three minutes. I hit the most relevant points from my background in order — what I worked on, what outcomes I drove — and I keep each job to about three sentences. The goal is to land the key points without rambling.
I research every interviewer on LinkedIn before the conversation. How long have they been at the company, have they been promoted, what's their background? Have they written anything, spoken at events, volunteered? I weave that into the conversation and Q&A. People notice when you've actually paid attention to them.
One thing that trips people up in virtual interviews: looking at the screen instead of the camera. From the interviewer's perspective, you look like you're looking down or away. Shift your eyes to the camera when you're speaking. It creates actual eye contact.
Use "I" not "we" when describing your contributions. Western professional culture values individual ownership. If you led something, say so clearly.
And keep it conversational. After you answer a question, you can check in — did that address what they were looking for? Is there anything they'd like you to expand on? That back-and-forth energy, plus the occasional well-placed moment of humor, is what makes someone memorable.
© 2026 Rachel Hong · Accelerator Consulting