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Hey, all, I'm Jenavieve,
your career advisor here at Treehouse.

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In this video, we'll uncover
the strategies that will empower you to

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confidently navigate
any interview scenario.

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From conquering nerves to
showcasing your skills,

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get ready to unlock the secrets
to nailing every interview.

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Let's jump in and
elevate your interview game.

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In this session, we will learn key
strategies needed to excel in job

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interviews, including the importance of
pitching yourself, knowing and signaling

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your value, and preparing a compelling
portfolio to showcase your skills.

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The power of presentation, an interview
is the best chance you have to

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market yourself effectively
to potential employers.

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Strong self-presentation can set
you apart from the competition and

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give you a leg up in
the competitive world of tech.

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Here is how you can level up
your presentation skills and

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make the best impression possible.

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Recognize your worth.

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Step 1, self-assessment and reflection,
before a job interview, take some time for

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self-assessment and reflection to
recognize your worth and skills.

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Start with reviewing your accomplishments,

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make a list of your past achievements,
both personal and professional.

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Consider any challenges you've overcome,
projects you've successfully completed,

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and positive feedback you've received.

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Identify your strengths,
identify your key strengths and skills,

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think about what sets you apart from
others and what you bring to the table.

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These strengths can
include technical skills,

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soft skills, leadership abilities,
or problem solving expertise.

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Understand your value, reflect on how your
skills and accomplishments align with

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the requirements of the job
that you're applying for.

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Consider the impact of your contributions
in your previous roles, and

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how they can add value to
the prospective employer.

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Step 2, prepare with confidence, with
a clear understanding of your worth and

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skills, approach the job
interview with confidence.

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Start with practicing your pitch,

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craft an impactful elevator pitch that
showcases your top skills and experiences.

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Use this pitch to introduce
yourself confidently at

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the beginning of the interview.

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Relate past experiences, during the
interview relate your past experiences and

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accomplishments to the job requirements.

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Demonstrate how your
skills have contributed to

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successful outcomes in previous roles.

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Emphasize transferable skills,

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even if you're transitioning
to a new industry or role,

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emphasize transferable skills and how
they can be applied to the new position.

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Understanding and acknowledging your own
worth and skill set before heading into

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a job interview not only bolsters your
self assurance but it also equips you with

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the ability to articulate your unique
value proposition to the hiring manager.

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Communicate your value effectively.

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Before any interview, you should always
thoroughly review the job description and

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understand the specific requirements and
qualifications the employer is seeking.

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I suggest you write out
the following steps and

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use them as a guide that you can
keep handy as you interview.

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Here is how to communicate
your value effectively and

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make yourself the obvious candidate for
the job.

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Step 1, understand the job requirements,
begin by analyzing the job description,

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pay close attention to the key skills,
qualifications, and

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responsibilities mentioned
in the job description.

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Identify the most critical
aspects of the role.

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Match your skills, identify the skills and

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experiences from your backgrounds
that align with the job requirements.

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Focus on the areas where you
can demonstrate expertise and

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make a significant impact.

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Research the company, understand the
company's values, culture, and projects.

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This will help you tailor your
communication to show how your skills

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align with their mission and goals.

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Have your questions ready.

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Always write out at least ten questions
for your interviewer regarding the role,

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and company.

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These questions can include company
growth, job responsibilities,

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what they're looking for
in an ideal candidate and so much more.

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Arriving at the end of an interview with
thoughtful questions demonstrates your

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genuine enthusiasm for the role and

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a proactive approach to understanding
the company's dynamics.

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Conversely, failing to ask about the
company or the role leads you to coming

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across as uninterested, which is
never a good thing when interviewing

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Step 2, use specific examples and
achievements.

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During the interview,

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effectively communicate your value
by providing specific examples and

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achievements that demonstrate your
expertise and past successes.

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One way to do this is by
sharing success stories.

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Using the STAR method to structure your
responses describe real life situations

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where you demonstrate the skills and
qualities needed for the job.

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Quantify results, enhancing your
accomplishments with metrics

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not only lends credibility to your claims,
but also provides a clear and

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compelling illustration of the concrete
outcomes you've generated.

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By attaching numbers or
percentages to your achievements,

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you can clearly show your
capability to drive results.

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Highlight relevant projects, discuss
relevant projects you've worked on in

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the past, emphasizing how they align
with the current positions requirements.

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Explain your role in these projects and
the positive outcomes you achieved.

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Step 3, be confident and genuine,
effective communication of your

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value requires confidence and
authenticity during the interview.

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You can work on this by
practising your responses.

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Rehearse your answers to common interview
questions that relate to your skills and

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experiences, this will help you
respond with clarity and confidence.

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Maintain eye contact and body language,

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maintain good eye contact
with the interviewer and

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use positive body language to convey your
enthusiasm and interest in the role.

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Let your genuine passion for
the field and job shine through.

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Employers value candidates who are
genuinely excited about the opportunity

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and are eager to contribute their skills.

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How to tackle difficult questions,

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interviewers often include challenging
questions that may catch you off guard.

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Handling these questions with poise and

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confidence is essential to leave
a positive impression on the interviewer.

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Follow these steps to tackle
difficult questions effectively.

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Step 1, stay calm and
composed, take a deep breath.

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If you encounter a difficult question,
take a moment to compose yourself,

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don't rush into answering right away.

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A deep breath can help you gather
your thoughts and calm your nerves.

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Maintain eye contact,

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keep eye contact with the interviewer
even when facing a challenging question,

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this shows confidence and
that you are engaged in the conversation.

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Step 2, listen carefully and
clarify, listen attentively,

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pay close attention to the question and

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ensure you fully understand
what the interviewer is asking.

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Seek clarification if needed,
if the question is unclear,

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don't hesitate to ask for clarification.

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This demonstrates your commitment
to providing a thoughtful and

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accurate response.

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Step 3, be honest and authentic,
always remember to be truthful,

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avoid exaggerating, or
providing false information.

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Showcase your self-awareness,

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if you don't have direct experience
related to the question,

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acknowledge it while showcasing your
willingness to learn and adapt.

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Step 4, stay positive and
professional, avoid getting defensive.

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Even if the question feels personal or
challenging,

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remain composed and
avoid becoming defensive.

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Don't criticize past employers,

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refrain from speaking negatively
about previous employers or

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colleagues as it may reflect
poorly on your professionalism.

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Practice with mock interviews,
conduct mock interviews with family,

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friends or career coaches.

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This will help you build confidence and

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improve your ability to
handle difficult questions.

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Prepare for common difficult questions,

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anticipate challenging questions
that are common in your industry and

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role, and formulate well-crafted
responses in advance.

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Remember, interviewers use difficult
questions to assess your problem-solving

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skills, self-awareness, and
ability to handle pressure.

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With preparation and a composed approach,
you can effectively navigate these

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questions and leave a positive and
lasting impression on the interviewer.

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Demonstrating your communication skills is
the single most important skill to drive

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home when interviewing for a role.

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You can do this by,

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ending the interview by summarizing
why you're the best fit for the role.

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Expressing gratitude for
the opportunity to interview.

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Sending a thank you e-mail within
24 hours after the interview, and

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reiterating your interest and
appreciation for the chance to interview.

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Remember this video the next
time you're getting ready for

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an interview and you'll nail it,
thanks for watching.