Mistakes That Block Landing Target Roles

You didn’t bomb the interview. But you didn’t win it either. And that $200K+ offer quietly slipped away. Here’s what even smart, capable leaders don’t realize: Interviews aren’t just conversations. They’re business negotiations. And after helping 100s of professionals land 6-figure roles, I’ve seen the same 5 mistakes derail even the most promising candidates: 1. Showing up unprepared → The interviewer’s LinkedIn is public. → Spend 3 minutes and find one real connection. → It shows respect, and makes you memorable. 2. Asking entry-level questions → “What’s the culture like?” won’t cut it. → Ask: “What are the biggest challenges your team is focused on solving this quarter?” → It positions you as a strategic partner. 3. Rambling without structure → Use the STAR method. → Keep it to 90 seconds. → Communicate like an exec. Be concise and clear. 4. Talking money too soon → Getting in the weeds in the first round? → It weakens your leverage. → Wait until they’re invested. 5. Sending generic follow-ups → Skip the templated thank-you. → Share a relevant insight or market POV. → Make them see you as the one they need. Your competition isn’t more qualified. But they might be more strategic. Asking smarter questions. Prepping like consultants. Follow up like advisors. You’re already good. With the right approach, you’ll be unstoppable. What’s the hardest part of interview prep for you? Reshare ♻️ to help someone in your network. And give me a follow for more posts like this.

After 4.5 years Hired-Cut Your Career Search in Half continues to help. Finding myself recently meeting many folks (again) in job search, I find that they are not starting off on the right foot. The follow is both what not to do and do instead: 1. Applying to Too Many Jobs with a Generic Resume ❌ Mistake: Spraying the same resume everywhere without customization. ✅ Fix: Tailor your resume for each role using keywords from the job description. Highlight relevant skills/achievements (use bullet points, not paragraphs). 2. Ignoring the Power of Networking ❌ Mistake: Only relying on online applications (where competition is fiercest). ✅ Fix: Reach out to hiring managers or employees at target companies (LinkedIn messages work!). Attend industry events (virtual or in-person) and ask for informational interviews. 3. Weak or Missing Online Presence ❌ Mistake: No LinkedIn profile (or one that’s incomplete/unprofessional). ✅ Fix: Optimize your LinkedIn with a professional photo, strong headline, and detailed experience. Share industry insights or engage with posts to increase visibility. 4. Poor Interview Preparation ❌ Mistake: Wing-ing interviews without researching the company or role. ✅ Fix: Study the company’s mission, recent news, and job description. Prepare STAR method answers (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions. Do mock interviews with a friend or mentor. 5. Not Following Up After Applying or Interviewing ❌ Mistake: Ghosting after submitting an application or interview. ✅ Fix: Send a thank-you email within 24 hours of an interview. If no response after a week, politely follow up (e.g., “I’m still very interested—any updates?”). BONUS: Focusing Only on Big Names ❌ Mistake: Only targeting FAANG or Fortune 500 companies. ✅ Fix: Look for startups, mid-sized firms, or niche industries where competition is lower. Early-career roles at smaller companies often offer faster growth. Key Takeaway: Job hunting is a strategy game, not just a numbers game. By avoiding these mistakes, you’ll stand out in a crowded market. Struggling- I’m happy to help! 🚀 #stillhelpingonepersonatatime #gethired https://lnkd.in/gJ46D-Ua

"Trust me, I interview really well..." But possibly not as well as you may think. Gary had missed out on several roles before we started working together. He insisted the problem wasn't his interview. Still, I suggested we walk through the process in detail because I suspected he was drawing a conclusion common among high-performers: 🚨Assuming past performance predicts future results.🚨 Over-confidence is just one of the mistakes I've seen my clients make in the interview process. These are common to high-performers, and here's what to do instead: 1️⃣ Overconfidence ↳ Assuming your track record speaks for itself, and not speaking directly to your qualifications for the job. 💡 The Fix: Prepare stories that paint the picture of your achievements and how they related to this role. 2️⃣ Failure to Notice Red Flags ↳ Overlooking warning signs, especially if you've been with the same employer for years. 💡The Fix: Notice details in the interview. How do you feel? Are you making assumptions based on where you work now? 3️⃣ Failing to do Deep Preparation ↳ Skipping the company and industry research and going with standard interview answers that may be outdated. 💡The Fix: Ensure you are up to date on your industry and master current interview trends (case questions, technical assessments, and behavioral questions). 4️⃣ Offering Generic Answers ↳ Leaving important details out of your answers, assuming people won't understand or aren't interested. 💡The Fix: Give data, define acronyms, and ask if you've provided enough detail. 5️⃣ Lack of Self-Awareness ↳ Avoiding any discussion of mistakes or vulnerability for fear it will make you look bad. 💡The Fix: Go in prepared to discuss challenges you've faced and have examples of a growth mindset. 6️⃣ Relying on Technical Skills ↳ Focusing too much on technical work, at the expense of your work style and collaborative skills. 💡The Fix: Prepare some stories that demonstrate what kind of a colleague you are. 7️⃣Focusing Too Much on Your Own Objectives ↳ Neglecting the interviewer's perspective in favor of your own priorities. 💡The Fix: Don't ask questions about what's in it for you until you've established a good rapport and have moved toward the end of the process. 8️⃣ Counting Too Much on References ↳ Giving your references, who may be "important" people, too much credit for being able to influence a decision. 💡The Fix: Confirm that the reference you've used for years is still a good one. Prepare your references with exactly what you want them to highlight about you. Do you interview high performers? What would you add to the list? Share your thoughts below 👇 ♻️Repost to help others in the interview process 🔔Follow Sarah Baker Andrus for career & job search advice 📌For more tips, tactics and trends on navigating the current job market, subscribe to The Career Rebellion. https://lnkd.in/eEdhDCb3

I applied for over 30 internal roles at my first company and received zero offers. 💔 It was a long and hard stretch that led to a lot of self-doubt, worthiness and made me question my abilities. I was sharing my best work, but something wasn’t connecting. Looking back, I realized I was making three critical mistakes that I see many people make when trying to pivot industries or roles. My biggest error? Irrelevant Project Examples: I'd talk about my work in operations, but it didn't directly align with the corporate roles I was applying for. Your best work isn't always your most relevant. Industry Jargon: I was so deep in operations lingo that I unknowingly used acronyms and jargon that confused my interviewers. I wasn’t communicating; I was just talking. Missing the "Result" in STAR: I could talk about the situation, task, and action, but I'd forget to quantify the impact. Without the result, my stories fell flat. I wasn't telling the full story. A huge thank you to everyone who shared advice and gave me mock interviews! 🙏 My mindset shifted from "I need to prove my value" to "I need to clearly communicate my value." I learned that strategic preparation and a different approach to storytelling were the keys to landing my first corporate role. If you're facing a similar challenge, remember: every 'no' is a lesson. And sometimes, you need to change your approach, not your career goals. What's a career challenge you've overcome? Share your story below! 👇 Image Credit: @canva #CareerPivot #JobSearch #Resilience #CareerAdvice #InterviewTips #MyJourneyToTech #STARMethod