Interview Strategies to Showcase Authenticity

Friends, many people seek advice for interviews. You'll discover your own method, which is ultimately the best, but here is my guidance based on receiving and accepting four offers from Amazon and conducting nearly 200 Amazon interviews myself. Attached is the Amazon "one sheet" I created for myself. More on this later. It's fully applicable to interviews beyond Amazon as well. First, be authentic and humble. Honesty and acknowledging both strengths and weaknesses are irreplaceable, as people can easily detect insincerity. Second, understand the company and the role for which you are applying. Many applicants fail to demonstrate a convincing passion and suitability for their chosen role. Being non-traditional is fine, but your application shouldn't seem vague or general. Third, have over 30 examples of impactful situations, whether related to Amazon's Leadership Principles (LPs) or general stories, that follow the STAR format. Ensure each story (S+T) clearly illustrates what you (not others) did (A) and the outcomes (R), including metrics if possible. Incorporate layers of thoughtfulness, such as scalability and lessons learned. Fourth, create a one-pager that organizes your preparation and serves as a reference during live interviews. As mentioned above, I've attached the actual edited (with brackets for confidentiality) one-pager I used for my Amazon interviews. I prepared three stories for each LP (42 in total), since interviewers value unique stories and it's uncertain which LPs will be discussed. I prepared three questions for the interviewer, incorporating topics throughout the job process. I crafted a four-point, 60-second summary of my resume, and a 5-minute version, as many candidates overly extend their background discussions. I also practiced delivering every LP response within five minutes, aware that people often extend their answers during the actual interview and in anticipation of follow-up questions. I prepared specific examples of successes in team/stakeholder management. For each past job, I outlined 3-6 examples of impact, serving as backups for LP stories. I noted my interests for the job I'm applying for. In this case, for my ultimate passion for games at Amazon, I went further and listed expertise in games, collectibles, non-endemics, and specific account and platform ideas. Outside of Amazon, prepare 30-40+ general anecdotes and you can make categories for different areas of impact you anticipate wanting to highlight or that they will ask about. I found this one-pager to be an optimal tool for motivation and structuring my preparation. It may seem excessive, but it worked for me, and you'll find what works for you. Given virtual interviews, having a "cheat sheet" seems even more sensible. You can find this reference sheet within resource 9 of 10 ("Career Job Pack") on my LinkedIn profile page, under the 10 video game career resources. I hope this helps, and I wish you the best of luck in all your interviews.

I’ve interviewed hundreds of people for top positions. And in 90% of cases — it’s not your resume that makes the strongest impression. It’s how you speak about yourself. If you’re preparing for your next opportunity, here’s how to upgrade your interview communication: 🔻 Don’t say: “I’m willing to do anything.” ✅ Say: “I’m excited about roles where I can contribute in [specific way].” 🔻 Don’t say: “Sorry, I’m really nervous.” ✅ Say: “I’m so excited about this opportunity and our conversation.” 🔻 Don’t say: “I don’t have experience in that.” ✅ Say: “I haven’t done that yet, but I’m eager to learn…” 🔻 Don’t say: “My last boss was terrible.” ✅ Say: “I learned a lot from my previous roles, even the challenging ones.” 🔻 Don’t say: “I’m a perfectionist.” ✅ Say: “I take pride in delivering high-quality work while staying efficient.” 🔻 Don’t say: “I’m good at everything.” ✅ Say: “My strengths are in [skills], and I’m always improving in [growth area].” 🔻 Don’t say: “I did everything in my last project.” ✅ Say: “One key project I led was [specific example]. Here’s the impact it had…” 🔻 Don’t say: “In five years, I’ll be a manager.” ✅ Say: “I see myself growing into [role] and developing [specific skill].” 🔻 Don’t say: “I just want to work here.” ✅ Say: “I’m excited to bring [skills] to your team and help achieve [goal].” 🔻 Don’t say: “I don’t have any questions.” ✅ Say: “What does success look like in this role after six months?” 🔻 Don’t say: “What salary do you offer?” ✅ Say: “Based on my experience and market rates, I’m looking for [range].” 🔻 Don’t say: “Okay, bye!” ✅ Say: “Thank you for your time! I’m excited about this opportunity.” Here’s one key point I’m sure about: Interviews are a two-way street. You’re not just proving your worth — You’re also learning if this is the right fit for you. ↳ Speak with clarity. ↳ Communicate with value. ↳ Leave them remembering you. Which of these tips would’ve helped you in your last interview? Or better — which one will you use in your next? ♻️ Share this with your network. ✅ For more valuable insights, follow me, Victoria Repa.

"Tell me about yourself." 🤔 If you're actively job searching, you've probably heard this question more times than you can count—and you're not alone if it still feels tricky to answer. I get it. It's often the first real moment in an interview to make a lasting impression, and it can be tough to know where to begin. After researching best practices and coaching others (and myself) through countless interviews, I've landed on an approach that really works. 💡 Here's a simple, effective method to tackle this question: 🔹 Start with your key strengths 🔹 Connect them to the role you're applying for 🔹 Show how your values align with the company's culture 🔹 Practice your response to deliver it with confidence and authenticity The goal isn't to recite your resume—it's to tell your story in a way that highlights your unique value and builds rapport from the very first question. ✅ When done well, this can set the tone for a more engaging, memorable interview. If you're navigating interviews right now, I hope this helps you feel more prepared. And if you've discovered strategies that work for you, I'd love to hear them—drop your tips below! 👇 #JobSearch #InterviewTips #CareerAdvice #JobSeekerSupport #TellMeAboutYourself #InterviewConfidence #CareerDevelopment #PersonalBranding