Get weekly-ish tips on interviews, resumes, networking, salary negotiation, and how to break through the noise in a crowded market. I’ve worked in product, GTM, strategy and ops roles at Google, Microsoft, and Salesforce, hired and developed high-performing teams, coached 100s of job seekers (without insider connections) into roles that changed their lives. The problem is that most career advice is outdated and comes from folks who’ve never hired, survived an 11-round interview loop, or worked in the roles you’re applying to. I write the advice I needed, but couldn’t find. 👉🏾 Not another boring newsletter. 2,000+ job seekers are already reading, so join our community. Subscribe now.
Tell me about yourself… No, not like that :(
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Back again with job search advice that actually works. (You probably know me from one of my freebies (resume templates, interview prep, questions to ask your interviewer), or from social media. 👋🏾 Hiring Manager: "So... tell me about yourself!" My brain: Summarize my entire career history in 2 seconds. Be memorable, but not weird. Sound human, but not sloppy. Love this for me. When you get this question, the interviewer is handing you the mic and letting you set the tone for the entire interview. And here's what they really want: a reason to remember you. Most career coaches push the same tired formula: current role, past roles, why you love the company mission... yawn. What if there was another way... or... three ways? 😏 1. The Movie Trailer Effect✅ Start with a hook. Something intriguing that makes them lean in. ✅ Lead with the outcome. What’s the big impact you’ve made? ✅ Tie it to the job. Show why your story naturally leads to this role. Example:
"I’ve always been drawn to messy problems. In my last role, I redesigned our onboarding strategy and increased activation rates by 20%. What excited me most was seeing the direct impact on customer success. That’s why I’m here—because this role is all about driving retention and growth, and that’s where I do my best work."
See the shift? Less "here's my life story," more "why it matters." 2. The 80/20 TrickMost candidates spend 80% of their answer talking about their past and 20% on the role they’re interviewing for. Flip it. Your answer can be 20% past, 80% future. Example:
"I turn data into stories that actually sell. For over a decade, I’ve built campaigns that don't just get eyeballs, they drive revenue. My last one boosted engagement by 40%, but what really excites me? Where marketing is headed: AI, personalization, customer-led growth. I’m here to build campaigns that go beyond clicks and move people to take action."
This builds credibility while painting a clear picture of what you bring to their future. 3. Story First, Details LaterHiring managers won't remember your laundry list of job titles. They do remember stories. So instead of: 🚫 “I’ve worked in operations for 8 years, managing logistics, supply chains, and vendor relations. I started at Company ABC where I did....” Their eyes will glaze over faster than you can finish your sentence. Try a mini story—then connect it to the magic you bring. Example:
"When COVID hit, our supply chain fell apart overnight. We were scrambling. I led the charge in finding new vendors fast, cutting delay times in half within a month. That experience showed me that I’m not just managing operations, I'm going after problems that can’t afford to wait. That’s why this role excites me—it’s all about building smarter, more resilient systems, and that’s what I do best."
Think of these as mini-examples. Your pitch can be longer, but try to wrap it up in under 2 minutes. At the end of the day, people hire people. Give them something to remember. 👉 Hit reply and share your pitch with me, I'll tell you if it's interview-ready!
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Ratna | @jobwhisperer
Get weekly-ish tips on interviews, resumes, networking, salary negotiation, and how to break through the noise in a crowded market. I’ve worked in product, GTM, strategy and ops roles at Google, Microsoft, and Salesforce, hired and developed high-performing teams, coached 100s of job seekers (without insider connections) into roles that changed their lives. The problem is that most career advice is outdated and comes from folks who’ve never hired, survived an 11-round interview loop, or worked in the roles you’re applying to. I write the advice I needed, but couldn’t find. 👉🏾 Not another boring newsletter. 2,000+ job seekers are already reading, so join our community. Subscribe now.