How to Answer the Most Important Question In Your Interview

Recorded on March 20, 2024

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In a competitive job market, landing an interview is one of the biggest challenges for job seekers. However, once you find yourself in a face-to-face interview with a hiring manager, how do you come across as the best candidate for the position?



Job interviews are all about diffusing risk. After all, a company would never post a role unless it knew it absolutely needed someone who could help them get to the next level. By chatting with prospects, the hiring manager can get an idea of existing talent on the market and what they can provide.

That's why knowing what's at stake is critical to any job you apply for. Outside of being collaborative, being technical, and having your personal stories down, knowing what matters to your bosses, colleagues, and the industry at large are key to being successful.

Learn how you can know what's at stake in your job search and learn to tell a story in your interviews that help you stand out in this webinar from Albert Qian, founder of Albert's List. Over the past 11 years, Albert's List has connected more than 50,000 job seekers, recruiters, and hiring managers to improve career outcomes.

In this video, Albert covers how you answer the most important question in your interviews, including:



Where you can go to research what's at stake for the companies you're interviewing at.
How knowing what's at stake sets you apart from the competition.
How you can use what's at stake as a part of your job interview.
Answers that stand out—and answers that will not get you to the next round.
Ongoing job search trends and where to look for your next opportunity.
Resources that can be used as job seekers conduct their job hunt.
And more!




Albert Qian is a technology product marketer and founder of Albert's List, a job seeker community focused on connecting job seekers, hiring managers, and working professionals to produce positive career outcomes. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, he's worked at various technology companies in marketing capacities and conducted many successful job searches.

Connect with Albert on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/albertqian and on Albert's List at https://bit.ly/findyournextjob.

1. How to Answer the Most Important Interview Question In Your Job Interview Albert Qian Founder, Albert’s List March 20, 2024

2. Agenda The State of the Job Market How to Approach the Job Search Mastering the Interview + Answering the Most Important Question Q&A + Let’s Connect

3. About Me Product Marketer + Job Search Guy Founder, Albert’s List – community with 50,000+ members Members have found work at companies like Google, Cisco, GoPro, and Twitter

4. The State of the Job Market

5. Forward Forecasts: A Bumpy Road Ahead Persistently high inflation means rates remain high and job growth remains tepid. AI remains the place to be as VC money flows and hype grows. Recession worries continue. The 2024 Election is atop most minds. All of this is speculation— you are still in control of your own career .

6. How to Approach the Job Search

7. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

8. The Hiring Hierarchy Fundamentals Skills Stakes Resilience Attitude Character Commitment Dynamics Vision Metrics Leadership

9. Fundamentals Skills Stakes

10. Mastering the Interview + Answering the Most Important Question

11. Interviewing in an Uncertain Market Reducing Risks Departure from last job Managing conflict Navigating ambiguity Transferrable experience Next career move Increasing Excitement Aligned experiences Common industries Project familiarity Organized thoughts Impact previously Ideal Candidacy The right answers Problem solving Personality fit Little to no training Visionary thinking

12. Interviewing in an Uncertain Market Reducing Risks Departure from last job Managing conflict Navigating ambiguity Transferrable experience Next career move Increasing Excitement Aligned experiences Common industries Project familiarity Organized thoughts Impact previously Ideal Candidacy The right answers Problem solving Personality fit Little to no training Visionary thinking

13. Creating an Ownership Mindset Why would a job exist in the first place? What is the company trying to accomplish? Who does the job impact? How will this job affect others? What can I do to be impactful here? How do all the pieces fit together?

14. You Boss Colleagues Company Customers Industry

15. How Each Area Sees the Stakes

16. You Elevator Pitch Skillset Interests Career Growth Perks What are Your Stakes? Why do you want to work here? What do you care about at work? What are you interested in? Where do these intersect with the employer? Level of Importance: Low

17. You Elevator Pitch Skillset Interests Career Growth Perks Questions in the interview that set you up for success: Why do you want to work here? Tell me about yourself. What do you know about us? Exercise: Get to know what you want in your career. Find employers who align.

18. Your Boss Their Goals Your Interests Executive Interests Their Reports What are Their Stakes? What are their goals? How do you align with them? What pressures do they face? How can you help them? How can they help you? Level of Importance: Very High Questions in the interview that set you up for success: Situational questions Vision-based questions Exercise: Research your future boss and understand who they are. Understand their priorities. Understand their vision.

19. Your Colleagues Their Metrics Your Crossover Company Health Their Goals What are Their Stakes? How do you collaborate? What pressures do they face? Level of Importance: Somewhat High Questions in the interview that set you up for success: Situational questions Collaboration questions Questions that alleviate challenges Exercise: Understand how your colleagues and you fit within the business together.

20. Your Company Tomorrow’s Vision Current Threats Current Challenges Today’s Priorities Your Value What are The Stakes? Where is this company in its journey? What are the opportunities? Where can you add value? Why does your job exist? How do they differentiate? What are the negatives? Level of Importance: Extremely High Exercise: Do a SWOT analysis of the company and figure out where you fit in.

21. Your Customers and Investors Their Needs Their Gripes Their Vision Their Value Your Value What are Their Stakes? What are their alternatives? Why would they leave you? What do they want from you? How do you serve them best? How do they keep you going? Level of Importance: Extremely High Questions in the interview that set you up for success: Questions about collaboration Situational questions Exercise: Know how you fit in with them as it relates to your role.

22. Your Industry The Challenges The Advantages The Vision The Status Quo What are The Stakes? Is the industry in decline or growth? What are the current challenges? What do customers need? How is the industry innovating? Level of Importance: Somewhat high. Questions in the Interview that set you up for success: General questions Vision questions Exercise: Know how you fit in within the industry given your role.

23. Putting it All Together

24. You Boss Colleagues Company Customers Industry

25. Interview Timeline Hiring Manager Aka Boss Demonstrate what’s at stake for management Demonstrate industry knowledge Demonstrate company knowledge Colleagues and Customers Demonstrate collaborative interests Demonstrate company understanding Executive Interview Demonstrate industry understanding Share overall vision

26. It’s all better with a plan Ask the right questions to the right audience Care about what your stakeholders care about Align with the right vision that shows what you know Speak their language and have the right story

27. Next Steps

28. Learn more in The Job Seeker Survival Kit 39 videos across finding your next job, discovering what you want, what to do once you get hired, and sample mock interviews. 49 hours+ of total content. $1,600 of content for $17. Get your Kit Today ($17): https:// bit.ly /AJLR-SPRING2024 Sign up for Office Hours ($20): https:// bit.ly /AL- OfficeHours

29. Stay in Touch Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/albertqian Join Albert’s List and introduce yourself: https://bit.ly/findyournextjob . Be sure to indicate you discovered me or the community through this webinar.

30. Thank You