Ramit Sethi breaks down job search success: 90% of the work happens before the interview. Prepare concrete stories with metrics about what you delivered, research what the company actually cares about, and practice answers to reduce stress. Applied knowledge beats information you never use.
You need to apply knowledge. It's worth hundred times more when it's applied than when you're just ordering it.
Getting information like, you know, they went to Berkeley or, you know, their background is art history. That all really helped in the interview.
The interview. There should be nothing happening in the interview during the negotiation, which should be a surprise to you. You have. It's like a chess game. You have thought through all possible scenarios. I ask for A, he can respond with B, C or D. And you have prepared for all of those responses. Just practicing like that, it reduces your stress level tremendously. You appear, you feel, and you appear more confident. It's just a virtuous circle. You've prepared well, you have practiced well. You will feel more confident, you will appear more confident, the hiring manager will respect you more.
Then there was interviewing, and that required crafting a whole narrative, really understanding my strengths, understanding what people needed, and understanding how people reacted to what I brought to the table.
Once I made coffee, meetings with different co founders who were in technology, someone who was like a conversion rate expert. I got to know a lot more about what the field was like.
It was like, okay, I know I need to know this because this is what's important to their company.
So I have to test out my theories and then actually approach the companies.
Really understanding in what scenarios. You're kind of the best person, the best version of yourself, and putting yourself in those situations and preparing in such a way that actually allows you to succeed.
You know, don't say, I am awesome, I am great, and I'm super disciplined and I'm persistent. But write it in terms of what value you have delivered. I did this, and it increased, you know, it brought in X percent extra customers, or I did this, it reduced cost by Y percent, or I did this, it increased profits by Z percent, etc. So that's the perspective from which you want to write resumes. And that's a key takeaway for me.
You get to know the person and you establish a rapport with them and you just kind of talk about everything. It's not just about the job. It's about, you know, connecting with the.
Person, even just getting ready for the new job. I already have, like lunch and dinner dates.
You know, you just. It's an iterative process and you just get better.
90% of the work has happened before you step into the room with the hiring manager. So, yeah, the interviewing is the easy, easiest part.
It is possible. It is possible to go after what you want.
Sam.
