How to Communicate Your Value in a 30-Minute Interview
I just hired my first team member here at Career Civility (insert confetti here)! As someone who has been involved in hiring throughout my corporate career, each interview process has been different. In a corporate setting, I had a team to help make the decision, I followed established guidelines on the ideal candidate profile, and ultimately, if a hire didn’t work out, I didn’t have as much personal risk involved.
It was in corporate that I learned the mantra: hire slow, fire fast. But when it came time to hire for my own business—my baby, my brand, my everything—interviewing took on an entirely new meaning. Not only did I approach it as a founder and leader, but also through the lens of a communications consultant.
In the past, I’ve shared specific interview questions to ask and exact templates to use when you're actively interviewing (see here), but I haven’t yet expanded on how to communicate your value, ideas, and impact in an interview. And after interviewing 40+ applicants for my most recent role at Career Civility, I noticed two key skills that set the top candidates apart:
They had a compelling career story to tell about their background, credentials, and skills.
They came prepared with ideas on how they could contribute to the success of the business.
A 30-minute interview might feel like a short window to showcase all that you bring to the table, but when you focus on these two things—your story and your impact—you can set yourself apart from the competitive candidate pool and create a strong personal brand for yourself for years to come. Here’s how you can do it:
1. Learn how to communicate your career story
Your resume lists your experience, but how you talk about your journey is what makes an impact. Instead of rattling off job titles and responsibilities, frame your experience as a story. Answer questions like:
What led you to this career path?
What challenges have you overcome that make you stronger in your role?
What accomplishments are you most proud of, and why?
A compelling career story provides context, showcases your growth, and helps the interviewer connect with you on a deeper level. Think through your values, skillsets, experiences, personal reflections and how that has led you to interviewing for this exact position. They will appreciate your career arc and you might learn more about their career story in the process too!
2. Communicate the impact of your experience
The interview isn’t just about proving you can do the job—it’s about proving the impact you can make if given the opportunity. Research the company and the role so you can tailor your responses to their specific needs. Instead of just listing your skills, align them with how they can drive success for the team and company.
For example:
Instead of: “I managed social media for my last company.”
Try: “I developed a social media strategy that increased engagement by 40% in six months, leading to a significant boost in brand awareness and customer inquiries.”
This shift makes your experience feel more tangible and relevant to the organization’s goals.
3. Come prepared with ideas to contribute to success
One of the most impressive things you can do as a candidate in an interview is to demonstrate that you’ve thought critically about the company’s challenges and how uoy can contribute solutions. Before your interview, do some research:
What is the company currently working on?
What industry challenges are they facing?
How can your skills and experience help solve a problem or add value?
You don’t need to come with a full-fledged business proposal, but even small, thoughtful ideas show initiative and strategic thinking. For example:
“I noticed that you’re not marketing on LinkedIn. In my previous role, I worked on a marketing campaign specific to LinkedIn. Is this something you’ve thought about? I could bring those insights to the team.”
You’d be surprised how many people show up to interviews without even looking at the company’s website 🥴
A 30-minute interview may feel like a blink in time, but with the right preparation, you can effectively use your communication skills to present a compelling business case to move you to the next round of interviews. By crafting a strong career story, clearly communicating your impact, and bringing forward ideas to contribute to the company’s success, you’ll set yourself apart from other candidates.
Remember, an interview is not just about answering questions—it’s about creating a conversation where the interviewer can envision you as part of their team. Show them not only what you have done, but what you will do.
