How to Prepare for a Job Interview Like a Pro (With a Script That Gets Results)
- Latoya Baldwin
- Aug 1
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 6
You got the interview.
You blocked your calendar.
You even practiced your intro in the mirror.
But when the moment finally comes…
Your voice shifts.
Your hands sweat.
And you’re stuck in your head trying to remember that “perfect” thing you wanted to say.
Sound familiar?
I’ve coached enough women to know: what holds most people back in an interview isn’t their experience. It’s their delivery.
They’re qualified, but they’re not clear.
They’re talented, but their answers trail off.
They’re impressive, but they’re not making the impact they could.
That’s what this post is here to fix.
In this post, you’ll learn how to:
Answer “Tell me about yourself” like a pro
Avoid the most common interview trap
Prep your success stories with zero guesswork
Show up calm, clear, and confident
Handle the salary question without spiraling
And you’ll get a free script at the end to make sure you’re never caught off guard again.
Why Most People Struggle in Interviews
A strong interview isn’t about sounding smart. It’s about helping the other person see your value without making them work for it.
But here’s what usually happens:
Someone asks, “Tell me about yourself,” and the candidate either:
rambles about their life story, or
recites their resume word for word
Neither one helps you stand out.
And that’s a problem. Because this is the first moment where they’re evaluating not just what you’ve done, but how you carry it.
Are you confident?
Do you know how to communicate your value clearly?
Can you connect the dots for them quickly?
If not, they’ve already started to lose interest. And it’s not because you’re not qualified.
It’s because your answers didn’t land.
The Number 1 Question You Have to Nail
There’s one interview question that shows up every time.
And how you answer it sets the tone for the entire conversation.
“Tell me about yourself.”
It sounds simple. But if you’re not prepared, it can completely derail you.
Here’s the truth: This question is not an invitation to ramble.
It’s a setup.
They want to know: Are you clear? Can you communicate with intention? Do you understand what matters to this role?
And most importantly: Can you connect your story to the value you bring?
A Script That Actually Works
Here’s a 3-part framework you can use:
Present – Start with who you are today and the role you’re in now.
“I’m a senior marketing analyst with five years of experience helping B2B brands grow through data-backed strategy.”
Past – Briefly share how you got here and one career highlight that’s relevant.
“Before this role, I led campaign analytics at [Company], where I helped increase lead conversions by 35%.”
Future – Tie it to where you’re going and why this role excites you.
“Now I’m excited to apply my experience in a more cross-functional, strategic role, and that’s what drew me to this opportunity.”
Total time? Under 90 seconds.
Vibe? Clear, concise, credible.
The Most Common Interview Trap
The mistake I see brilliant women make again and again is focusing too much on what they did, and not enough on how it mattered.
Saying “I led a team” is fine.
But saying “I led a team to deliver a national rollout two weeks ahead of schedule, saving the company $100K” hits differently.
You want to connect your tasks to results.
Your actions to impact.
Your work to wins.
Because people don’t just hire skills. They hire outcomes.
How to Talk About Your Work Without Sounding Boring
You need 2–3 short stories that show you in action with results.
Here’s how to structure them using the STAR+ Method:
Situation: Set the stage. What was going on?
Task: What were you responsible for?
Action: What did you do specifically?
Result: What changed because of it?
+: Add your insight. What did you learn, change, or reinforce as a leader?
That final “plus” is where your growth, strategy, and leadership show up.
It’s not just “I got results.” It’s “Here’s how I think now because of it.”
Want the full breakdown of STAR+ with examples and prompts you can use right away?
It’s all inside my book, How to Interview Like a Badass.
What Interviewers Are Actually Listening For
When you talk, they’re not just hearing what you say. They’re asking themselves:
Can I trust her with this role?
Will she take initiative?
Does she know her stuff?
Is she a culture fit?
Will she elevate the team?
That’s why how you say it matters as much as what you say.
If you shrink your wins, they can’t see your strengths.
Let’s Talk About the Salary Question
You’re doing great in the interview. Then it happens.
“What are your salary expectations?”
This is where most people either:
freeze
deflect awkwardly
or throw out a number they’re not confident about
Here’s what you need instead:
A prepped, powerful, and professional response.
One that shows you’ve done your homework, know your value, and won’t settle for less.
I’ve put together a free guide with the exact words to say when the salary conversation comes up.
Final Thought
You don’t need to be perfect.
You don’t need a TED Talk introduction.
You don’t even need to memorize every answer.
You need clarity, confidence, and a strategy.
The interview isn’t just a conversation.
It’s your chance to show them what it feels like to work with you.
And that starts with how you tell your story.
Ready to Walk Into Your Next Interview Prepared?
Grab my free Salary Script so you know exactly what to say when the money question comes up.
And if you want even more clarity, confidence, and frameworks like STAR+, my book How to Interview Like a Badass is the guide you need to own every interview room you walk into.
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