7 Lessons That’ll Actually Help You Stand Out in a Job Interview

Job interviews don’t have to feel like an interrogation. They’re supposed to be a conversation. And if you know how to show up like yourself, that’s when you actually stand out.

Here are seven lessons I’ve learned from being on both sides of the interview table. Some are simple. Every one of them matters.

1. Be a Person, Not a Pitch

“He had everything so rigid and so prepared and so robotic that it felt like there was no human element to it.”

That was me describing a guy I interviewed who had his answers rehearsed word for word. He was polished, but lifeless.

If your answers sound like they were written by ChatGPT, you’re overdoing it. Interviews aren’t about perfection. They’re about personality. Speak like a human being, not a script.

This is the same trap I talk about in How To Stop Overthinking Everything. When you’re trying to say the right thing, you stop saying the real thing. And if confidence is what you struggle with most, How To Build Confidence When You’ve Never Had It explains why presence beats preparation every time.

Recruiters interviewed by Harvard Business Review have consistently said candidates who sound conversational and adaptable are rated as more competent than those who sound rehearsed, even when qualifications are identical.

2. Confidence Is Quiet

“Confidence can also lead into arrogance or pompousness. There’s a middle ground to it where you can speak clearly and prove that you’re good at what you do without having to state it.”

You don’t need to say “I’m confident.” Show it. Confidence is how you talk about what you’ve done, not what you announce about yourself.

The most confident people never feel the need to label it.

This aligns with leadership research published by MIT Sloan Management Review, which found that understated confidence builds more trust than overt self-promotion in evaluative settings like interviews.

3. The Interview Starts Before You Think It Does

“When you turn on the camera, the interview starts.”

You’re not waiting for the first question. You’re already being observed the moment you log on.

If your screen is cluttered, you’re hunched over, or you’re clearly distracted, it shows. Before you join, close every tab, fix your lighting, and make the interview window full screen. You’ll instantly look more composed and intentional.

Small details signal how seriously you take the moment.

Career coaches quoted by Forbes often point out that presence and preparation in the first 30 seconds shape how every answer afterward is interpreted.

4. Speak Slowly, Then Stop Talking

“Speaking slowly with confidence behind what you’re saying is such a turn-on in an interview.”

When you rush, it sounds like nerves. When you slow down, it sounds like control.

You don’t need to fill every second with words. Pause. Think. Answer clearly. Silence is not awkward when you’re comfortable with it.

If you ever catch yourself speeding up because you’re anxious, slowing your delivery can completely change how confident you come across. Harvard Business Review has shown that interviewers consistently perceive slower, deliberate speakers as more capable, even when content stays the same.

5. Ask Real Questions

“Have at least two questions to ask them. Ask about their experience, what they’ve learned, or what leads people to find success in the role.”

The last five minutes of the interview matter just as much as the first five.

Ask about their experience. Ask what success actually looks like. Ask what they enjoy about the team. Those questions stick because they show curiosity, not desperation.

If you want a real job, act like you’re genuinely interested in doing it, not just getting it.

Hiring managers interviewed in LinkedIn’s Talent Insights regularly say thoughtful questions are one of the clearest indicators of long-term fit.

6. Follow Up Like a Pro

“Hi Ben, thanks so much for the time today. I really appreciated hearing about the way your team works on this project, and I’m excited to hear next steps.”

That’s it.

A follow-up email doesn’t need to be long or impressive. It just needs to be thoughtful and specific to the conversation you had.

Most people never send one. According to Indeed’s career guide, candidates who send short, genuine follow-ups are remembered more often, not because they impress, but because they reinforce connection.

7. You Deserve to Be in the Room

“You already got in the room. It might be virtual, but you’re there for a reason. Make the most of it.”

Every interview comes with nerves. You’ll never feel perfectly ready. But the fact that you’re there means someone already saw potential.

This mindset is the same one I talk about in Why You Feel Like an Imposter (And How To Change it). The fear usually shows up after you’ve earned your seat, not before.

The goal isn’t to be flawless. It’s to be authentic.

Bring your presence. Bring your energy. Bring yourself.

That’s the version of you they’ll remember.

FAQ: Job Interviews

How do I stand out in an interview without sounding rehearsed?
By focusing on presence instead of memorization. “He had everything so rigid and so prepared and so robotic that it felt like there was no human element to it.” Interviewers remember how you made the conversation feel, not how perfectly you recited answers.

Is it okay to be nervous during an interview?
Yes. “It’s okay to be nervous.” Acting like yourself and engaging honestly comes across far stronger than trying to hide nerves by sounding overly polished.

What’s the biggest mistake people make in interviews?
Treating it like a test instead of a conversation. “The best interviews are the ones that feel like conversations. Not tests, not interrogations.”

How do I show confidence without sounding arrogant?
By letting your experience speak for itself. “There’s a middle ground to it where you can speak clearly and prove that you’re good at what you do without having to state it.”

Does following up after an interview really matter?
Yes. Most people don’t do it. A short, thoughtful follow-up that references the conversation immediately makes you more memorable.