Job Application and Interview Prep
Step 1: Create your CV
Use AI (I’ve used Claude) and give it the following prompt:
Ignore all previous instructions and act as an expert job advisor and recruiter. I'll share with you my CV and the link to the job application. Look at the job application and compare that information to the information in my CV and suggest concrete improvements (e.g., in how I can best present my experience) and ask me questions about whether I have certain experiences that I forgot to add to the CV to make it a better fit for the job application. The CV has been added as an attachment and the job description is: …
Before you put in your CV you can already look at how your CV was presented. The most important part is to start with the most impressive things you have done. Try to quantify your achievements (e.g., achieved 70% YoY growth in revenue). I processed the AI’s suggestions manually because I wanted to make sure that I knew what I was saying on my CV and to distinguish when AI was just suggesting me corporate mumbo-jumbo.
My old CV format
My new CV format
After you have done so, you can also ask AI to identify red flags in your CV and why you shouldn’t be hired for the job. You can do this to make your CV watertight, but also as preparation for your interview. To prepare for your interview, also ask AI how to reply to those red flags and ask AI why you should be hired for the job. You can check out this prompt for that: 🚀Job Application and Interview Prep - And then give it the final prompt:
Step 2: Prepare for your interview
Give AI the following prompt:
Vergeet alle vorige instructies en doe alsof je een expert job coach bent. Jij coacht mensen om aangenomen te worden bij de beste bedrijven in de wereld. Ik heb mij CV gedeeld en de vacature beschrijving. Stel mij vragen die ze mij zouden kunnen stellen tijdens het sollicitatiegesprek.
Then think of the answers and give them to the AI with this prompt:
Dit zijn mijn antwoorden. Geef mij feedback per antwoord of het goed is of niet. En als het niet goed is, geef aan wat je zoekt als antwoord en hoe mijn antwoord verbeterd kan worden.
You can go back and forth with the AI if you need to to crystallize the answers. The AI will coach you through this. Generally, you will need to prepare strong stories to illustrate your competencies. For instance, I have been asked: Can you give us an example of a challenge in stakeholder management and how you solved it? (AI ought also prepare these type of questions) Or I got the question “Can you give an example of how you work agile?”
There are different frameworks in how to share your examples. But one such framework is STAR:
S = Situation: What was the overall situation
T = Task: What was the goal you needed to achieve
A = Activities: What did you do to achieve the goals
R = Results: What were the results
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Example STAR story
Situation: Podium aan de Maas was a non-profit organization. It was managing a building, that was bought by 8 associations. These associations only wanted to use the building for themselves but the building had the legal obligation to be open to the public and the maintenance costs were also too high for the associations to cover. And so Podium aan de Maas came into existence to exploit the building commercially as a venue for events. In the first 8 years they had volunteer members from their associations who would manage it. But they did it besides their own employment and without the necessary expertise. And thus for 8 years it had been losing money.
Task: The goal was to make the building financially viable again.
Activities: I created a business plan and clarified who our stakeholders were and what our relationship was with them, I analyzed the finances, I analyzed the market and our position in the market, I analyzed the business processes and how they could be improved, and concluded with offering 2 viable strategies. So I was able to bring 10 different stakeholder perspectives back to 2 strategies.
Results: The results were that in the first year we had 70% growth in revenue resulting in 300 thousand euros. And eventually we were able to sell the building and clear all debt, and even pay the remainder back to the associations.
And then give it the final prompt:
Op basis van mijn CV, wat zouden de punten zijn waarop ze zouden kunnen denken dat ik geen goede fit ben. En wat ik zou ik als antwoord kunnen geven?
Make sure you have the answers to the following typical interview questions:
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Tell us something about yourself?
Tell them something about yourself + your professional oneliner. Your oneliner should consist of what you do and how you add value to organizations.
Example: My name is Jos, I’m 35 years old, I live in Eemdijk, which is a small village close to Baarn and I live together with my brother. In my free time I enjoy riding the motorcycle, reading or learning about new topics and spending time with friends and family. I’m an experienced consultant and I help businesses streamline and optimize processes so they have a strong foundation for a successful future.
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Why do you want to work for us?
Tell them what about their organization (company, brand) appeals to you and how you believe you can add value to them achieving their goals.
Example: I want to work for Nationaal Warmtefonds because I believe in the mission to help homeowners to make their homes more sustainable so they save money and don’t have to worry about turning up the heat in the winter. With my skills and experience I can help Nationaal Warmtefonds to save costs and increase capacity for handling more loans with efficient and effective processes.
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What would you do if you had this job?
This is very job-specific. But with most questions, it is good to take a step back and think. In my case I’d say:
Ik zou eerst een stap terug doen en stil staan bij de probleemstelling. Willen we meer klanten, lagere kosten, hogere klanttevredenheid?
Vervolgens zou ik eerst de huidige processen en de beschikbare data in kaart brengen. En van daaruit een plan opstellen. Beantwoord dat de vraag of zal ik meer toelichten?
You can also look online for the most typical job questions they can answer.
Step 3: The Interview
The most important part is the connection. As long as you are prepared and you can give good answers to their questions, the rest is about personal connection. So be relaxed, upbeat, confident (but not arrogant nor humble), and ask questions. It’s best to consider this a good conversation and less as a job interview. If you don’t properly understand a question, just ask.
Nonetheless, these job interview remain uncomfortable, awkward, and anxiety-inducing, but in the end they can also be fun. The more you do it, the better you will become at it. Eventually it is just a numbers game and you’ll will get the job.
Be sure to ask them questions as well. Perhaps about the job, or about their experience, or about the organization. Do they have good grow prospects within the firm? What do they think will be the biggest challenge for people doing this job? What will the rest of the job application process look like?
But definitely make sure to ask these questions:
Stel ik ben aangenomen en ik werk hier al een jaar en ik heb een functioneringsgesprek. Wat zou ik hebben moeten bereikt om uitzonderlijk goed gepresteerd te hebben?
And save this one for last:
Is er iets aan mijn CV of dit gesprek dat reden geeft tot twijfel waarom ik een goede match ben voor jullie en deze functie?
And the beauty of this question is that you can then address their concern and reply how you acknowledge their concern and how you will alleviate it. This helps increasing your chances.
