PARdon me for my awkward interview
Tags: career, community, todayilearned, management
Published: 2023-01-17 07:00:00

Too many of us are in the situation of interviewing for tech roles. Be it, the C-Suite, a developer, a product manager, customer experience, marketing, or sales, we’re in this together. In the last year, I have applied to 300-something jobs, interviewed with maybe 40, and fortunately found a few contract gigs to keep me afloat while I continue to look. All that to say to the company I interviewed with this week, PARdon me for my awkward interview. 

Yes, you are not misreading, nor mistaken on my grammar fopaux. PARdon. The interview was with an engineer with a blockchain company and all I could think was, remember PAR. Jenn, you must remember PAR. JENNNNNN REMEMBER PAR, you gotta get a job! All of that turned into: 

**Problem:** I can’t remember my job history.

**Action:** I will flounder around a project that my mentor helped me create to understand what this company does.

**Result:** forgetting words, confusing myself and the interviewer, and deep frustration with why can I understand something when it's explained to me but the minute I have to explain it, words don't work. 

You see, PAR was some of the feedback I received before the holiday season when I had an opportunity to meet with a group of CTOs and ask them for feedback on how I show the how I did things not just what I did. Splendid feedback that I’ve been noodling on how to share with you. Yet with all of the advice I was given, I forgot how to be myself while working on remembering it all. 🤦🏻‍♀️ If I could go back in time, these are the parts of the feedback I wish I remembered and practiced to prepare for interviews. 

1. **While looking for work, create a Target market list:**
    - Roles
    - Companies
    - Technology
2. **Don’t be scared to ask a company/person what are their current pain points and the problems they’re trying to solve.** 
    - Technology?
    - Features?
    - Awareness?
3. **Understand the 3 Levels of Networking**
    - What job title seems relevant?
    - What company do you envision?
    - Who do you know?
4. **90 Second Networking Summary (Elevator pitch)**
    - PAR + Example + Ask
5. **PAR- Problem Action Result**
    - **Problem:**
        - Career Objective- create content and establish technical skills to transition into a Developer Relations role
    - **Action**:
        - Creatively took risk of starting something new publicly to make tech more accessible for others by starting the live stream Teach Jenn Tech.
    - **Result:**
        - The ability to share access to thought leaders in the industry created a space for others to ask questions and learn with the show and personally gain more technical knowledge.
6. **Keep learning, Reading Suggestions:**
    - [**5 Whys Getting to the Root of a Problem Quickly**](https://www.mindtools.com/a3mi00v/5-whys)
    - [**Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek**](https://a.co/d/3SuhQT9)
    - [**The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses**](https://a.co/d/iMHXDzr)
7. **Remember:**
    - Never leave the jury wondering
    - Breathe
    - Comment and interact with companies on social to showcase how I can contribute
    - Stay present, use social, your network, and if there’s a hiring thread, post on it once a month.
    - What is the problem statement and/or what does it solve for the customer
    - Business outcome vs Experience outcome
    - To frame what you want to do, showcase things you like to do and how will that impact the world.
    - Bring Humanity back into business

If you walk away with anything from this, remember you’re not alone in this mess of a job search. You are worthy the way you are. By practicing the tips outlined in this article, such as creating a target market list, understanding the pain points of a company, and effectively communicating your skills and experience, you can increase your chances of success. Stay present, stay connected with your network, and always strive to learn and grow as a professional. You got this, you beautiful human you. 

Thank you to [Rick Manelius](https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickmanelius/), [Ed Frank,](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-frank-536235/) [Dayal Gaitonde](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dayalgaitonde/), [Dawa Sherpa,](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawalama/) and [Randall Noval](https://www.linkedin.com/in/rjnoval/) for the conversations and advice!