Recorded on March 20, 2024 , In a competitive job market, landing an interview is one of the biggest challenges for job seekers. However, once you find yourself in a face-to-face interview with a hiring manager, how do you come across as the best candidate for the position? Job interviews are all about diffusing risk. After all, a company would never post a role unless it knew it absolutely needed someone who could help them get to the next level. By chatting with prospects, the hiring manager can get an idea of existing talent on the market and what they can provide. That's why knowing what's at stake is critical to any job you apply for. Outside of being collaborative, being technical, and having your personal stories down, knowing what matters to your bosses, colleagues, and the industry at large are key to being successful. Learn how you can know what's at stake in your job search and learn to tell a story in your interviews that help you stand out in this webinar from Albert Qian, founder of Albert's List. Over the past 11 years, Albert's List has connected more than 50,000 job seekers, recruiters, and hiring managers to improve career outcomes. In this video, Albert covers how you answer the most important question in your interviews, including: Where you can go to research what's at stake for the companies you're interviewing at. How knowing what's at stake sets you apart from the competition. How you can use what's at stake as a part of your job interview. Answers that stand out—and answers that will not get you to the next round. Ongoing job search trends and where to look for your next opportunity. Resources that can be used as job seekers conduct their job hunt. And more! Albert Qian is a technology product marketer and founder of Albert's List, a job seeker community focused on connecting job seekers, hiring managers, and working professionals to produce positive career outcomes. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, he's worked at various technology companies in marketing capacities and conducted many successful job searches. Connect with Albert on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/albertqian and on Albert's List at https://bit.ly/findyournextjob.

1. How to Answer the Most
Important Interview
Question In Your Job
Interview
Albert Qian
Founder, Albert’s List
March 20, 2024

2. Agenda
The State of the Job Market
How to Approach the Job Search
Mastering the Interview + Answering the Most Important
Question
Q&A + Let’s Connect

3. About Me
 Product Marketer + Job Search Guy
 Founder, Albert’s List – community with 50,000+
members
 Members have found work at companies like Google,
Cisco, GoPro, and Twitter

4. The State of the Job Market

11. Forward Forecasts: A Bumpy Road Ahead
 Persistently high inflation means rates remain high and job growth remains tepid.
 AI remains the place to be as VC money flows and hype grows.
 Recession worries continue.
 The 2024 Election is atop most minds.
All of this is speculation—you are still in control of your own career.

12. How to Approach the Job Search

13. Maslow’s
Hierarchy of
Needs

14. The Hiring
Hierarchy
Fundamentals Skills Stakes
Resilience Attitude Character Commitment
Dynamics Vision Metrics
Leadership

15. Fundamentals Skills Stakes

16. Mastering the Interview + Answering the
Most Important Question

17. Interviewing in an Uncertain Market
Reducing Risks
• Departure from last job
• Managing conflict
• Navigating ambiguity
• Transferrable experience
• Next career move
Increasing Excitement
• Aligned experiences
• Common industries
• Project familiarity
• Organized thoughts
• Impact previously
Ideal Candidacy
• The right answers
• Problem solving
• Personality fit
• Little to no training
• Visionary thinking

18. Interviewing in an Uncertain Market
Reducing Risks
• Departure from last job
• Managing conflict
• Navigating ambiguity
• Transferrable experience
• Next career move
Increasing Excitement
• Aligned experiences
• Common industries
• Project familiarity
• Organized thoughts
• Impact previously
Ideal Candidacy
• The right answers
• Problem solving
• Personality fit
• Little to no training
• Visionary thinking

19. Creating an Ownership Mindset
 Why would a job exist in the first place?
 What is the company trying to accomplish?
 Who does the job impact?
 How will this job affect others?
 What can I do to be impactful here?
 How do all the pieces fit together?

20. You
Boss
Colleagues
Company
Customers Industry

21. How Each Area Sees the Stakes

22. You
Elevator
Pitch
Skillset
Interests
Career
Growth Perks
What are Your Stakes?
• Why do you want to work here?
• What do you care about at work?
• What are you interested in?
• Where do these intersect with the
employer?
Level of Importance:
Low

23. You
Elevator
Pitch
Skillset
Interests
Career
Growth Perks
Questions in the interview that set
you up for success:
• Why do you want to work here?
• Tell me about yourself.
• What do you know about us?
Exercise:
Get to know what you want in your
career. Find employers who align.

24. Your
Boss
Their
Goals
Your
Interests
Executive
Interests
Their
Reports
What are Their Stakes?
• What are their goals?
• How do you align with them?
• What pressures do they face?
• How can you help them?
• How can they help you?
Level of Importance:
Very High
Questions in the interview that set
you up for success:
• Situational questions
• Vision-based questions
Exercise:
Research your future boss and
understand who they are.
Understand their priorities.
Understand their vision.

25. Your
Colleagues
Their
Metrics
Your
Crossover
Company
Health
Their
Goals
What are Their Stakes?
• How do you collaborate?
• What pressures do they face?
Level of Importance:
Somewhat High
Questions in the interview that set
you up for success:
• Situational questions
• Collaboration questions
• Questions that alleviate
challenges
Exercise:
Understand how your colleagues and
you fit within the business together.

26. Your
Company
Tomorrow’s
Vision
Current
Threats
Current
Challenges
Today’s
Priorities
Your
Value
What are The Stakes?
• Where is this company in its
journey?
• What are the opportunities?
• Where can you add value?
• Why does your job exist?
• How do they differentiate?
• What are the negatives?
Level of Importance:
Extremely High
Exercise:
Do a SWOT analysis of the company
and figure out where you fit in.

27. Your
Customers
and Investors
Their
Needs
Their
Gripes
Their
Vision
Their
Value
Your
Value
What are Their Stakes?
• What are their alternatives?
• Why would they leave you?
• What do they want from you?
• How do you serve them best?
• How do they keep you going?
Level of Importance:
Extremely High
Questions in the interview that set
you up for success:
• Questions about collaboration
• Situational questions
Exercise:
Know how you fit in with them as it
relates to your role.

28. Your
Industry
The
Challenges
The
Advantages
The Vision
The
Status
Quo
What are The Stakes?
• Is the industry in decline or
growth?
• What are the current challenges?
• What do customers need?
• How is the industry innovating?
Level of Importance:
Somewhat high.
Questions in the Interview that set
you up for success:
• General questions
• Vision questions
Exercise:
Know how you fit in within the
industry given your role.

29. Putting it All Together

30. You
Boss
Colleagues
Company
Customers Industry

31. Interview Timeline
Hiring Manager Aka Boss
• Demonstrate what’s at stake for management
• Demonstrate industry knowledge
• Demonstrate company knowledge
Colleagues and Customers
• Demonstrate collaborative interests
• Demonstrate company understanding
Executive Interview
• Demonstrate industry understanding
• Share overall vision

32. It’s all better with a plan
Ask the right questions to the right audience
Care about what your stakeholders care about
Align with the right vision that shows what you know
Speak their language and have the right story

33. Next Steps

34. Learn more in The Job Seeker
Survival Kit
• 39 videos across finding your next job,
discovering what you want, what to do once
you get hired, and sample mock interviews.
• 49 hours+ of total content.
• $1,600 of content for $17.
Get your Kit Today ($17):
https://bit.ly/AJLR-SPRING2024
Sign up for Office Hours ($20):
https://bit.ly/AL-OfficeHours

35. Stay in Touch
 Connect with me on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/albertqian
 Join Albert’s List and introduce yourself:
https://bit.ly/findyournextjob.
 Be sure to indicate you discovered me or the
community through this webinar.

36. Thank You