Four job interview tips that will give you a real edge

Job application tips abound. What structure your CV should have, how to draft a recruiting cover letter or how punctual you should be on the façade of your potential new employer. Useful, but not what sets you apart from other candidates.

Applying for a job is more than ticking off a checklist. It requires preparation, self-knowledge and the ability to present yourself in the right way at the right time.

Therefore, we collected four tips that will give you a real edge.

Vote your communication style off on your receiver 

Your CV is perfectly constructed and your cover letter is correct in content. But does it also reach the person reading it? We often focus so much on what we write that we forget who we are writing for. Dhe communication style of your recipient determines along hoe your message comes in. If it does not match the reader's preferred style, noise can arise. This applies not only to your cover letter and emails, but also to your verbal communication. During the job interview this could be the way you introduce yourself or how you answer questions. 

Personality models as coat hooks

There are more than a hundred personality models. Think of well-known models such as Myers-Briggs (MBTI), DISC, the Enneagram or the Big Five. Each model has its own logic and focus. One focuses on behaviour, another on motivation or character. 

A model widely used in practice for communication and collaboration is the Insights Discovery model. It was developed based on the work of psychologist Jung. Jung described how people naturally differ in how they think, feel and perceive and how those preferences guide their behaviour and communication. Those insights were translated into an accessible model with four colour energies. 

The four colour energies

Everyone uses all four colours, but the order and intensity varies from person to person. We all have our own unique colour mix. The dominant colour determines which energy is strongest and most visible in behaviour and communication. 

Each colour has its own typical characteristics. People with dominant fiery red energy are result-oriented and direct, strong-willed, achievement-oriented, determined and purposeful. Radiant yellow types are enthusiastic and creative by nature: dynamic, persuasive and naturally optimistic. Those who radiate mostly soft green energy are more likely to be empathetic and collaborative, relationship-oriented, harmonious, relaxed and patient. And people with a strong bright blue energy are analytical and structured: precise, detailed and objective in their approach. 

How do you use this in practice? 

In most cases, you don't know which colour energy your recipient has. So it pays to consciously look beyond your own style and touch all four energies in your communication. 

ChatGPT can help you do just that. Use this prompt to review and adjust your text: 

“How does this text come across according to the Insights Discovery model? What adjustments can I make to make it better match all four energies?” 

Use AI as support here, but make sure your text remains authentic. 

Invest in good preparation for every interview

Interview preparation is still too often underestimated. An interview that goes really well is not a matter of luck, it is a matter of knowing what you are going to say. 

AI can be a smart practice partner in that. 

Give the AI tool you are working with the right context: the job description, your CV and the company you are applying for. Then ask for a simulated job interview with possible questions for your job, sector and specific to the vacancy. Respond as you would in the real interview and then ask for feedback: was your answer specific enough, too vague, too long? 

A few prompts that work well: 

• “I have a job interview in [industry] as [job title]. What common questions can I expect and how do I best answer them?” 

• “I am applying for the position of [position] at [company + link to website]. Here is the job description: [text]. Ask the 5 most likely interview questions and provide feedback on my response after each answer.” 

• “I struggle with the question “what are your working points?” Give me examples of strong answers and explain why they work.” 

This way, you learn not only what you want to say, but also what wording is appropriate. Concise, concrete and without detours. You quickly notice where you could use a handhold. 

Use LinkedIn as a preparation tool

LinkedIn is an important channel if you are looking for a job. A strong profile helps you to be seen by recruiters and employers, maar those who actively use the platform get much more out of it. There are eand some concrete ways to do son. 

Find your interviewer 

Do you already know who you have a conversation? Look that person up on LinkedIn. See how they communicate, what they share, what topics concern them. That gives you a better idea of who is on the other side. Send a personalised connection request for the conversation is a small effort that stands out and shows initiative. 

Look at the staff 

On a company's page, you can easily find its employees. Under the company name, click on “51-200 employees”. Filter by job title and find people already working in the role you aspire to. Look at their background, skills, career. This will give you a concrete idea of what profile the company attracts and you can capitalise on this in your preparation and interview. 

This will also give you an insight into growth opportunities within the company. 

Answered interview questions with the STAR(R)method

You probably already know STAR: situation, task, action, result. This is a structure for answering behavioural questions clearly and concretely. 

Add another R: reflection. 

And just that one makes the difference. Because an interviewer who asks “Tell us about a time when something went wrong” doesn't just want to know what happened. Who wants to know what you learned from it and what you would do differently next time. That is exactly what reflection adds. 

How it works in practice: 

• Situation - Briefly outline the context. Where were you, what was going on?  

• Task - what was your specific role or responsibility?  

• Action - what steps did you take? Focus here on what you did, not the team.  

• Result - what was the outcome? Concrete and measurable where possible.  

• Reflection - what did you learn? What would you do differently afterwards? 

An example: “In my previous position as marketing officer (S), I noticed that our online visibility among professionals was lagging significantly behind competitors (T). I took the initiative to review our social media strategy: I analysed market leaders, defined clear KPIs and developed a new content plan including A/B testing (A). Within three months, our engagement rate on LinkedIn increased by 25% and our reach grew by 40% (R). What I learned from this: I should have aligned the KPIs more clearly with management from the start. Now I only did that halfway through the process, which meant we were working in a different direction than expected for the first few weeks. The strategy succeeded, but the process could have been more efficient (Reflection).” 

 Applying smartly is not something you do alone

These tips will give you a head start. But the job market is complex. Many jobs never appear online and are filled through networks and regular partners. Networking and personal connections play a bigger role in this than many people think. 

A recruiter who knows your sector will help you focus on what you are looking for and prepare you for interviews. He will also bring you into contact with opportunities you would not come across yourself. Not as an intermediary, but as a sparring partner who thinks along with you. 

At CTRL-F, we start with a conversation. No rush, no obligations. We get to know you, map your ambitions and look for roles that fit. 

Ready for the next step within engineering, finance or logistics? Feel free to send us a message, we are happy to think along with you.