Rise & Shine: The 5 Interview Answers That Get Offers (PLUS some Arizona Trip Finds)

Happy Monday!

Here's a truth I've learned coaching mid-career professionals through several  interviews:

Most people know their experience. They just don't know how to PACKAGE it.

You can have 15 years of accomplishments, a resume full of wins, and still walk out of an interview thinking "I could've said that better."

The good news? 90% of interview questions are predictable. Which means you can prepare answers that make hiring managers think "yes, this is the one" before you even finish talking.

Today I'm breaking down the 5 questions that trip people up most and exactly how to answer them.

1. "Tell me about yourself."

❌ What most people do: Recite their resume from the beginning. Ramble for 5 minutes. Talk about where they went to college.

✅ What actually works: The Present-Past-Future formula.

• Present: Who you are and what you do now (1-2 sentences)

• Past: Relevant experience and key achievements (2-3 sentences)

• Future: Why you're excited about THIS role (1-2 sentences)

Example:

"I'm a Senior Operations Manager at a mid-size tech company where I lead a team of 12 and oversee our entire fulfillment process. Over the past 5 years, I've built systems that reduced delivery times by 30% and saved $400K annually. I'm looking for my next challenge at a company where I can scale operations from the ground up, which is exactly why this role caught my attention."

Total time: 45-60 seconds. Clear. Confident. Done.

2. "What's your greatest weakness?"

❌ What most people do: Give a fake weakness ("I'm a perfectionist!") or accidentally reveal a real red flag.

✅ What actually works: Name a real skill gap you've actively worked to improve. Show self-awareness AND growth.

Formula: Weakness + What you've done about it + Progress you've made

Example:

"Earlier in my career, I struggled with delegating. I'd take on too much myself because I thought it was faster. I've since learned that's not sustainable or scalable. Now I use a framework where I assess each task: Can someone else do this 80% as well? If yes, I delegate and coach. My team's capacity has doubled since I made that shift."

This shows you're human, self-aware, and actively growing. That's what they want to hear.

3. "Why should we hire you?"

❌ What most people do: List generic qualities. "I'm a hard worker. I'm passionate. I'm a team player."

Everyone says this. It means nothing.

✅ What actually works: Connect YOUR skills to THEIR problems.

Before the interview, research:

• What challenges is this team facing?

• What's in the job description repeatedly?

• What did the recruiter mention as priorities?

Then answer with: Their problem + Your proof + The outcome

Example:

"I noticed you're scaling your customer success team while maintaining retention rates. At my last company, I built the CS function from 3 to 15 people while actually improving our NPS by 20 points. I know exactly what breaks when you scale fast and how to prevent it. That's what I'd bring to this role."

You're not selling yourself. You're solving their problem.

4. "Tell me about a time you failed."

❌ What most people do: Pick something tiny that wasn't really a failure. Or spiral into a story that makes them look bad.

✅ What actually works: Choose a real failure, own it completely, and focus 70% of your answer on what you learned and changed.

Formula: Situation → What went wrong → What you learned → How you've applied it since

Example:

"I once launched a new process without getting enough buy-in from the team. I was so focused on the efficiency gains that I skipped the change management piece. Adoption was terrible, and we had to roll it back. That failure taught me that the best solution means nothing if people don't adopt it. Now I never launch anything without building a coalition first. My last three rollouts had 95%+ adoption because I learned that lesson the hard way."

They're not looking for perfection. They're looking for self-awareness and growth.

5. "Do you have any questions for me?"

❌ What most people do: Ask about PTO. Or say "No, I think you covered everything!"

✅ What actually works: Ask questions that show you're already thinking like an employee, not a candidate.

My favorites:

🎯 "What does success look like in the first 6-12 months for this role?" 👉 (Shows you're thinking about delivering results)

💡 "What's the biggest challenge facing this team right now?" 👉 (Shows you want to solve problems, not just fill a seat)

✨ "What separates the people who are good in this role from the people who are great?" 👉 (Shows you're aiming for excellence)

🚀 "Is there anything about my background that gives you hesitation? I'd love the chance to address it." 👉 (Shows confidence and gives you a chance to overcome objections)

ALWAYS have 2-3 questions ready. This is your last impression — make it count.

The Bottom Line

Confidence in interviews doesn't come from hoping you'll say the right thing.

It comes from knowing exactly what to say because you've done the work.

These 5 questions will come up in almost every interview. Prepare your answers. Practice them out loud. Walk in ready.

Stop winging it. Start winning it.

🏜️ Personal Update: Sedona Stole My Heart

I just got back from Arizona a couple weeks ago, and I have to tell you about Sedona. 💛

It is now officially my favorite place I've EVER visited.

The pictures don't do it justice. I'm not exaggerating — the views are out of this world beautiful. Every direction you look, there's another red rock formation that makes you stop and stare. I found myself just... pausing. A lot. Taking it all in.

If you ever get the chance to go, here are our favorite finds:

🥾 Hikes:

• Subway Cave — So cool and unique

• Bear Mountain — Very hard and steep, but worth it if you're up for a challenge

• Bell Rock (Baby Bell) — A hidden gem with 360-degree views. Highly recommend.

• Devil's Bridge — The famous one. It was cool, but crowded, so honestly not my top favorite

🍕 Food Finds:

• Pisa Lisa — AMAZING woodfire pizza. We went TWICE. It was that good.

• SaltRock Southwest Kitchen — Had unbelievable sushi as an appetizer, which paired fabulous with a glass of wine. Unexpected combo, totally worked.

• The Vault Uptown — Very pricey, but the food was incredible. We tried their "trash can nachos" where they literally bring your nachos out in a mini trash can and dump them on a plate to share. An experience.

If Sedona is on your bucket list, move it up. Trust me.

That's all for this week!

Hit reply and let me know — which of these 5 interview questions trips you up the most? I read every response.

Talk soon,

💛 Alyssa

P.S. — If you've got an interview coming up and want to nail these answers for YOUR story, that's exactly what we do in coaching. Let's talk.

Thanks for reading Rise & Shine by Rise Up Career Coaching.

This newsletter is for high-performing professionals who feel stuck, overlooked, or unsure of their next move — and want a clearer, smarter way to navigate the modern job market.

Here, I share real talk about:

• Getting clear on what you actually want next

• Navigating job searches without mass applying

• Networking in ways that actually lead to conversations

• Interviewing with confidence (even if you’re rusty)

• Negotiating offers without leaving money or opportunity on the table

The job market has changed, but most career advice hasn’t. I’m here to help you stop guessing and start moving forward with clarity and strategy.

I'm here to change that.

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ALYSSA BAILEY is a Certified Professional Career Coach who helps high-performing professionals get unstuck and land roles that match who they are now. With 15+ years of corporate experience, she’s guided clients through career transitions, interviews, and negotiations — helping them turn experience into opportunity.

If you’re done waiting for clarity or the “right time,” this is your sign.

Your next role won’t come from working harder. It comes from having the right strategy.

Let’s make your next move — intentionally.

P.S. If you’ve been thinking about making a change “someday,” remember: clarity doesn’t come from waiting. It comes from action.

Let's make your next move. Contact me today.