Nail Your Next Job Interview:
Real Talk from Jason Ajai
If you've ever walked out of an interview thinking “I could’ve nailed that better”, you’re not alone.
In our recent webinar, Get the Job You Want, Parity Consulting’s Victoria sat down with interview and career expert Jason Ajai, who shared the real, practical strategies that help job seekers land offers, and faster than the average interviewee.
Whether you're actively job hunting, open to the right opportunity, or just brushing up your interview game, here are the top takeaways from the session.
Let’s Start with the Must-Dos: The Non-Negotiables
According to Jason, if you're not doing these, you're in the 95% of candidates who get passed over.
If you want to give yourself the best chance of progessing your application, here’s what you should be doing, every time:
1. Show Up Ready, Not Just Present
Don't just turn up. Show up. That means bringing energy, preparation, and intent.
Interviewers can feel the difference between someone who’s there to “see how it goes” versus someone who genuinely wants the role.
2. Prep your Assets Properly
Think of your CV and LinkedIn as your shopfront. If they’re outdated, full of blocky text, or full of graphics that mess with applicant tracking systems (ATS), you’ll likely get screened out before a human even sees you.
Jason’s tip: Use tools like Jobscan or Job Analytics to check if your CV passes the ATS test.
Also, ditch the generic grey LinkedIn banner—it screams “I haven’t touched this in years”.
3. Walk in with a Clear, Punchy Career Pitch
You will get asked to talk about yourself. It’s almost always the first question. If you ramble, overshare or undersell, you’ve missed your best chance to take control of the conversation.
You should be able to confidently summarise:
Your years of experience
Industries you've worked in
Skills and technologies you know
Team and budget responsibilities
One or two short, sharp achievements
Jason’s method? Treat your pitch like a tasting plate. Don’t cram in everything—just the best bites.
4. Don’t Fear the Silence
Take a moment before answering tricky questions. It’s not a race. Use phrases like:
“That’s a great question—give me a moment to think about the best example.”
“I’ve got a couple of scenarios—let me choose the most relevant.”
Or paraphrase the question back to buy yourself some time.
Want to Stand Out? You Must Aim for Gold Standard
If the non-negotiables get you in the game, gold standard preparation is what help you win it, and move to next round or offer stage.
Jason's top two things candidates should walk away and do:
1. Craft your Career Pitch
Don’t leave it to chance. Short, sharp and punchy opens the conversation to deeper questions.
Script it, rehearse it, refine it.
To use Jason’s formula (email him for a copy) and tailor it just enough to suit each role.
2. Pitch a Future-State Plan
Showing that you've thought about how you'll hit the ground running can be a real game changer.
A simple outline of how you'd approach the role including what you'd focus on and where you'd start, and a realistic timeline, can lift you from a good candidate to the top contender.
Want the Career Pitch or Future-State formula to help you nail your next interview?
Check out Jason at InterviewFit and book a 15-minute call, or connect with him on LinkedIn.
Big thanks again to Jason Ajai, and to our brilliant audience for sticking with us to the end.
If this helped you? Let us know.
Now, go get that job you want.
More Resources to assist in your Job Search and Career Progression
Job Search - How to Land a New Job (scroll to end of part 1 for more Jason "gold" insights)
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