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A Free WordPress course teaching how to build websites with WP. A Great course beginners to learn about WordPress. This course by Twitter creator Nat Miletic. Grab it here! A free course on Building A successful Bootstrapped Business by Timstodz. A great course with amazingly free value and new modules are added time to time for free. Check now! State of Email – A Free Guide about trends and innovations in email marketing in 2021 and know what will happen in 2022. I found Easlo, A notion creator on twitter and he has launched 2-3 free templates for websites, resumes and freelancers. You can check those for free by visiting this link. The best of all found a A huge collection of growth marketing checklists by Dan Siepen. One of the best free marketing resource you need to check. Visit now! hunter.io is an amazing directory of Cold email templates and it’s a great resource to find inspiration for email campaigns. Check it now! Principles.design – An open source collection of Design Principles and methods. That’s all from now. I’m Jaskaran and if you want receive One free resource, 7 Content Ideas and 4 SaaS tools every week. You can subscribe here for free. I try to curate best content for my subscribers every week. submitted by /u/lazymentors [link] [comments]

As marketers, we thrive on data.
Data can help us identify when content is underperforming, and pivot to provide the highest value to our prospects and customers. It can also enable us to explore new, underutilized channels, and discover the best platforms to connect with our audiences.
All of this is to say: Any changes to the existing data collection ecosystem will create uncertainty around the future of marketing, and make some marketers fearful about how their current strategies will perform in a privacy-first world.
But a privacy-first world doesn’t inhibit a company’s ability to know and better serve their customers — it improves it. A privacy-first world is a world in which creating and maintaining relationships directly with your customers is the only way to truly understand them.
Here, we’ll explore how the future of privacy will impact your business. Plus, how you can prepare for it.
What is a privacy-first world?
A privacy-first world means that a company’s strategies, technologies, and solutions will need to adhere to a consumer’s right to data privacy and security, first and foremost.
This shift has been a long time coming. Consumers no longer trust corporations with their data — in fact, only about one-third of customers believe companies are currently using their data responsibly.
Additionally, in the past year alone, 76% of consumers feel they don’t know what companies are doing with their data.
To combat consumers’ concerns, regulations such as the EU ePrivacy Directive CCPA, and LGPD are increasingly requiring transparency around data collection, making a privacy-first marketing strategy necessary to reach global audiences.
Certain industries have always taken a first-party data approach when it comes to building relationships with their audiences . Nonprofit and advocacy organizations, for instance, have always leveraged data collected directly from their supporters and donors  for marketing materials. So while a privacy-first world might be new for some businesses, it’s not new for all.
Why Privacy-First Matters
As consumers raise their standards in regards to data privacy and security, it’s vital that the advertising industry adapt to meet these needs.
A privacy-first approach ultimately encourages marketers worldwide to develop stronger and more transparent relationships with prospects and customers.

First-party data allows you to better understand your customer based on information they have consented to share with you, which in turn allows ads to be more relevant.

Plus, caring about your customers’ data is simply good business practice. A privacy-first strategy will become a competitive advantage in the years to come.
So the real question here should be: how can you prepare for a privacy-first world? Let’s dive into that, now.
How can you prepare for a privacy-first world?
We need to reimagine our marketing and advertising strategies to ensure company growth doesn’t come at the expense of consumers’ trust.
As Google’s Director of Product Management, Ads Privacy and Trust, David Temkin, puts it, “Developing strong relationships with customers has always been critical for brands to build a successful business, and this becomes even more vital in a privacy-first world.”
To invest in and prepare for privacy-safe growth, companies need to shift to a first-party data model. Marketers that effectively use their first-party data can generate 2X the incremental revenue from a single ad placement or outreach.
To adjust to a privacy-first world, marketers will need to ensure they have systems in place to collect and measure first-party data effectively. A CRM, for instance, allows you to collect, track, and analyze your first-party data while providing your visitors with the transparency and knowledge that their data is being used for more personalized messaging and a better user experience — not for following their every move across the web.
First-Party Data Use in Action
There are tremendous advantages to first-party data when it comes to marketing. Let’s say, for instance, that you recently eyed a Casper pillow, filled out a form with your email, but got distracted and abandoned the site. Later, you spot this email in your inbox:

Here, Casper marketers are using first-party data to analyze your behavior on their site. Once they’ve identified that you might be interested in a pillow, they can send a targeted, personalized abandoned cart email to encourage you to complete the transaction.
HubSpot and Google’s New Integration for Better First-Party Data Collection
For HubSpot customers, we have good news: HubSpot will be offering an integration with Google’s Enhanced conversions (EC) for web in the coming months. Among other benefits, Enhanced Conversions allows companies to increase the amount of observable conversions they can measure, and ultimately improve their return on ad spend. Visit this page to learn more and stay up to date on HubSpot’s Enhanced Conversions launch.
Zoe Financial, a wealth planning platform, has seen a 200% increase in revenue by leveraging the current integration between Google Ads and HubSpot. With the addition of Enhanced conversions in the coming months, Zoe plans to continue to take full advantage of the suite of products Google and HubSpot have, thereby optimizing their marketing and client acquisition strategies.

The Founder and CEO of Zoe Financial, Andres Garcia-Amaya, said, “Our north star is the client, and clients value their privacy. Partnering with Google and HubSpot helps ensure the two-way communication of our client’s data in a safe way.”

To excel in a privacy-first world, marketers need to leverage clean, first-party data to measure and optimize their advertising and audience strategies. And they need to realize the full value of investments in first-party data solutions.
Change is always difficult. For marketing teams that have relied for years on third-party data for their advertising strategies, it will take time to adjust to this ‘new normal’ when it comes to data privacy. However, this privacy-first shift should empower marketers to use their privileges to gain trust, rather than to lose it.

SMS is an essential marketing channel for all kinds of businesses. But, it can be tricky to nail down what kind of message is appropriate for SMS, and what kind will annoy and drive away your customers. Read this post for five incredible SMS marketing examples of messages your audience actually wants to read.
Everyone likes getting gifts. But everyone also has that one weird family member. You know, the one who makes you ugly crocheted “fashion statements” for Christmas and gets you underwear for your birthday.
Usually, they have good intentions, but they’re probably unaware and out of touch with what people actually want. In short message service (SMS) marketing, many brands, unfortunately, become just like your Great Aunt Margaret. Someone told them that “Those hip young people like text messages,” and they started sending SMS marketing messages that are the equivalent of a crocheted necktie and tighty-whities.
According to Zendesk, the popularity of using SMS messaging to contact businesses grew by 75% in 2020. However, just like gift-giving, it’s key that you actually give people what they want when they start a text conversation with your brand.
For example, according to SimpleTexting, only 9% of consumers want to hear about your customer satisfaction survey via text. (Which, let’s be real, makes up like 99% of text messages people receive from businesses. Annoying much?) On the other hand, according to the same survey, 35% of consumers would love to get special offers or promotions via text.
Text message marketing can feel invasive and unwelcome if it’s not personalized and valuable to your audience. If you’re still not sure what consumers want to receive, you’re in luck. This guide covers five SMS marketing examples your audience actually wants to receive so you don’t become the marketing equivalent of Great Aunt Margaret. You’ll increase your conversions and your bottom line.
1. Event updates
It’s hard to beat text message marketing campaigns for timely updates you know your audience will see. Americans are constantly checking their phones — about 344 times a day, according to Reviews.org. And McKinsey reports SMS messages have the highest read rates out of any commercial messaging channel, with an open rate of 42%. This combination makes SMS text messages the ideal channel for time-sensitive event communication.
You can use SMS messages to hype event lineups, send ticket QR codes, provide attendees with session time updates, or even provide interactive content during the event.
For example, event attendees may opt in to receive messages, so they can be the first to hear who the headlining speaker is or receive a mobile ticket. And then, once they have opted in, you can notify them of important information via SMS throughout the conference, such as which conference space their sessions are in.
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2. Special offers
According to SimpleTexting, 50% of consumers said they would be more likely to opt in to SMS messages from a business if they knew they would receive time-sensitive promotions. Through audience segmentation and marketing automation, marketing teams can personalize the promotions to each consumer, increasing the value and connection to the brand.
SMS marketing for special offers could be as simple as promoting flash sales or as specific as sending a discount code to a customer on their birthday. The key to maintaining the value for the consumer is to use it only for timely or personalized offers, rather than constantly bombarding them with texts.
Source
 
3. Product launches
Consumers have the world at their fingertips with the internet. If you want your product to stand out from the beginning, you need a unique promotional mechanism. According to a survey by Harris Interactive, 77% of consumers view companies that offer texting more positively (not to mention those impressive read rates we mentioned previously). So, if you want all eyes eagerly on that new product launch, SMS is where you should start.
The timeliness of SMS provides brands with a chance to roll out their products in stages to increase the hype. For example, you should start a launch with a VIP and influencer early-access message before opening sales up to all customers.
Besides the timeliness of SMS, it also has the advantage of having very measurable outcomes. Campaign Monitor’s SMS reporting dashboard shows a comprehensive view of your launch campaigns, including audience responses to both email and SMS. Instead of guessing at interest levels in your new product or the success of your campaign, you can easily assess them at a glance.
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4. Community building
SMS messages provide a unique opportunity to build brand affinity by personally connecting with your audience and creating a community around your brand. In this way, you can promote your brand without promoting your brand.
For example, you could send daily health tips or mindfulness prompts if you’re a wellness brand, or links to interactive brand content such as how-to videos and online communities. All of these things promote user-generated content, which 79% of users say highly impacts their purchase decisions, according to Stackla.
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5. Donation drives
People get bombarded with organizations asking them for donations. If it’s not the Boy Scout down the street, it’s the fundraiser in the mail or the grocery store clerk asking them to “round up for the cause.” So how do you break through the noise? SMS.
The key to using SMS for donation drives and fundraising is to craft a message that won’t be just banging cymbals in the cacophony of fundraising campaigns. Gone are the days of cold-calling telethons. Today, consumers expect personalized and timely communications. And that is where SMS shines.
For example, you can tailor each message to the individual donor with Campaign Monitor’s subscriber list upload feature and customizable fields. Segment your list by region, income range, age, or any other custom qualifier you choose. Personalize every message with the subscriber’s name for an added personal touch.
With SMS, you can respond within minutes to any community or worldwide crisis, giving people the opportunity to act as soon as the news breaks. You no longer have to wait for the mailer to reach their house weeks later or cross your fingers your social posts reach them. Hit your donor base when it’s still fresh and before they are bombarded with other organizations asking for donations.
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Once you have your audience’s attention, it’s important that you give them an easily accessible and immediate way to give. Relying on dated payment options isn’t going to cut it anymore. When was the last time you wrote a check for anything? It’s probably been a while. According to the Federal Reserve, the use of checks and cash is decreasing dramatically YOY, and mobile payments are taking the place of most payments previously made via check or cash. In short, if you want people to donate to your campaign, you need to offer mobile payment options.
Source
Combining SMS and email marketing strategies
There’s no arguing the benefits of SMS marketing, but it has an even greater impact when used in combination with an email marketing strategy. Each serves your customers in a unique way and enhances the impact of the other. What they share in common is the ability to grow your customer base and your bottom line. If you want to learn more about how to use SMS marketing strategies in combination with email marketing, check out our guide.
The post 5 SMS Marketing Examples Your Audience Actually Wants to Receive appeared first on Campaign Monitor.

Big Idea or Enduring Question: How do you post a message to a Slack channel via Salesforce Flow?  Slack is a messaging app for businesses that connects people to the information they need. Its workspaces allow you to organize communications by channels for group discussions and allow for private messages
The post Post a Message to a Slack Channel using Flow appeared first on Automation Champion.

There’s a common misconception that it’s impossible to make money as a business while also supporting a larger mission. Either you’re having a real impact on a cause you care about but never turning a profit, or you’re bringing in the cash but your activism is performative at best. As the co-founder of advocacy restaurant group iFoodGroup, known for Immigrant Food restaurants, I can tell you that profitability absolutely can co-exist with helping people. Since opening our first restaurant in late 2019, we’ve managed to grow to three locations in Washington, DC, with more expansion in the works. Along the way, we’ve built a business that supports a deeper cause: celebrating the vibrancy of what immigration has already brought to our country while also positively impacting today’s immigrants.  These are the two beating hearts to Immigrant Food: Bringing people around the table to celebrate immigrants through a successful restaurant group, while also creating an effective advocacy platform. Here’s how we’ve made them work in tandem and how other founders can think about bringing their beliefs into their business.We Worked With Experts Instead of Trying to Become the ExpertMy co-founders and I all bring different expertise to the table: Chef Enrique Limardo and Chef Mileyda Montezuma bring culinary traditions and a history of cooking at award-winning restaurants, Peter Schechter has a history as both running political campaigns all over the world and as a successful business leader, and I’ve worked in journalism, strategic communications on the policy side, and corporate social responsibility for large financial institutions. But, despite all being proud immigrants ourselves, none of us bring expertise in immigration policy or the most effective ways to solve the challenges immigrants face today. We are not in the trenches every day, providing housing, legal, and social services to immigrants. After all, we need to be dedicating our skill sets to building a successful restaurant and brand. So, rather than doing that work, we’ve aligned ourselves with immigration experts on policy, advocacy, and service. Early on, we decided we’d work with impact partners—five local Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) who we felt were doing really powerful work to help immigrants—instead of trying to develop solutions ourselves. As we see it, they’re the real heroes, and we’re here to support them and make it easy for others to make a difference. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Immigrant Food (@immigrantfood) Our impact partners bring decades of experience on how to truly help immigrants. We also didn’t want to pretend to know what help these organizations needed. Instead, we’ve worked collaboratively to understand how we could have a real impact on their work. Some of our very first meetings were with our NGO partners, pen and paper in hand, listening to how they could benefit from business support. They told us they need more visibility, more volunteers, more resources, and more space to hold meetings and events. So, we looked for ways to support in those areas (more on that below). Instead of spreading ourselves too thin by trying to become the expert, we focused our efforts on building a stable company that creatively integrates organizations and local leaders who are already working on the cause.We Looked for What We Could Afford to GiveHaving worked with large companies during a time when the financial industry was going through a new wave of interest in corporate social responsibility (CSR), I knew that when I started my own business, I would look for creative ways to integrate a mission, rather than simply donate parts of proceeds once we hit a certain financial milestone. Don’t get me wrong, donating millions of dollars to a cause is surely helpful for non-profit organizations. But it was always our intention to start with the mission right away, not to introduce it once the business was up and running (and profitable). Especially as restaurants are an industry that runs on hyper-thin margins, we wanted to balance what we could afford to give and what our NGO partners needed so it would be sustainable growth. For instance, our impact partners told us they need space for meetings and events, so we looked for real estate that could support that. Offering these NGOs a room in one of our restaurants at prime locations at no costs for English classes, citizenship lectures, volunteer training, and board meetings saves these resource-strapped organizations tens of thousands of dollars. The NGOs also told us they need more volunteers, and we have more than 3,000 people a week coming in across our locations. To help get our guests involved, we created an “Engagement Menu” next to our food and drinks menus at each restaurant. Each week, our team finds five ways anyone can support immigrants and puts them on the menu, such as volunteering at one of our partner organizations, joining a march or event, or even just watching a movie or reading a book to learn more about an immigration issue. We have an internal team that works on finding these resources every week, and more than 100,000 people have scanned the QR code for this menu since our first restaurant opening.🧵Each week, we pull together 5 tangible ways you can engage with the #ImmigrantCommunity around you. In this week’s menu, you can help by listening to immigrant’s stories, celebrating the contributions of immigrants and more! This is your weekly #EngagementMenu:— Immigrant Food (@immigrantfooddc) May 15, 2022

We share our Engagement Menu on social, too, so everyone can get involved.Providing more visibility for these issues and experts on our platforms also became an obvious path forward: We needed to market the business anyway, so why not use this as an educational opportunity? There is so much misinformation out there on immigration, and we wanted to make a small contribution against it. Every month, we publish an online magazine called The Think Table, where we produce original content about immigration issues. Whether it’s about DREAMers, immigration courts, sanctuary cities, or voting rights, we create videos, social media posts, and columns that boil down a lot of information and make it easy to digest (sorry for the food metaphor!). This creates a deeper connection to our consumers, while giving a new platform to the smartest people working in immigration today. We also put on a lot of events with our partners, hosting them at our restaurants and educating the public on these important issues. All of this is incredibly valuable for getting their message out, with the side benefit of helping grow our brand. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Immigrant Food (@immigrantfood) My “Téa’s Coffee” videos are great social media content for us while also spreading important information about the mission.Recently, we also introduced a new initiative: #PlateitForward. It’s a way for people to help people by allowing restaurant guests to donate a bowl to feed someone in need. In 2020 and 2021, we have donated more than 25,000 bowls to our community. If we were just donating a portion of our profits, I can see how supporting our mission could have felt like a burden on our business at times—especially when things got tough, like during the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns. Instead, by finding the opportunities that naturally integrate into our day-to-day without putting too much of a strain on us, it’s always felt like a win-win for the cause and for our company.We Decided Standing For Our Beliefs Makes Us StrongerOne of the questions I get asked most often is whether we’re worried about losing customers because they don’t agree with what we believe in. The opposite is true. Standing strong behind our values has made our business more successful than if we tried to be everything for everyone. Sure, some people may decide not to come, but ultimately, we have a more dedicated community that feels passionate about dining with us. This is really evident in the fact that, during the pandemic, five of the eight restaurants on our block of Pennsylvania Avenue closed, but we were one of those that made it through (the others were large chains). I’m convinced the reason we were able to stay open was because of the mission: People kept coming back because they wanted to spend their money where their values are. (The fact that the food is delicious didn’t hurt, either.)There are so many surveys out there pointing to the fact that consumers want to support brands that take a stand about issues they care about, and we’ve really experienced that firsthand. Our managers are shocked by how often new customers walk in the door who are already deeply familiar with and invested in our brand, even though they’ve never eaten with us, because of the advocacy work we’re doing. If I haven’t already convinced you that a business can prioritize both money and mission, maybe this will do it: The two restaurants we opened most recently reached profitability in less than six months (which is very unusual in the restaurant industry, where this usually takes a year or more to turn a profit). I truly believe we were able to achieve financial success because we’ve created our own definition of corporate social responsibility, one that works for our business operations and for our ideals. Obviously, it feels good to know our business is doing well financially, but it feels even better to know we’re doing so while also helping immigrants succeed every day.

We’re humbled to announce that GetResponse won the Friendly Workspace 2022 award for efforts to create a harmonious and nurturing company culture.

You made it (almost)! After networking and sending countless resumes, you’ve finally landed a job interview. Of course, you want to be prepared, so you did what most candidates are recommended to do — you looked up “most common interview questions.”
The key to a successful interview is preparation, so it’s important to look up interview questions so that you can go to the interview with your answers already in mind. This will boost your confidence and increase your chances of a second interview, as well as help you get the job. To help you along, I’ve put together a list of common interview questions and some tips to craft winning answers.
Want to jump to a specific question? I’ve got them linked for you below:
“Tell me about yourself.”
“Why do you want to work for this company?”
“Why are you the best person for this position?”
“What are your strengths and weaknesses?”
“What’s a professional achievement you are most proud of?”
“How do you handle stress and pressure?”
“Tell me about a time you had conflict with a coworker or colleague, and how did you overcome it?”
“Tell me about a time you failed at work and how did you handle it?”
“Why are you leaving your current job? / Why have you left your most recent position?”
“How do you stay organized?”
“Where do you see yourself in five years?”
“What are your salary expectations?”
“Do you have any questions for me?”

What are common interview questions?
While every interview is different, most interview questions will focus on:

The skills and experience you’d bring to the company
Your work ethic and whether you have a growth mindset
How you deal with difficult situations
How well you’ll fit within the company

HubSpot’s Senior Manager of Content Meg Prater says she looks for empathy, coachability, and growth mindset when interviewing a candidate.
“Has this person demonstrated that they’re a good colleague?” she explained. “Has this person demonstrated that they can constructively give and receive feedback? And does this person actively look for ways to expand their skills and deepen their understanding of their role or industry?”
To prepare, research the company and, if possible, the person who is interviewing you. You’ll also want to re-read the job posting so you can be sure your answers align with the job requirements. For additional information on how to stand out in the interview process, here are some tips from our former manager of campus recruiting Colleen Grant.
Common Interview Questions and Answers
The questions asked during an interview will vary depending on the role you’re up for, however, the following questions are pretty common in interviews and should give you an idea of what to expect.

1. “Tell me about yourself.”
My mind would always go blank when asked this question. What should I say? What do you need to know? Who am I? To avoid an existential crisis in the middle of your interview, think of the answer as your elevator pitch.
You don’t want to speak at length about your personal hobbies and passions, but you also don’t want to give a dry runthrough of what’s on your resume. Instead give a pitch that is concise, persuasive, compelling, and explains why you’re the perfect candidate for the job.
Start by speaking a little bit about your current role and include any experiences or wins that are relevant to the job you’re applying for. Then provide some background as to how you got there, once again focusing on experiences that correlate to the interview. End the pitch by tying all that information together and explaining why you are perfect for the role.

2. “Why do you want to work for this company?”
This question helps the interviewer determine if you’ve actually done your research on the company. According to LinkedIn, 47% of candidates are rejected because they only have a vague idea of their company and the job role.
To beat the statistics, do your research and find something unique about the company that really interests you. For example, during my interview with HubSpot, I pointed out the company’s one-of-a-kind culture code as a huge motivator for wanting to join.
My answer showed that I did my research beforehand and that I had a genuine interest in being a part of the team. When researching, look for items such as the company’s mission statement or any news articles about recent accomplishments.

3. “Why are you the best person for this position?”
Every candidate thinks they’re the best for the job, but what makes you stand out above the rest? Be prepared to confidently state the experiences and accomplishments you have that prove why you’re perfect for the position.
To prepare your answer, review the qualifications and requirements listed in the job description, and craft your answer so that it aligns with what the interviewer is looking for.

4. “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”
Focus on one or a few core strengths you possess that are relevant to the role. Back these strengths up with specific examples. For instance, if you’re going to say that you’re a great multi-tasker, bolster your answer by mentioning a time you successfully juggled multiple projects at once. If you’re a self-starter, talk about a time you successfully took on a project or task without having to be asked.
Now, how can you mention a weakness without tarnishing your image as the perfect candidate? Start by choosing a weakness that will not prevent you from succeeding in the role. For example, if it’s a writing job, don’t say you struggle with spelling.
Be genuine with your answer and choose an actual weakness. This is the time to show your potential employer that you are self-aware and always looking to grow. Maybe you struggle with multi-tasking or asking for help when you need it.
After choosing a weakness, be prepared to explain how you’ve worked to improve. Don’t underestimate your capabilities, but don’t come off as arrogant either.

5. “What’s a professional achievement you are most proud of?”
To prepare for this question, think back to a moment where you achieved amazing results at your previous job. Don’t be shy about your accomplishments, because this is the perfect opportunity to show what the company gains from hiring you. A simple way to approach this question is to use the STAR method: situation, task, action, and results.
Give the interviewer background context by describing the situation and the task you had to complete. For example, “At my last job, I was an account manager and I was responsible for managing several high-profile clients.” Then you would describe what you did (the action) and the result: “In one quarter, I used my SEO knowledge to boost my clients’ web traffic by an average of 25%.”

6. “How do you handle stress and pressure?”
Deadline pressures, frustrated clients, and an uptick in responsibilities are common occurrences at most workplaces, so it’s important to show the interviewer you can keep a level head in any situation.
Avoid saying you’ve never or rarely experienced workplace stress. Instead, relate the question to a time you were stressed on the job, then explain how you overcame it or used it to your advantage.
For example, I’m very candid about telling employers that I keep stress balls on hand and that I always take a moment to do deep breathing exercises when I’m feeling overwhelmed. I also approach deadline pressures as a challenge to complete projects faster — and I love a challenge. There’s no shame in experiencing stress, it’s all about how you respond to it.

7. “Tell me about a time you had conflict with a coworker or colleague, and how did you overcome it?”
This question helps to determine your communication, people skills, and self-awareness. When answering this question, avoid bad mouthing the coworker you were in conflict with, instead focus on the heart of the problem and how you resolved it.
Prater told me this is actually her favorite question to ask during interviews:
“The answers to this question tell me a lot about the candidate’s ability to problem solve and their self-awareness. Most of us have worked with someone we didn’t quite get along with,” she said. “I love to hear how folks navigated those situations and identified ways to better understand the other person and better themselves.”
Rather than saying, “I had this incredibly rude coworker at my old office,” say “I worked with someone whose communication style was different from mine.” Then, explain how you both reached common ground: “I realized that face-to-face communication was more helpful to us than email communication, since tone can be lost or misconstrued in texts. So, I decided to schedule weekly coffee meetings to ensure we were on the same page about the project.”

8. “Tell me about a time you failed at work and how did you handle it?”
Yes, you want to convince the interviewer that you’re the best person for the job, but no one is perfect. Your answer should highlight that you can take responsibility for your mistakes and that you won’t put the blame on others.
Perhaps you missed an important deadline at your previous job. You can use that situation as an opportunity to share how you accepted feedback, learned from the issue, and developed a system of organization that keeps you on track with deadlines.
For this question, it’s important to demonstrate self-awareness.
“When all answers focus on outside factors rather than how the candidate handled situations, I get concerned,” Prater said. “Things often happen outside of our control — but tell me what you learned from that situation and how it has informed your actions/work moving forward.”

9. “Why are you leaving your current job? / Why have you left your most recent position?”
The most important thing to remember when answering this question is to be honest while avoiding a negative spiral about your current or previous employer. Focus on your excitement for new experiences and the professional goals you’re working toward. Saying you want to face new challenges, be closer to family, or apply your skills to a new field, are all acceptable answers.
If you were laid off from your current job, you can be honest and say your position was eliminated due to a merger, budget cuts, or restructuring. If you were fired, responding with “Unfortunately, I was let go,” is also fine. Of course, the latter will result in the interviewer asking why you were fired. Tell the truth, because you never want to get caught in a lie, and be sure to frame it as a learning experience.

10. “How do you stay organized?”
Employers want to know you can be trusted to stay on top of all of your responsibilities, especially if the role is in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. Explain your method. Do you use calendars, sticky notes, digital folders, spreadsheets, or organization tools like Trello or Hootsuite?
Prepare a clear and concise answer that shows you’re dependable and will have your new tasks under control.

11. “Where do you see yourself in five years?”
It’s important to be honest and specific in your answer. When crafting your answer, make sure you:

Keep your expectations realistic for your career
Show that you are an ambitious person and that you’ve given a lot of thought to your career path
Highlight how the new position aligns with your ambitions

And if you’re not sure what the future holds — that’s okay too. You can tell the hiring manager that you’re still figuring things out, but express that you are confident the position will play an important role in building your future.

12. “What are your salary expectations?”
This question definitely requires research ahead of time. Use sites like PayScale or Glassdoor to find out what similar roles pay, then factor in your experience, skills, education, and cost-of-living. If you choose to answer with a number, give a salary range that is somewhere in the mid-to-high point of what you’re looking for.
You can also flip the question back to the interviewer by saying, “That’s an excellent question — if possible, it would be helpful to learn the range for this role.” You can also delay the salary conversation by saying you’d like to learn more about the role or the rest of the compensation package before discussing pay.

13. “Do you have any questions for me?”
The answer to this question should always be yes. Before the interview, you should have already done your research on the company and the role. That research should be used to help you form questions that will give better insight into the job and team. Questions targeted toward the interviewer are especially helpful.
“I don’t expect a candidate to be an expert on the role or even the company, but I appreciate when a candidate has done some basic research and asks me thoughtful questions that go beyond, ‘What do you like about working at [company name]?’ or ‘What would success look like in this role?’” Prater said. “Those are important questions, but I love when a candidate digs a little deeper as well.”
If you’re working remotely, you may also want to ask the following questions:

Would you be working traditional office hours or are there special hours for remote workers?
How much of the team is remote?
How does the team communicate?
What does team building look like for remote staff?

Interviews can be nerve wracking, but you’re likely to succeed if you take the time to plan ahead. When you research and form your responses in advance, you’ll be able to approach the interview with confidence. If you’re still nervous, remember they chose to interview you for a reason — they already see your potential.