“Is there anything else I can do to stand out in my interview?”
You’ve probably prepared everything already, practiced your “tell me about yourself” spiel so many times, and now you’re wondering this. I’m glad you’re here, because I’m sharing one powerful strategy that I highly recommend to help you stand out in your interview. This tip will make hiring managers remember you, even if you’re not the perfect candidate!
Just a heads up, this is the final part of our interview series blogs! Check out the other parts here:
- Part 1 – The Job Interview Matrix Strategy
- Part 2 – How to Answer Any Interview Question
- Part 3 – How to Answer Questions About Why You Left
- Part 4 – How to Reduce Interview Anxiety
- Part 5 – The Best Questions to Ask in Your Interview
Why You’re Probably Missing the Key to Standing Out in an Interview
First, let’s talk about this: so many candidates receive glowing feedback from hiring managers, only to end up with a rejection letter. Most job seekers assume the interview is all about what happens in the room, but what happens before and after matters just as much.
If you really want to stand out in any interview, especially in the final stages, it’s time to shift from passive participation to active contribution. That’s where the value-add presentation strategy comes in. Instead of just saying you’re proactive, strategic, or creative, you actually show it.
And here’s the thing: barely anyone does this. Which is exactly why it works so well when you do.
The Value-Add Presentation Strategy
A value-add presentation is a short, personalized slide deck you create for the company you’re interviewing with. Inside, you offer 2-3 ideas based on what you’ve learned during the interview process, your research on the company, or your industry knowledge. This isn’t about solving their problems immediately, but the main point of it is to stand out by showing you think like someone already on their team!
I’ve seen job seekers use this strategy at the end of their interviews or midway through the hiring process, and it consistently makes an impression. For instance, one of our clients was stuck for a year without job offers, used this exact strategy, and landed a senior role at a top brand.
This approach works across industries, from UX and marketing to operations and leadership roles.
How to Create a Value-Add Presentation
Here’s a step-by-step guide! I hope you enjoy creating one and remember to be confident because this will surely make you stand out in any interview.
Step 1: Gather the intel
Start by identifying the company’s biggest goals, pain points, or projects, because this is where your ideas will stem from! Here’s how:
- Review your interview notes, what problem did they mention?
- Look at the job description for key responsibilities
- Check the company’s recent press releases, quarterly reports, or industry news.
- Bonus: use ChatGPT to summarize reports or news articles for you.
- Extra bonus: interview someone at the company (or in the industry) to get insider perspective.
If the company is public, their 10-K or quarterly earnings reports are gold mines of insight. If not, look at what competitors are doing, and suggest how this company can outperform them.
Step 2: Choose a focused topic
Narrow it down to one of the following:
- A pain point or challenge they’re trying to solve
- A goal you heard in the interview
- A better method or framework you could bring to the role
- A process or idea you’ve used before that could be applied to their context
Examples:
- “3 Ways to Streamline Customer Onboarding to Increase Retention”
- “A Simple Framework to Improve Internal Comms for Remote Teams”
- “My Vision for Leading as Director of Recruitment at [Company]”
Make it practical, not perfect. Remember, this isn’t about being a consultant, it’s about showing initiative, clarity, and a collaborative spirit.
Step 3: Start creating your 3-5 slide deck
Use Gamma.app or another AI-powered presentation tool to build your deck easily, no need to start from scratch. It should look clean, modern, and engaging.
Here’s a sample structure on what you can put in the presentation:
- Title Slide – e.g. “3 Opportunities to Improve X at [Company Name]”
- Overview of the challenge – what you noticed and why it matters
- Idea #1
- Idea #2
- (Optional) Idea #3 or key questions you’d explore further
- (Optional) Next steps or questions for their team
You don’t need to solve all their problems, you just need to show that you’re already thinking with them! Hence, I recommend not exceeding 5 slides in the deck, this is also to make them excited and think about how much more you have to offer.
Free Email Templates
Now that you’ve created your value-add presentation, it’s time to send them an email. Here are some free templates for you to use!
If you’re sending before the final interview:
Subject: 3 Ways [Company Name] Can [Achieve Outcome]
Body:
Hi [Interviewer Name],
I’m really looking forward to our conversation [insert day/time]. In preparation, I did some research on [Company Name]’s current goals and challenges, and I put together a few ideas that I’d love to discuss with you.Here’s a quick overview:
- Idea 1: [teaser]
- Idea 2: [teaser]
- Idea 3: [teaser]
I’ve linked a short deck here if you’d like to take a look. No pressure if time doesn’t allow, I just wanted to share how excited I am about this role.
Warmly,
[Your Name]
If you’re sending after the final interview:
Subject: Ideas for Achieving [Goal] at [Company Name]
Body:
Hi [Interviewer Name],
Thank you again for taking the time to speak with me earlier this week. I’ve been reflecting on our conversation, especially around [insert goal or challenge], and wanted to share a few ideas I’ve been thinking about.I’ve attached a short slide deck here outlining three potential ways to support [Company Name]’s goals.
Here’s a quick preview:
- Idea 1: [teaser]
- Idea 2: [teaser]
- Idea 3: [teaser]
Let me know if you have any thoughts, I’d be honored to explore these further with your team.
Best,
[Your Name]
Why This Helps You Stand Out in an Interview
If you’ve done all these things, congratulations! Whether you get the job or not, at least you won’t regret that you should have done something more to get the job. Because here’s the thing, most candidates don’t follow up at all. Some send a thank-you email. Almost none send a researched, well-framed presentation.
That’s why this works!
Even if your ideas aren’t perfect, your effort signals initiative, curiosity, and commitment. You’re showing that you care enough about the role to invest real time and thought. You’re making the hiring manager’s job easier by demonstrating how you’d think through their problems.
In a world where most candidates are trying to say the right things, you’ll be remembered as the one who did something extra!
At the end of the day, as Christians, we believe that faith doesn’t mean passivity. If God is opening a door, walk through it with intention. Put your hands to the work and give it your best. You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to show up.
So if you’re asking how to stand out in an interview, this is it. Add value before you’re even hired. Let them see your mindset in action. And trust that if the role is meant for you, this kind of bold, faith-filled move might be the very thing that confirms it.
Cheering you on! 🤍
If you need extra help discerning the career you feel called to, check out our career coaching programs and schedule a free career strategy call with us, and let’s get you hired!
