"Whether you’re employed or not, it’s pretty obvious that the job market is unreasonably chaotic right now. Whether you’re actively applying for a new role, in the midst of rounds of interviewing, or just observing current employment trends, things have rapidly changed over the past 12 months. While we were once seeing trends like quiet quitting, lazy girl jobs, and the Great Resignation take the world by storm, we’re now seeing both employees and companies become more cautious when making career and hiring decisions.
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If you’re navigating interviews right now, you’re certainly not alone. Since many roles have gone remote since 2020, there have been a plethora of pros and cons. On the one hand, we have so many more opportunities at our fingertips and a lot more flexibility to set our day-to-day schedules (lunchtime pilates, anyone?). On the other hand, remote positions make it so even more people can apply for each role, driving up the competition for every available opportunity.
Not to mention, with remote and hybrid roles come virtual interviews, and those add a whole new set of considerations for putting your best foot forward. How can you stand out and set yourself apart? Besides the usual tips like dressing well and having questions ready to go, this genius interview hack can help you nail any question that comes your way while interviewing at home. And the best news? Anyone can use it, whether you consider yourself an interview pro or gag at the thought of trying to convince someone to hire you.
What is the Sticky Note Interview Hack?
It doesn’t matter if you’re interviewing for a role in tech or media, interview questions are usually pretty straightforward. Think: “What are your strengths?” and “How do you handle conflict in the workplace?” This viral interview hack involves writing your responses to common questions and strategically placing them around your computer. The main benefit to this (and what makes it better than simply having a notebook next to you with your responses) is that your sticky notes are at eye level. You can maintain eye contact (or camera contact, in this case) by placing them on the sides of your computer screen or the wall behind you instead of having to look down.
This trick is genius for anyone who finds that nerves cause them to blackout and forget their answers or completely fumble through them. Similarly, it prevents interviewees from picking random answers out of thin air because they’re panicking, which may or may not be tailored to the role they are interviewing for.
What to write on your sticky notes
You can’t predict every question that will come your way, but here are some possible prompts to use on your sticky notes that can help you stand out amongst applicants.
1-3 word reminders of answers to tricky questions
Use your sticky notes to jog your brain for questions you’ll likely come across and need help remembering your response to. I wrote short prompts like “new manager – too many tasks” for a question about a time I made a mistake at work or “leadership – marketing project” to remind myself of an example of a time I demonstrated leadership skills.
“Using a sticky note to highlight a few words on why you’re the best person for the job is a great way to make sure you stick the landing.”
Adjectives for how people would describe you
I don’t know about you, but I can easily recall criticism I’ve received but often forget all the nice things people have said about me throughout my career (why, brain?!). If you’re in the same boat, writing down some positive adjectives like “motivated,” “ambitious,” or “team player” can help you quickly remember the things your peers and managers have said about you.
A few points on why you’re the ideal candidate
Ah, everyone’s favorite interview question, second only to the dreaded “Tell me about yourself.” When it comes time to wrap up a virtual interview, taking the time to reinforce why you’re the best candidate is extra important. Using a sticky note to highlight a few words on why you’re the best person for the job is a great way to make sure you stick the landing. For example, you could write “experience in field, fit with company, excited about [insert reference to job description]” to remind yourself of your closing pitch.
Company values or mission
Speaking of your fit with the company, it is helpful to peruse the company’s website and make note of anything you can easily reference in your answers. For example, if the company’s mission is to encourage a passion for healthy living, you can create a sticky note with a reminder to mention how passionate you are about living a healthy life (with one or two examples!). Or include “passionate” as one of the adjectives from earlier. Weaving company details into your answers can help you stand out and seem like a natural fit for the opportunity.
“Weaving company details into your answers can help you stand out and seem like a natural fit for the opportunity.”
Key requirements from the job description
Another great use of your sticky notes for this interview hack is to write down a few keywords from the job description that you can easily reference in your answers. For example, if the job posting mentions a lot of data analytics and number crunching, jot down those keywords so you’re reminded to mention your data experience and comfort with math as you walk through your resume.
Questions for your Interviewers
When the “Do you have any questions for us?” part of the interview hits, come prepared. Use one or two sticky notes to jot down reminders of the questions you’d like to ask. Think: “How is performance measured?” or “How big is the team?” Not only will this show that you’ve done your research, but it will also help you gain important information about the opportunity that you can’t find in the job description.
A reminder to smile
Believe it or not, I had this reminder on a sticky note for the virtual interviews I did, and it was so helpful! When you’re nervous and want to put your best foot forward, sometimes that can come across as serious (hello, RBF). In virtual interviews, you don’t have body language going for you the way you would in person. By including a reminder to loosen up—whether it’s something like “smile!” or “relax” or “you’ve got this!”—you’ll seem more confident and at ease.
How to use your sticky notes effectively
Now that you’ve got your sticky notes ready to go, there are a few things to keep in mind for this interview hack to be a success and not a distraction. Below are some of my tried-and-true tips for using sticky note prompts during virtual interviews!
Know your answers ahead of time
Think of the sticky note the way you would a cheat sheet during a test at school. It’s there to remind you of what you know, not teach you the material. Make sure you know your answers ahead of time, and only count on your sticky notes to remind you of them if you feel flustered or anxious on the day of the interview. If you can answer the questions without the sticky notes while practicing, you’re in a good spot!
Keep each note short and sweet
Use as few words as possible so you don’t need to read a bunch while answering. You don’t want to come off as distracted or scripted as you read through your notes. You should be able to recall your full answer with just a one or two-word reminder.
“Know your answers ahead of time, and only count on your sticky notes to remind you of them if you feel flustered or anxious.”
Use necessary prompts only
In the same vein as keeping it short and sweet, only include sticky notes for prompts you need and think you will use. Trust me, having too many sticky notes around your laptop is going to confuse you during the interview. If there’s an example you always forget or you mix up the company’s values with another company you’re interviewing with, write those things on a sticky note. Chances are you’ll remember where you went to school and the title of your last position, so skip those reminders.
Practice using the notes in advance
You’re probably noticing a theme here, and it’s that preparation is the name of the game. Assuming you have a bit of time to prepare for your interviews in advance, see if you can convince a friend or family member to hop on a Zoom or Facetime call and give you a mock interview. This will give you a chance to practice using your sticky notes as you would during your interview, and they’ll be able to give you feedback on whether it seems natural or not. If nobody is around to help, record yourself so you can watch it back and make any tweaks.
Maintain good eye contact
Finally, maintaining good eye contact is key for using this strategy without seeming unnatural and throwing off your interviewers. Place your sticky notes as close to camera level as possible and only briefly glance at them when needed (hence why it’s important to include as few words as possible!). It will be obvious if you’re constantly looking off your screen or failing to maintain eye contact, so remember to prioritize connecting with your interviewers over answering each question “perfectly.”
If you keep these tips in mind and take some time to get familiar with using sticky notes beforehand, this interview hack can be the difference between sounding confident and prepared and forgetting your response halfway through. In a world of virtual interviews and lots of competition, leveraging every advantage you have in your toolkit is not only smart, it’s necessary. Pair this strategy with your killer interview outfit and confidence, and you’ll be landing your next role in no time!
Devin Cleary Gooden, Contributing Finance Writer
Devin is a Toronto-based content creator and marketer with 10 years of experience writing about finance and career tips for women. She is passionate about helping women understand finances so they can create the life they want to have, whatever that may look like. She is currently a senior manager of content at a fintech company, where she works on websites, emails, social media, videos, and podcasts.