Here's a reality check that might surprise you: you're not just interviewing when you're sitting across from a hiring manager in a conference room. You're interviewing every single day, in every interaction, both online and offline. Every conversation is a chance to show what you bring to the table, and this chapter will help you show up with clarity and confidence—whether you're on a video call, in a team meeting, or having a casual chat by the coffee machine.
Think about it this way: when you're collaborating with colleagues on a project, you're demonstrating your communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and leadership style. When you post a thoughtful comment on LinkedIn or share an industry article, you're showcasing your expertise and professional interests. When you create content—whether it's a blog post, a presentation, or even a well-crafted email—you're displaying your ability to organize ideas and communicate effectively.
These moments matter more than you might realize. Your reputation as a professional isn't built during the 45 minutes you spend in a formal interview room—it's built through hundreds of small interactions that happen throughout your career. The colleague who remembers how you handled a difficult client situation might become your strongest advocate when a project management role opens up in their new company. The thoughtful response you gave during a team retrospective might stick with your manager when promotion discussions come up.
This is especially important in today's connected world, where your digital footprint follows you everywhere. Potential employers, colleagues, and industry contacts can easily find your LinkedIn profile, see your social media posts, and discover the content you've created. Every piece of content you put out there is working for you—or potentially against you.
The key to making every interaction work in your favor is consistency. You want to be known as someone who gets things done, solves problems, and makes other people's lives easier. This reputation doesn't happen overnight, but it builds through small, consistent actions.
When you're in a meeting and someone brings up a challenge, be the person who asks clarifying questions and suggests practical next steps. When a colleague is struggling with a deadline, offer to help them break down the work or connect them with resources. When you see a process that could be improved, take the initiative to document your observations and propose solutions.
These behaviors demonstrate the core skills that make great project managers: strategic thinking, stakeholder management, process improvement, and leadership. Even if you're not officially managing projects yet, you can show these capabilities in your current role.
Now, let's talk about one of the most practical skills you'll need: your elevator pitch. Picture this scenario—you're standing in an elevator with someone, and they ask, "What do you do?" You have about 30 seconds before the elevator reaches your floor. Most people stumble over their words in this situation, offering vague responses like "I work in marketing" or "I'm in tech." But this is your moment to shine.
Your elevator pitch should accomplish three things in those crucial 30 seconds:
Here's a simple template you can adapt:
"I'm [your name], and I help [type of organizations/people] [achieve specific outcomes] by [your key approach or expertise]. I specialize in [1-2 key skills], and I'm particularly passionate about [area of interest]. Right now, I'm [current focus or goal]."
For example, instead of saying "I work in operations," you might say: "I'm Sarah, and I help growing companies streamline their processes so they can scale efficiently. I specialize in cross-functional project coordination and stakeholder communication, and I'm particularly passionate about finding creative solutions to complex logistical challenges. Right now, I'm focused on transitioning into formal project management to take on larger strategic initiatives."
Notice how this approach immediately communicates value, demonstrates relevant skills, and opens the door for follow-up questions. The person you're talking to now understands not just what you do, but how you think and what motivates you.