What is the 80/20 rule for interviews?

Ace Your Design Interview: Mastering the 80/20 Rule

The design interview process can feel like navigating a minefield of questions and expectations. You’re expected to articulate your design philosophy, explain your process, and showcase your skills, all while trying to make a lasting impression on the hiring team. It’s easy to get overwhelmed.

But what if there was a way to focus your energy and maximize your impact? Enter the 80/20 rule, also known as the Pareto Principle. In the context of design interviews, this rule suggests that 80% of your success will stem from 20% of your effort. Identifying and prioritizing that crucial 20% can dramatically improve your chances of landing the job.

For design interviews, that 20% is unequivocally your case study presentation.

Think about it: the hiring team wants to see your design process in action, how you approach problem-solving, and the quality of your solutions. Generic answers about your passion for user-centered design, while appreciated, are not nearly as compelling as a well-crafted walkthrough of a successful project.

Why Focus on the Case Study?

• Tangible Evidence of Skills: A case study provides concrete evidence of your abilities, showcasing your design thinking, user research, prototyping skills, and visual execution.
• Demonstrates Problem-Solving: It allows you to walk the interviewers through the challenges you faced, the decisions you made, and the rationale behind your design choices.
• Reveals Your Process: A well-structured case study highlights your design methodology, allowing the interviewers to assess how you approach projects and collaborate with teams.
• Highlights Your Results: The case study demonstrates the impact of your design solutions, showcasing how your work positively influenced user experience or business outcomes.
• Engages the Interviewers: A compelling case study captivates the interviewers, making them active participants in your design journey. This engagement can lead to a more meaningful and memorable interview.

Applying the 80/20 Rule: The How-To

1. Prioritize Preparation: Dedicate the majority of your preparation time to crafting and rehearsing your case study presentations. Select 2-3 projects that best represent your skills and experience, focusing on the projects where you played a significant role.

2. Craft a Compelling Narrative: Your case study should tell a story. Start with the problem statement, outline your research and discovery process, showcase your design iterations and solutions, and conclude with the results and lessons learned.

3. Visuals are Key: Utilize visually appealing slides that showcase your design work effectively. Include mockups, prototypes, user flows, and data visualizations to support your narrative.

4. Practice, Practice, Practice: Rehearse your presentation multiple times to ensure a smooth delivery. Be prepared to answer questions about your design decisions and the rationale behind your choices.

5. Allocate Interview Time Wisely: During the interview, steer the conversation towards your case studies as much as possible. Dedicate the bulk of the interview time (ideally 60-80%) to presenting and discussing your work.

6. Address Traditional Questions Briefly: While important, traditional interview questions (e.g., “Tell me about yourself,” “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”) should only occupy a smaller portion of the interview time. Prepare concise and impactful answers, focusing on skills and experiences that align with the job requirements.

7. Prepare Targeted Questions: While the bulk of your time should be showcasing your work, having a few thoughtful questions prepared for the end of the interview demonstrates genuine interest in the role and the company.

In conclusion, while being prepared to answer general interview questions is certainly important, mastering the 80/20 rule means prioritizing your case study presentation. By investing the majority of your effort in showcasing your design process and solutions effectively, you significantly increase your chances of making a lasting impression and landing your dream design role. Focus on showcasing your tangible skills and design thinking through impactful case studies, and let your work speak for itself. Good luck!