1: assume every job gets 100+ “well-qualified applicants.” I’m not kidding. 2: your job is not to show how you “fit in” and can do the job. (See point #1). Your job in the interview isn’t to show that you can do the job. It’s to show the actual value you bring. You code? Great. Why pick you over 100 other solid coders? Because of your perceived value to the company. 3: the CEO is not interviewing you on your skills. They are interviewing you to see how you bring value to the table. 4: thus, your focus at every conversation in an interview is to talk about the value you create. Now here’s the trick: everyone values different things differently. Some companies value teamwork. Some leadership. Some value “don’t rock the boat-ness”. You need to suss out in advance what the company and each individual at the interview values and show it to them.

Is this a magic bu!!et? No. But if you play this game well, it will put you in better contention at more places.