“Too Junior” Trap: How to Talk About Your Skills in Interviews
Proven Interview Tactics for Students and Career Changers
✅ Why You Should Care
You're learning cloud. You're earning certifications. You're applying to jobs.
But every time you get a rejection or ghosted after an interview, the feedback is the same:
“You’re too junior.”
Let’s be real “too junior” doesn’t always mean you’re not smart enough. It often means:
You didn’t explain your experience in the language of the job
You sounded unsure of your skills
You didn’t show how your learning connects to business needs
This post will teach you how to fix that.
We’re breaking down a real strategy used by successful career switchers who landed cloud and cybersecurity jobs with no prior tech experience.
🎯 What “Too Junior” Actually Means
Let’s decode the phrase.
When interviewers say “too junior,” they often mean:
You didn’t speak confidently about what you know
You gave theoretical or textbook answers
You failed to connect your skills to real-world problems
Here’s what they’re really thinking:
“Will this person need too much hand-holding?”
“Can they take a task and figure it out?”
“Do they understand why this job exists in the first place?”
You don’t need a senior-level background to give them a confident “yes.”
You need a better story.
🧠 Step 1: Translate Your Learning Into Business Language
Hiring managers care about:
Can you solve problems?
Can you communicate clearly?
Can you grow quickly on the job?
How to talk about your skills the right way:
Instead of this:
“I passed the SC-900 exam and studied Microsoft compliance tools.”
Say this:
“I earned the SC-900 and practiced explaining how Microsoft tools like Purview and Entra ID help companies manage risk, identity, and compliance. I created a study journal where I broke down concepts in plain English similar to how I’d explain it to a customer or a teammate.”
Now you’re not just a student.
You’re someone who knows how to apply knowledge.
🎤 Step 2: Own Your Story (Even If You Feel Behind)
You’re not “just” a student or career switcher.
You’re someone who:
Took initiative to learn something new
Managed your own learning plan
Created structure in chaos
Here’s a quick formula to use:
“I come from a [your background] background. What I’ve found is that those same skills like [soft skill 1] and [soft skill 2]—help me learn new tech quickly. For example, when I was learning [cert or project], I [describe the action + impact].”
Example:
“I come from a customer service background. I’ve found that communication and empathy help me explain technical topics in a way non-technical teams can understand. While studying for the AZ-900, I made flashcards and summary videos for myself which I later shared with a study group. It helped all of us pass.”
That story works. Why?
Because it highlights transferable skills, not just titles.
🔄 Step 3: Use the STAR Method for Everything
STAR = Situation + Task + Action + Result
It’s the gold standard in interviews.
But most people either:
Memorize one STAR story and forget the rest
Talk for too long without a clear takeaway
Here’s how to keep it simple:
Prompt: “Tell me about a time you solved a problem.”
Answer:
“While studying for the AI-900, I realized I was struggling with Responsible AI concepts. So I built a checklist of ethical principles from Microsoft Learn, then used it to analyze three real-world AI tools like ChatGPT. This helped me retain the information and feel confident applying it in discussions. I even turned it into a LinkedIn post that got good engagement.”
Simple. Clear. Outcome-focused.
🧩 Step 4: Turn Projects Into Impact Stories
Even if your “project” is just a study journal, lab, or personal app you can make it sound meaningful.
Example 1: Security Certification
“While preparing for the SC-900, I created a Notion dashboard to track key concepts across Entra ID, Defender, and Purview. I used it to quiz myself and test real scenarios. It became so helpful, I shared it with my study group. We all passed.”
Example 2: Cloud Practice
“After learning the basics of Azure through the AZ-900, I built a practice environment where I deployed a virtual machine and configured network security groups. I documented each step and created a short tutorial for others just starting out.”
Example 3: Soft Skills Meet Tech
“I used my experience in retail to document repeat questions customers had, then simulated a help desk script using ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot Studio. It helped me connect user needs with how AI tools can be trained.”
🪜 Step 5: Add These Phrases to Sound More Experienced
Use these power phrases to sound confident (even if you’re still new):
“I learned this by building a [project/lab] where I had to…”
“I’d approach that by first identifying the goal, then using tools like [X] to find the best solution.”
“What I’ve seen in real-world case studies is…”
“I practiced this by simulating a help desk scenario where…”
“This reminded me of how security policies work in real IT environments especially when thinking about roles and permissions.”
It’s not about faking experience.
It’s about framing what you’ve done through the lens of impact.
💼 Step 6: Use AI to Practice With Feedback
Tools like ChatGPT can simulate interviews.
Prompt Example:
“Act as a hiring manager for a junior cloud role. Ask me 5 behavioral questions. After each answer, rate me on a scale of 1–10 and tell me what to improve.”
This helps you:
Practice answering out loud
Get comfortable with awkward pauses
Improve delivery before the real thing
Bonus: Use the Tech Simplified AI Coach for smarter interview prep tailored to your cert.
🎯 Real Student Example
Maribel worked at Target, then in customer service at a hospital. She passed the SC-900 and AZ-900, but still heard “you’re too junior.”
So she:
Practiced STAR stories in front of a mirror and with AI
Created a “skills portfolio” in Notion
Reframed her past work as problem-solving wins
She got a job as a Cloud Support Analyst 7 weeks later.
Not because she got lucky.
Because she learned how to tell her story.
📝 Action Steps: Do These Today
✅ Open ChatGPT or your favorite AI tool
✅ Use the prompt: “Act as a hiring manager. Ask me 5 questions.”
✅ Practice 1 STAR story using your latest project or cert
✅ Record yourself on your phone. Watch it back and rate your delivery
✅ Share one learning takeaway on LinkedIn with a short post
Bonus:
📓 Start a Notion or Google Doc called “Interview Prep Stories” and log 5 STAR examples this week.
🚀 What’s Next?
Join Growth Pass for $9.99/month:
✅ Training plans that lead to jobs
✅ Weekly check-ins + motivation
✅ AI prompt packs for every cert
✅ Resume and LinkedIn templates
✅ Career interview support
Start here: sgtechsimp.com/training
You’re not too junior.
You just need the right words.
Always Be Learning.™