I’m sure you’ve heard “be yourself” when it comes to job interviews. So what does that really mean? Now arguably “be yourself” or “be your authentic self” could simply mean be whatever you are in the moment. Even if you’re feeling annoyed or argumentative or just plain full of yourself. So let me be clear […]

After all that work and worry preparing for an interview, once the interview happens it’s hard to just sit patiently and do nothing. Waiting in general is tough, but each day you’re waiting for feedback after a job interview feels like an eternity! At the very least, you just want to know how you did. […]

Does positive thinking in interviews always land you the job? Well, no. But there is an advantage to putting your brain into “seeing things work out well” mode. And it’s not just about magical thinking. What about worst case thinking? A lot of people brace themselves for possible rejection. And so that’s where they focus […]

Sometimes you’ll see a listing for a great job but the job doesn’t exist. And unfortunately you probably will never know that for sure. But brace yourself … companies do indeed post fake positions that do not now or may never exist. Are companies that do this evil? Are the hiring managers bored and just […]

Ok. It might not be your dream job — then again it might. But if you’re in an interview and asked the “job fit your goals” question your answer needs to show why this job is a great job for you. One that will fit your future goals as well as your current career needs. […]

You spend so much time prepping for an interview that by the time you get there you probably have countless potential answers swimming in your head. And so when you finally get a chance to answer a real live question it’s easy to let loose and talk too much in interviews. Especially when interview nerves […]

Dear Work Coach, I am looking for a new job and was wondering if you would be able to provide any hints on phone interviews. Unfortunately we are unable to see

It’s tempting to talk about former employers in a way that doesn’t paint them in the best light. After all, you’re telling your prospective employer why you want them. And why that last job wasn’t right for you. So a former boss — especially one who drove you crazy — is a likely target to […]

When I say “interview skills” I’m not just talking about answering different types of questions and handling yourself during interviews. It’s about that extra special something that helps you stand out in an interview from the rest of the well-practiced, well-prepared candidates. And helps you connect to that person on the other side of the […]

We’ve all had bad interviews. Or at least ones where we remember things we could have said or done better. And while I am not here to give you false hope, the good news is a bad interview doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t get the job. Why is that you ask? Good question. First, you […]