Pod Insights No B.S. Job Search Advice Radio Why Your Interview Skills Suck About this episode EP 3043 Finding a job requires a different skillset than performing the job itself. ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTERPeople hire Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter to provide No BS job search coaching and career advice globally because he makes job search and succeeding in your career easier. Schedule a discovery call to speak with me about one-on-one or group coaching during your job search at www. TheBigGameHunter.us. You will also find great info and job search coaching to help with your job search at JobSearch. Community You can get free copies of 25 Interview Questions and Answers, How to Craft a Compelling Elevator Pitch in 20 Seconds or Less, Get Ready for the Job Jungle, Diagnosing Your Job Search Problems, No BS Resume Advice, and Prove Your Worth First, Then Negotiate. Receive free weekly suggestions and more. Subscribe to No BS Job Search Advice Radio, the #1 podcast in Apple Podcasts for job search with more than 3000 episodes. Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/TheBigGameHunter We grant permission for this post and others to be used on your website as long as a backlink is included to www. TheBigGameHunter.us and notice is provided that it is provided by Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter as an author or creator. Not acknowledging his work or providing a backlink to www. TheBigGameHunter.us makes you subject to a $1000 penalty which you proactively agree to pay. Please contact us to negotiate the use of our content as training data.
Transcript 0:00 Speaker 00 At Edward Jones, we believe rich is about taking care of what gives your life meaning. That's why your financial advisor personalizes your plan to help you preserve your progress and create something that lasts. Let's find your rich. Edward Jones. Member SIPC.
0:15 Speaker 01 UKG is the workforce operating platform with unified HR, payroll, and workforce management. Built to solve the unique challenges of frontline work. Powered by People First AI and decades of labor data, UKG turns workforce intelligence into real-time decisions around staffing, pay, compliance, and productivity, enabling every worker to confidently take action as work happens. Because when work works, everything works. Learn more at ukg.com/work. UKG, HR, Pay, and Workforce Management.
0:45 Speaker 02 Welcome back, everyone, to the deep dive. You know, today, we're going to tackle something that I think a lot of people really struggle with. And that's job interviews.
0:57 Speaker 03 Yeah.
0:58 Speaker 02 Have you ever, like, walked out of an interview and been like, "Ew, that was terrible. I really messed that one up." I think we've all been there.
1:07 Speaker 03 Oh, yeah, absolutely.
1:08 Speaker 02 And whether you're, like, actively prepping for a big interview right now, or you're just thinking about getting into the job market, or maybe you're just curious about upping your game when it comes to just professional conversations in general.
1:20 Speaker 03 Mm-hmm.
1:20 Speaker 02 You know, we're going to try and cover all of that today in this deep dive. So we've got some really good material for you today. Like I said, a lot of people really struggle with this.
1:29 Speaker 03 Yeah.
1:29 Speaker 02 And we're going to try and just pull out all the best tips and tricks to really help you shine.
1:33 Speaker 03 Yes.
1:34 Speaker 02 So I think one of the first things that people get hung up on is that initial impression when you're walking into the room. Those first couple of minutes are really huge. What do you think?
1:42 Speaker 03 I think it's really important. It kind of sets the tone for the whole interview. And I think one of the things that people get really tripped up on is the handshake.
1:49 Speaker 02 Right.
1:50 Speaker 03 Which seems like such a simple thing.
1:52 Speaker 02 Yeah.
1:52 Speaker 03 But, you know, a limp handshake just conveys weakness. And a super-strong handshake can be just as bad.
1:59 Speaker 02 Yeah.
1:59 Speaker 03 So.
2:00 Speaker 02 So what's the rule of thumb? Like, do you go for it? Do you wait for the interviewer to initiate? What's the sweet spot?
2:07 Speaker 03 I think a good rule of thumb is to kind of look to the interviewer and let them lead. So if they put their hand out... You know, respond with a firm handshake.
2:19 Speaker 02 Yeah.
2:19 Speaker 03 Not crushing. But if they don't offer, you know, especially if there's a big desk between you or you're in a panel interview, it's probably best to just avoid that awkward reaching across the desk or anything like that.
2:30 Speaker 02 Right, yeah. Much better to err on the side of, you know, not doing it than trying to force an awkward handshake.
2:36 Speaker 03 Exactly.
2:36 Speaker 02 Especially if you're in a panel interview and there's five people on the other side of the table.
2:40 Speaker 03 Exactly.
2:40 Speaker 02 And you're trying to like sneak your hand around.
2:42 Speaker 03 And you know what? If you don't shake hands very often, it's actually a good idea to practice.
2:47 Speaker 02 Oh, really?
2:47 Speaker 03 Yeah. Sounds silly.
2:49 Speaker 02 Okay.
2:50 Speaker 03 But that muscle memory can really give you a confidence boost.
2:53 Speaker 02 Interesting. All right. So you've successfully entered the room.
2:58 Speaker 03 Uh huh.
2:59 Speaker 02 You've made a good first impression. Now it's time to get down to the questions. And the one that everybody seems to dread is, tell me about a time when.
3:08 Speaker 03 Yeah.
3:09 Speaker 02 These questions seem to be everywhere these days. Why is that?
3:13 Speaker 03 Well, it's pretty simple. You know, past performance is seen as a really good predictor of future behavior.
3:19 Speaker 02 Yeah.
3:20 Speaker 03 So interviewers want to hear those concrete examples of how you handled certain situations and what the results were.
3:26 Speaker 02 And this is where people really start to freeze up. They get that question and it's like their mind just goes totally blank.
3:32 Speaker 03 Right.
3:32 Speaker 02 And then you're just left with either dead silence or some kind of rambling, incoherent answer that doesn't actually say anything.
3:40 Speaker 03 Yep. Exactly. And not being prepared for those behavioral questions can really hurt you. It makes you seem like you haven't really thought about your experiences or you can't recall those relevant situations.
3:53 Speaker 02 Well, how do you prepare for this? Because it seems like they can just throw anything at you.
3:58 Speaker 03 Well, I think the best approach is to kind of be a detective.
4:00 Speaker 02 Yeah.
4:01 Speaker 03 So before you even go into the interview, really dive deep into the job description, what they're looking for, the selection criteria, what are the key skills and experiences they keep bringing up? Look for patterns. Like, are they talking a lot about problem solving? Teamwork, communication, meeting targets. Those are the kinds of things that will clue you in to what behavioral questions they're probably going to ask.
4:25 Speaker 02 So you're saying. You almost have to work backward from what they're telling you. They want to kind of predict the questions they're going to ask.
4:30 Speaker 03 Exactly. And then, once you've identified those key areas, start brainstorming some specific examples from your past work or projects, you know, volunteer activities, even just important life experiences. Anything that really shows how you've demonstrated those skills in action.
4:45 Speaker 02 OK.
4:46 Speaker 03 And the more detailed and vivid your example, the better. I always suggest using something called the STAR method.
4:53 Speaker 02 Oh, yeah.
4:53 Speaker 03 Situation, task, action, and result to structure your story. So it's concise and effective.
5:00 Speaker 02 OK, so you've got your examples ready to go.
5:02 Speaker 03 Yeah.
5:03 Speaker 02 Another thing that we talked about was being really careful about the language we use.
5:07 Speaker 03 Uh huh.
5:08 Speaker 02 And the whole thing about avoiding gender stereotypes really stood out to me.
5:11 Speaker 03 Yeah, it's really important to be mindful of the language you use, and especially when you're talking about hypothetical scenarios.
5:17 Speaker 02 Right.
5:18 Speaker 03 Especially about teams and stuff.
5:19 Speaker 02 Yeah.
5:20 Speaker 03 It's really easy to fall into those unconscious gender bias traps.
5:24 Speaker 02 Like that example that we talked about with the medical profession. Automatically referring to the nurse as she when the gender wasn't even specified. It just really shows how ingrained those assumptions can be.
5:35 Speaker 03 Right. What's really interesting is how those really subtle linguistic choices can kind of expose those underlying assumptions. So sticking with gender neutral language, when you're talking about hypothetical situations where the gender's not specified, shows that you're aware and you're inclusive. It's a small thing.
5:55 Speaker 02 Yeah.
5:55 Speaker 03 But it shows respect.
5:57 Speaker 02 Yeah. It's subtle, but it makes difference.
5:59 Speaker 03 Ah.
6:00 Speaker 02 All right, so we've talked about handshakes and we've talked about preparing for those. Tell me about a time when questions.
6:08 Speaker 03 Yeah.
6:09 Speaker 02 Another thing that people tend to get wrong is just talking too much.
6:12 Speaker 03 Oh, yeah.
6:13 Speaker 02 I know I'm guilty of that.
6:14 Speaker 03 It's an easy trap to fall into, especially if you're passionate about what you're talking about or if you're a little nervous. But honestly, those really long, rambling answers. They just dilute your message.
6:25 Speaker 02 Right.
6:25 Speaker 03 Interviewers want you to get to the point and give them concise answers.
6:28 Speaker 02 And it's not even just about the length of the answer. It's about relating everything back to the actual job.
6:34 Speaker 03 Exactly.
6:34 Speaker 02 I think that's a point that a lot of people miss.
6:36 Speaker 03 Absolutely. It's great to talk about your experiences, but you need to tie all that back to what they're looking for. What skills you have that they need, what you've accomplished that would be relevant to them, and how all that makes you a good fit for the role in the company.
6:52 Speaker 02 So it's kind of shifting your mindset from like, here's what I did, to here's how what I did can help you.
6:58 Speaker 03 Precisely. And, you know, you can also use we language when you're talking about past team successes.
7:04 Speaker 02 Yeah.
7:04 Speaker 03 That can really highlight your collaborative skills.
7:06 Speaker 02 Yeah.
7:06 Speaker 03 Interviewers aren't always just looking for a brilliant individual.
7:09 Speaker 02 Right.
7:10 Speaker 03 They want to see that you can be a team player.
7:12 Speaker 02 It's a team effort. Okay, so you've made it through all the questions.
7:16 Speaker 03 Mm-hmm.
7:16 Speaker 02 You think you've nailed it. And then you get to that moment at the end where they say, do you have any questions for us?
7:21 Speaker 03 Yeah.
7:22 Speaker 02 And it always feels like such a formality, but it's actually a really big opportunity.
7:27 Speaker 03 Huge opportunity, yeah.
7:29 Speaker 02 Yeah.
7:29 Speaker 03 And honestly, if you ask questions that aren't well thought out or that you could have easily found the answers to online, that can really undo all the good work you've just done.
7:38 Speaker 02 Yeah. It's like showing up to a presentation and being like, so what does your company even do?
7:43 Speaker 03 Exactly.
7:44 Speaker 02 So what's the better way to handle that moment?
7:46 Speaker 03 Well, you have two really good options. If they've actually answered all your questions throughout the conversation and I can be like, just politely say something like, thank you, all my questions have been answered.
7:57 Speaker 02 Right, that takes the pressure off having to come up with something on the spot.
8:00 Speaker 03 Exactly. But if you do have questions, and this is a really good way to show that you're engaged and genuinely interested, make sure they're thoughtful and insightful. Questions that show you've done your homework and you're thinking about the role in the company's future. For example, you could ask about the team's biggest challenges in the next six months or what professional development opportunities there are within the role.
8:23 Speaker 02 Right. Yeah, we could do a whole nother deep dive on how to come up with good questions to ask.
8:27 Speaker 03 Absolutely.
8:28 Speaker 02 All right, let's shift gears a little bit and talk about something that underpins all of this. And that's just the importance of preparation and practice.
8:36 Speaker 03 It's crucial.
8:37 Speaker 02 Yeah.
8:38 Speaker 03 It's so easy to blame a bad interview on being nervous or not clicking with the interviewer or getting tough questions. But most of the time, it really comes down to just not preparing enough and not practicing.
8:52 Speaker 02 It's like any other skill.
8:53 Speaker 03 Yeah.
8:54 Speaker 02 If you don't practice, you're not going to be good at it.
8:57 Speaker 03 Exactly.
8:57 Speaker 02 And we don't interview every day, so it's not like something we're naturally good at.
9:00 Speaker 03 And this is where I see more experienced professionals kind of fall into a trap.
9:05 Speaker 02 Yeah.
9:05 Speaker 03 They have years of experience and they think they can just wing it.
9:09 Speaker 02 Right.
9:09 Speaker 03 But the interview landscape changes, and even if you have tons of experience, you still need to prepare for each specific interview.
9:18 Speaker 02 I like that analogy that we talked about with elite athletes.
9:21 Speaker 03 Yeah.
9:21 Speaker 02 You know, they're at the top of their game.
9:23 Speaker 03 Yeah.
9:23 Speaker 02 But they still practice constantly.
9:26 Speaker 03 All the time.
9:27 Speaker 02 Because that's what keeps them sharp.
9:28 Speaker 03 Exactly.
9:29 Speaker 02 And it's important for experienced job seekers to remember that.
9:31 Speaker 03 Absolutely.
9:32 Speaker 02 Sometimes the first instinct is to think, oh, I didn't get the job because of age discrimination.
9:38 Speaker 03 Mm-hmm.
9:38 Speaker 02 And while that can be a factor, sometime, a lot of times, it's because they just didn't prepare like someone younger might have.
9:45 Speaker 03 It's often the case.
9:47 Speaker 02 So what does good preparation actually look like? What should people be doing?
9:51 Speaker 03 It's not enough to just think about your answers in your head.
9:55 Speaker 02 Okay.
9:55 Speaker 03 You have to actually practice saying them out loud.
9:57 Speaker 02 Oh, interesting.
9:58 Speaker 03 That will help you get your phrasing right. Figure out where you might stumble.
10:03 Speaker 02 Yeah.
10:03 Speaker 03 And just get comfortable with talking about these things.
10:06 Speaker 02 And that makes a lot of sense.
10:07 Speaker 03 Yeah.
10:07 Speaker 02 Because it forces you to like actually formulate the words and not just have these vague ideas floating around in your head.
10:13 Speaker 03 Exactly.
10:14 Speaker 02 Yeah.
10:15 Speaker 03 There are tons of resources out there that have lists of tough interview questions and scenarios. You can even record yourself answering them.
10:23 Speaker 02 Okay.
10:24 Speaker 03 Audio or video, and then watch or listen back.
10:27 Speaker 02 Oh, that's a good idea.
10:28 Speaker 03 It's really helpful to see yourself the way an interviewer might. And if you have someone you trust, like a colleague or a mentor, ask them for feedback. That can be super valuable.
10:39 Speaker 02 Great tips. So we've talked a lot about preparing for the questions they're gonna ask you. But an interview isn't just a one-way interrogation.
10:47 Speaker 03 No, it's not.
10:48 Speaker 02 There's a dynamic there.
10:49 Speaker 03 Yeah.
10:49 Speaker 02 And you have more control over that than you might think.
10:51 Speaker 03 Exactly. Remember that the skills you need to find a job, networking, writing your resume, filling out applications, those are different skills than what you need to actually do the job.
11:03 Speaker 02 Right.
11:03 Speaker 03 So in the interview, don't just sit there and wait for them to grill you.
11:07 Speaker 02 Yeah.
11:08 Speaker 03 Be proactive. Start a conversation.
11:10 Speaker 02 Okay, so how do you do that? Because I think a lot of people would be afraid to take control like that in an interview.
11:16 Speaker 03 Well, one really good way is to ask them about their own experience at the company and what the biggest challenges and priorities are for the role you're interviewing for. Early on in the conversation, you could say something like, "I'd love to hear more about your experience here and what you see as the most important things for someone in this position to focus on in the first few months. How can someone really make a difference?" That immediately changes the whole dynamic. You're not just being evaluated anymore.
11:45 Speaker 02 Right.
11:45 Speaker 03 It's more of a two-way conversation.
11:47 Speaker 02 Yeah.
11:47 Speaker 03 You come across as someone who's already thinking about contributing, not just waiting to be told what to do.
11:54 Speaker 02 It's almost like a sales approach.
11:55 Speaker 03 Exactly.
11:56 Speaker 02 You're trying to understand the client's needs so you can offer the right solution.
12:00 Speaker 03 Exactly. By understanding their needs and priorities, you're gathering information that you can use in your answers later on. It shows them that you get it.
12:09 Speaker 02 Yeah.
12:09 Speaker 03 You understand what they're looking for, and you can deliver.
12:12 Speaker 02 So it's not just about the content of your answers.
12:14 Speaker 03 Right.
12:15 Speaker 02 It's also about how you present yourself.
12:16 Speaker 03 Absolutely.
12:17 Speaker 02 Your energy, your enthusiasm, those things are huge.
12:21 Speaker 03 Think of the interviewers as your audience.
12:23 Speaker 02 Yeah.
12:24 Speaker 03 If you're flat and monotone and you look bored, they're gonna tune you out. Enthusiasm is contagious.
12:31 Speaker 02 Right.
12:31 Speaker 03 And it shows them you really want the job.
12:34 Speaker 02 Yeah. Especially for more experienced professionals. You know, if you're interviewing with someone younger than you,
12:40 Speaker 03 Mm-hmm.
12:40 Speaker 02 showing that energy can help combat those assumptions they might have.
12:45 Speaker 03 Exactly.
12:46 Speaker 02 You know, that you might be set in your ways or resistant to change or whatever.
12:49 Speaker 03 Be enthusiastic.
12:50 Speaker 02 Yeah.
12:50 Speaker 03 Show them you're eager to learn.
12:52 Speaker 02 Mm-hmm.
12:53 Speaker 03 You could say something like, "I'm really excited about this particular aspect of the role, and I'm ready to jump in and use my experience to make a difference, but I'm also looking forward to new challenges."
13:03 Speaker 02 And these days, your online presence is part of how you present yourself too, right?
13:07 Speaker 03 Absolutely.
13:07 Speaker 02 LinkedIn, professional blogs, a website if you have one.
13:11 Speaker 03 It's all part of your brand.
13:12 Speaker 02 Yeah.
13:12 Speaker 03 So make sure those things are up to date and professional.
13:15 Speaker 02 Right, because you don't want them to find something that's gonna make them think twice about hiring you.
13:20 Speaker 03 Exactly. Everything online should reflect the professional image you want to project. Okay, so we're getting to the end of the interview.
13:27 Speaker 02 Mm-hmm.
13:27 Speaker 03 And there's one last thing you can do to make a really good final impression. Show them that you're driven to succeed, that you want to exceed expectations.
13:37 Speaker 02 So more than just saying, "I'm a hard worker."
13:40 Speaker 03 Right. Don't just ask generic questions at the end. Instead, ask a question that shows you're ambitious and you're thinking about how to go above and beyond. For example, you could say, "If I were to be hired for this role, and a year from now, I was exceeding all expectations, what would that look like?"
13:57 Speaker 02 Wow, that's a good one.
13:58 Speaker 03 It shows them you're already thinking about how to be successful in the role.
14:01 Speaker 02 Yeah, it sets a high bar.
14:03 Speaker 03 Exactly. It clarifies their expectations and it shows them you're proactive and committed to making a real impact.
14:10 Speaker 02 All right, so we've covered a lot of ground today.
14:12 Speaker 03 We have.
14:13 Speaker 02 What are the key takeaways? What do people really need to remember?
14:16 Speaker 03 I think it comes down to a few key things. Preparation, which means practicing your answers out loud. Thoughtful communication, paying attention to the language you use, and being mindful of things like gender bias. Actively engaging in the conversation, making it a two-way street. And really showing your enthusiasm and passion.
14:36 Speaker 02 Yeah, and remember, it's okay to be nervous.
14:39 Speaker 03 Absolutely.
14:39 Speaker 02 Everybody gets nervous.
14:40 Speaker 03 Everyone.
14:41 Speaker 02 But if you use these strategies, you can really boost your confidence and your chances of success.
14:47 Speaker 03 And even if you don't get the job, every interview is a learning experience.
14:52 Speaker 02 That's true.
14:52 Speaker 03 So take some time afterward to think about what went well and what you could improve on for next time.
14:57 Speaker 02 So as you're gearing up for your next interview,
15:00 Speaker 03 Mm-hmm.
15:00 Speaker 02 think about which of these tips really resonated with you.
15:03 Speaker 03 Yeah.
15:04 Speaker 02 Maybe it's working on those, tell me about a time when...
15:09 Speaker 02 Stories. Or practicing how to take control of the conversation a little bit.
15:14 Speaker 03 Exactly. And don't be afraid to dig deeper into the things that were helpful. Research those common interview questions. Practice that. Tell me about yourself. Pitch until it feels natural. And really take advantage of all the resources that are out there.
15:26 Speaker 02 Yeah, there's so much good stuff out there.
15:28 Speaker 03 There is.
15:29 Speaker 02 The bottom line is with the right preparation, the right attitude, and a genuine enthusiasm for the job, you can really shine in that interview.
15:38 Speaker 03 You absolutely can.
15:39 Speaker 02 All right, that's it for the deep dive today.
15:42 Speaker 03 Thanks for listening.
15:42 Speaker 02 Thanks for joining us.
15:43 Speaker 03 See you next time.
15:44 Speaker 02 We'll see you next time.
15:46 Speaker 00 At Edward Jones, we believe rich is more than caring about the latest and greatest. It's also taking care of what gives your life meaning. That's why your dedicated financial advisor meets you where you are with personalized financial strategies that help protect what matters so you can preserve your progress while creating a path forward. The key to being rich is knowing what counts. Let's find your rich together. Edward Jones. Member SIPC.
16:15 Speaker 01 UKG is the workforce operating platform with unified HR, payroll, and workforce management. Built to solve the unique challenges of frontline work. Powered by People First AI and decades of labor data, UKG turns workforce intelligence into real-time decisions around staffing, pay, compliance, and productivity, enabling every worker to confidently take action as work happens. Because when work works, everything works. Learn more at ukg.com/work. UKG, HR, Pay, and Workforce Management.
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