Almost everybody can benefit from interview coaching. Even the most polished, professional, and prepared candidates invariably pick up really valuable tips in an interview coaching session with me. In the super competitive Washington job market, one little tweak in how you come across can make the difference between landing the job and losing out to a competitor for the role.
It’s essential to communicate that you’re passionate about the job, someone who’s well-qualified, and, most importantly, someone who’s going to hit the ground running and make an impact. And to do that in the first few minutes which sets the tone for the entire interview.
I will show you how.
Here’s an example of what NOT to do at the beginning:
Very often the first question that an employer will ask in a job interview is: So, can tell me about yourself? (or words to that effect). The way that this question is answered sets the tone for the entire interview. Unfortunately, many inexperienced interviewees answer in such a way that puts them immediately out of contention. They essentially just recite the information contained in their resumes, with which the interviewer is already familiar. That may suggest that they have some combination of timidness, lack of imagination, or cluelessness.
How should you answer? For a summary, please read “How to Have a Knock-It-out-of-the-Park Interview“.
I’ll also coach you on how to answer a wide range of “behavioral” questions (e.g. “Can you tell me about a time you had a conflict with a colleague and how you resolved?”), and such tricky subjects as “Your Greatest Weakness.”
I look forward to working with you on clinching the job offer buy maximizing the impact of your interviews.
I contacted Jim after spending over a year fruitlessly interviewing for jobs which I felt eminently qualified for. Six months later I find myself in a very lucrative and fulfilling job that I’m sure I never would have landed without Jim’s guidance.
I might be Jim’s shortest success story as I only needed 3 sessions with him. I leveraged Jim throughout my interview process and finally for a rigorous final mock sales presentation for a fast growing SaaS company. Throughout the process Jim leveraged his humor, experience, and patience as we navigated the final hurdles together.
After working with Jim, my interviewing and confidence were significantly improved and I went to the next step in every opportunity I pursued.
I received a promotion and pay raise after working with Jim to help me move forward in my career!
Jim in FABULOUS! I have been going to Jim for interview preparations and practice since I struggle with interviewing. He is thoughtful and very skilled at providing you with constructive feedback and guidance. Since going to Jim I have received amazing feedback about my interviews and it can be clearly attributed to his coaching and support. I highly recommend him if you need help preparing for an interview or career advice.
“How to Conduct a “Knock It Out of the Park” Interview