Job interview prep

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4 Ways To Recover From A Bad Job Interview

4 Ways To Recover From A Bad Job Interview

Did you ever leave a job interview feeling like it didn't go so well? Self-doubt can creep in as soon as you walk out the door. Little things nag at you like your posture, tone, and the answers you gave.

You can turn these negative experiences into positive ones and become better at interviews.

Every setback in life is an opportunity to learn, and there are multiple things that you can learn from a bad job interview that could lead to success in the next one.

Here's what you need to do to recover from your mistakes and put yourself in a position to ace your next job interview.

Take Notes Following The Interview


After the interview is over, take a step back and think about the interview.

Write what you feel may have gone wrong. Putting your thoughts on paper after the interview gives them the most validity. This is when raw emotions come out and your thoughts are true. After a couple of days, revisit what you wrote. Look at your entries completed in the heat of the moment. Reflecting on these thoughts with a clear head can help you focus on how to develop your interviewing skills.

It also may be helpful to talk to a friend or professional acquaintance about your poor interview experience and get their feedback.

Identify Strengths


Woman identifies her strengths with a career coach before a job interview

The job interview can be a crucible. It is a source of stress for most job seekers. The thought of saying something wrong or not presenting yourself correctly can be taxing in an already nerve-wracking job search. However, stress and adversity can make you stronger going forward in any job interview process.

Think about what you did that went well. Did you explain situations you were in through solid storytelling? Reflect on what parts of interviews you were most comfortable in. Think about your approach and mindset in these areas. Develop an interview strategy with this as your foundation.

Set Up A Routine


Confident man waits before his job interview

Many great figures in sports set up a routine before every game. Whether it's because they are superstitious or not, there is a level of comfort in doing something familiar. It eases their minds and gets them into the flow of the game. Develop your own routine for yourself with job interviews.

Set up a consistent practice routine where you dedicate a certain amount of time on a daily basis to preparing for the interview. Try to do at least one mock interview with a trusted friend or colleague.

The morning of an interview, go for a run, read, or do something you enjoy that gets your mind off the interview. Develop a routine and set your own flow, and you will improve in the job interview.

Send Thank-You Notes


Woman on laptop writes a thank-you note after a job interview

You should not only send a brief thank-you note after the interview thanking the company for the opportunity to interview for the job, but you should also send a brief thank-you note after receiving a job rejection.

A job rejection can be an opportunity to get some feedback—just don't be too pushy about it.

In responding to the rejection, once again thank them for the opportunity to interview, express disappointment for not getting the job, but congratulate them on finding the right candidate. You can then ask them if there's anything that you can do to improve as a candidate and stay on their radar for future opportunities.

If they respond, it's free feedback! If not, just let it go and move one.

Everyone has made mistakes in job interviews. The important thing is to learn from them and focus your efforts on improving. Follow the tips above to recover from a bad job interview and ensure success in your next one.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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4 Ways To Recover From A Bad …

What Your Interview Body Language Reveals About You



Poor body language can derail an interview regardless of how confident and well-spoken you are. Body language is as much a part of your communication style as what you say verbally—it's really about how you say it. Impressions are made within seconds of reviewing body language.

Consider the first step to entering an interview—the handshake. While it may take less than 10 seconds to complete a handshake, in that time, the interviewer has already developed an impression of your character based on eye contact and the firmness of your shake. A weak handshake and lack of eye contact can leave the impression you are timid and insecure. A sincere and firm handshake with eye contact expresses professionalism and confidence. An overpowering handshake with a fixed gaze may come across as overconfident and arrogant. So, be cautious with your next handshake and start the interview off with a positive impression.

In an interview, body language is present from head to toe. Consider the following...

Posture


Whether you are sitting or standing, your posture projects a level of confidence and engagement in the conversation. When one slumps, it implies to the interviewer a lack of confidence and interest. Sitting stiff as a rock implies nervousness and it creates an uncomfortable situation for building rapport. Sitting at the tip of the chair implies you don't want to be there. Lying back on the chair with your ankle on top of your other knee may appear unprofessional and too relaxed. In general, crossing your arms and legs may be interpreted as building a barrier.

To project professionalism, confidence, and engagement, consider sitting on the chair with your lower back touching or close to the back panel while leaning 10 degrees forward. Keep your hands relaxed in your lap or on the table, and your feet grounded on the floor. When standing, avoid crossing your arms or placing them in your pockets. The point is to project a balanced posture that is not limp or overly stiff.

Eye Contact


Woman maintains good eye contact during a job interview

Eye contact allows you and the interviewer to connect beyond words alone. However, there is a fine balance between good eye contact and when eye contact becomes a weird gaze or stare that can make the other person feel uncomfortable. When you stare without having breaks in between, a casual conversation can come across as a lecture.

Whether you are listening or speaking, maintain eye contact with your interviewer for a couple of seconds at a time (no more than 7 to 10 seconds) and then glance away before returning eye contact again. If you are looking down to take notes, look up occasionally, especially when it appears a special point is being made or when you are asked a question.

Voice


Woman attends a virtual job interview

Speed, tone, and pitch combined make an impression. Talking too fast can be hard to understand and appear as nervousness. When your tone projects apology or defense, you can come across as unconfident and insecure. When you don't make changes between your tone and pitch, you can sound monotone, making it more difficult for the other person to stay engaged.

Learn to take control of your voice. If you are nervous, it can come across in your pitch, so take a breath to help you relax before speaking. Be conscious of your tone and pitch to offer variation and to help emphasize certain points.

Bobblehead


Man with good body language answers a question during a job interview

Some people have a tendency to bobble their heads as a gesture of agreement, but when you nod in excess during a conversation, it becomes a distraction and can be interpreted as though you are agreeing on everything for the sake of wanting to please. You can lose credibility in such instances.

To avoid appearing like a bobblehead, nod occasionally to show you are still engaged and have control over how you nod. You can also tilt your head slightly to the side as though you are trying to listen more carefully as another way to show you are engaged.

Extremities


Woman with good body language smiles during a job interview

There are people who do certain things out of habit, such as flaring their arms while talking, twirling their hair, playing with a pen in hand, rocking back and forth on a chair, and shaking or thumping their feet. Many of these actions occur unconsciously; however, these are distractions to the person you are speaking to and may be perceived as signs you are bored or have trouble focusing. Some people also touch their nose or face frequently when they are nervous. An interviewer may perceive this as a sign you are not being totally honest.

Be conscious of what you do with your hands, legs, and feet and that will help you take control of your movements. Be aware of your own body language and also read your interviewer's body language to give you hints about how they are responding to you.

The interview may start very formal, but as you both become acquainted with one another, the mood may relax and you may adapt your body language to reflect what you sense from the interviewer. There is no absolute rule around body language, but it would be wise to avoid any chance of being misinterpreted.

You can properly prepare your body language before heading into an interview by watching yourself in the mirror act out how you introduce yourself and speak. Another helpful way is to have a friend or colleague interview you and record the entire session. Review how you present yourself and become aware of problem areas to adjust before your interview.

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What Your Interview Body Language Reveals About …

3 Things You MUST Do Before Your Next Informational Interview



Informational interviews are an essential part of a successful job search. Not sure what you need to do? Marcy Twete, author of You Know Everybody! A Career Girl's Guide to Building a Network That Works, offers some great tips for nailing your next informational interview.

1. Give Them Some Options


"The good news is, most people will want to help someone new to the business world," says Twete. "The bad news is, people are busy!"

When you reach out to a potential networking connection, be respectful of his or her time by providing more than just a handful of dates you might be available to meet.

Instead, offer to come to their office or a coffee shop near them, even if it requires a long drive or a train ride on your part. Or ask for a quick 15-minute phone call.

"Someone is much more apt to give you 15 minutes on the phone than an hour in person," says Twete. "If you come to the table with great questions on that call, they'll be more likely to want to meet you and mentor you."

A virtual informational interview is another great option, especially if the company's employees are remote.

2. Do Your Homework


Woman asks a question during an informational interview

"No one wants to dedicate an hour to a meeting and spend the first 20 minutes talking about things you could learn from a LinkedIn profile," says Twete.

Come with questions that are pertinent to that individual's background and be curious about how that relates to your own potential career path.

Not only will it make you feel more confident, but it can give you topic ideas. Twete suggests finding the answers to these questions before you meet with someone:

  • Where did he/she go to school?
  • What does his/her company do?
  • How long has he/she been in his/her position?

"When a college student or recent graduate meets me armed with great questions and it's clear she has done her research, that's when I'm ready to open my network and help her grow," she says.

3. Keep Your Social Media On Point


Professional takes notes during an informational interview

"Your online persona introduces you to anyone you're meeting well before you do," says Twete.

In this day and age, you should expect to be googled by employers, recruiters, and other professionals, especially if you're meeting with them.

Make sure your social media profiles are either private or 100% appropriate for business consumption. The last thing you want to do is show off that infamous picture from Spring Break 2010. Not a good look.

In addition to managing your social media presence, consider creating an online portfolio with a .com in your name. Start a blog. Upload your portfolio. Showcase your personal branding statement. This will help you control your online reputation and make you look super professional.

Nothing can help your job search quite like an informational interview. By following the tips above, your informational interview will surely be a success!

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3 Things You MUST Do Before Your …

The 1 Question I Asked A CEO In An Interview That Got Me The Job



Years ago, I was interviewing for a job. As many of you know, when you go through the interview process, you start with the recruiter, and then you meet with the manager, and then you meet with some of your peers—if you're lucky. Then, at the end of the interview process, you might meet with the highest-ranking executives. So in this case, I met with the CEO.

I knew I was doing okay because I was getting through each round of interviews. So, I go into the CEO's office. I don't know what to expect. It's a startup company. He's sitting there in a t-shirt and sweatpants. He's eating cereal and has his feet up on his desk. He says, "Come sit down." Then, he proceeds to interview me while he eats cereal, his feet still up on the desk.

There I am in my suit, answering all the questions, and, finally, he asks, "So do you have any questions for me?"

And I said, "Yeah. What keeps you up at night?"

"What Keeps You Up At Night?"


The CEO stops eating his cereal, looks at me, and says, "I'm sorry. What?"

I respond, "When it comes to this business, what is keeping you up at night about its success? And how will the job that you're considering me for, how will the job that I do, impact the ability to solve for that?"

His face goes blank, he takes his feet off the desk, and he puts his cereal down. My heart starts to pound. Then, all of a sudden, he turns and looks at me. He leans in and says, "Hmm, let me think about that."

Now I'm thinking, "Oh my gosh, I just blew it."

Then, he gets really serious and starts to explain how this job impacts that ability. Then, he starts singing. Eventually, the interview ended and I went home thinking, "What did I just do?"

I got myself a job.

He told them that I should be hired because anyone who understands that their job impacts every level of the organization—and that they should be thinking about that impact—understands the value of the work that they need to do, and would do a good job. That's what he told the hiring manager. And the hiring manager told me.

So that gamble paid off. It not only taught me how important it is to ask questions in an interview but also how important it is to ask the right questions to the right people.

If you want to stand out in the interview process and land the job, try asking this question in your next job interview. It's all about understanding and relieving an employer's pain points.

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The 1 Question I Asked A CEO …



Even though it's one of the most common interview questions out there, everyone hates being asked, “What is your biggest weakness?" in a job interview. It's hard enough to show your potential during an interview. How are you supposed to sell yourself to employers when they want you to tell them what's wrong with you?

Thankfully, answering this question isn't as hard as you might think. And you can actually use it to show your potential if you respond strategically.

How To Answer "What Is Your Biggest Weakness?" In An Interview


To successfully answer the "What is your biggest weakness?" question in a job interview, don't lie or come up with an answer you think might impress the interviewer (like "being a perfectionist" or "working too hard"). Instead, focus on a skill you're trying to develop.

For example, let's say you're interviewing for a training coordinator role at your favorite company. You love developing training materials and teaching others; however, you get very nervous when delivering your presentations because public speaking isn't your forte.

Instead of trying to sweep this under the rug, address it, but ease the interviewer's concerns by sharing what you're doing to overcome this challenge.

An Example Of How To Answer "What Is Your Biggest Weakness?" In A Job Interview


Woman answers the "What is your biggest weakness?" question in a job interview

"I have to admit that public speaking has always been difficult for me because I'm an introvert. It makes me nervous to get up in front of people and talk. However, I've learned that this was an integral part of training others, which I love doing. So, I've been working hard to improve my public speaking skills by participating in monthly Toastmasters meetings as well as taking on volunteer training sessions for colleagues so I can get some extra practice. Since challenging myself to do this, I've noticed a big difference in my confidence level and have felt more capable than ever in my role as a trainer."

Essentially, you want to convey that you understand you're weak in one area, but to make up for it, you've been working hard to improve that area because you know it's important in your role. There's no need to give a long explanation for this question. Keep it simple and straightforward, and focus on the positives rather than dwell on the negatives.

Don't get stumped by common interview questions like, "What is your biggest weakness?" Instead, go in prepared. Be honest with yourself and tailor your answers so you can market your skills rather than detract from your potential. Remember: Every weakness is an opportunity to grow as a professional, so frame it that way in your next job interview!

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How To Answer The “What Is Your …

3 Things You MUST Do Before Your Next Informational Interview



If you needed to convince someone that Girl Scout Cookies are delicious or that rainbows are really beautiful, you'd have to first know what the cookies taste like and what rainbows look like—right? The same applies when it's time for you to sell yourself in an interview to strangers.

In a job interview, you need to know where you've been, what you've accomplished, and where you're headed.

On the one hand, that might sound really simple. They are your experiences, so you would be the best one to know how far you've come. Yet how many times do we easily forget by Monday what we just did on Saturday and Sunday? How often do we make the same mistakes over and over because we failed to assess our experiences and extract the lessons learned so we don't repeat those mistakes?

These things happen often, only to leave us stumped and running in circles. The same thing can happen in a job interview if we don't take the time beforehand to really understand our past and know what we have to offer in the future.

Preparing for an interview is crucial to ensuring that you come across as a competent potential employee. You need to be able to recount your previous work experiences as if they were yesterday. You need to be able to tell a future employer what you're good at; they aren't going to know yet, so you need to be able to tell them. You need to be able to show them that you think about the future and have goals and aspirations you're working towards. All of this requires you, the applicant, the interviewee, to know yourself first.

Below are some simple steps every job seeker should take before each interview to ensure they present their best self in the most confident way:

1. Review Your Past


  • Where have you worked?
  • What positions did you hold?
  • How long were you in those positions?
  • What unique responsibilities, experiences, or opportunities were you given in these positions?
  • Ultimately, what did you learn from all of these?

2. Assess Your Present


Man presenting to his colleagues at during a work meeting
  • What is your current position?
  • What are your current responsibilities?
  • What are you doing now to improve yourself?
  • If you were laid off or took a voluntary hiatus, how are you utilizing that time to your advantage?

3. Envision Your Future


Woman shakes the hand of the hiring manger before a job interview
  • What are your goals?
  • Do you plan to pursue more education?
  • Would you ultimately like to achieve a leadership role in the new organization?
  • What ideas might you have to propel the industry forward?

4. Know Who You Are


Man on laptop checks his phone before a job interview

In addition to steps 1-3, know what you are good at and where you could stand to use improvement. Be confident (not cocky) when you tell the interviewers what your strengths and weaknesses are.

What current skills do you have that would easily crossover into a new role or industry? These are your transferable skills. Don't underestimate their value in your job interview.

5. Practice


Two colleagues smile after a mock interview

Practice telling your stories. Which words sound good when you say them? Which words don't? What key elements do you want the employer to know and which are irrelevant? Be able to tell a story, hit all the key points, and don't bore the interviewer(s) in the process.

Have a friend conduct a mock interview with you so you get practice in front of another person. One caveat: don't memorize anything. Just know what information you'd like to share and how you'd like to share it when the opportunity arises.

Remember, in the end, you are the one who needs or wants the job. As unique as you are, the employer can easily find another person who will perform the same tasks.

By knowing who you are, you will be more readily able to express to the interviewer what you as a unique individual have to offer and why they need to hire you. By embracing all of who you are before the interview, you will have the tools you need to settle into a place of confidence. When you exude this confidence and sense of knowing who you are, you'll present the image of an articulate, focused, and self-aware individual who employers will want to have on their team.

Now, who are you?

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5 Steps To Present Your Best Self …

3 Things You MUST Do Before Your Next Informational Interview



The thought of conducting a job search right now is probably very intimidating for most professionals—and a little frightening. While there are many things that could be scaring you about your job search, you can't let those fears impact your career, especially when you can easily overcome them with the right tools, tips, and strategies.

If the phrase "looking for a job" strikes fear into your heart, don't worry. Here's how to overcome your job search fears this fall, just in time for Halloween!

Fear #1: Employers Won't Call You Back


You're putting so much time and effort into your job search, but what if employers never call you back? This is a common fear for many professionals, and for good reason.

A lot of job seekers do spend hours a day applying for jobs only to never hear back from employers. There are a few reasons why this might be happening: your resume didn't make it past the ATS, your cover letter didn't stand out to hiring managers, and/or you didn't adequately market your skills and experience to employers or demonstrate your value as a business-of-one.

How To Overcome This Fear:

Fear #2: You'll Bomb The Job Interview


Woman is stressed as she waits for her job interview

This is a fear that probably keeps you up at night. You've finally found a job you like and landed an interview with the company. But what if you bomb the job interview? What if you ruin your chances of getting a job offer?

Confidence is key in a job interview, and you can't be confident without proper interview preparation.

How To Overcome This Fear:

Fear #3: You'll Accept The Wrong Job Offer


Job seeker on laptop dealing with job search fears

If you've been looking for a job for a while, you might feel desperate. This puts you in a vulnerable spot, but you should avoid settling for a job if you can.

On the flip side, you might have multiple job offers and need to decide which one is right for you. Do you feel empowered to make the right decision?

How To Overcome This Fear:

By following the tips above, you'll successfully overcome any job search fears you may have, and you'll realize the job search isn't as scary as it seems!

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How To Overcome Your Job Search Fears …



What’s the one piece of advice given over and over to interviewees? Prepare. Research the company, research the role, take time to analyze what’s going to be required of you, and take time to assess your own abilities.

That’s the advice that Direct Line Group Careers gives to its applicants on their insurance jobs site. So, what do you do when you take this sound advice, but mid-way through a promising interview situation you’re thrown a question that you couldn’t possibly have prepared for?

Tough interview questions are becoming more popular for interviewers to gauge how adept a candidate is at thinking on their feet. Without their prepared answers to fall back on, how an interviewee reacts to a question that seems utterly random can be revealing.

The good news? If you’re applying for a role that you have a lot of passion for, in an area where you’re naturally talented or well-practiced (without necessarily having direct working experience), these questions are a great way to show off your abilities. The bad news? There’s not much you can do to practice for a question that’s deliberately obscure. But that’s not to say it’s completely impossible—after all, the purpose of any interview is to see how good a fit you are for the role and the company.

So, however wacky the question is, the recruiter will probably be hoping for you to consider the context in which it’s being asked when it comes to your answer. That means if you’ve researched the role you’re applying for and know what is going to be expected of you, chances are you’ll have a good idea of the type of logic and thought process they’re looking for when you make your reply.

Below are a few genuine curveball questions that have been asked in interview situations; while none of them have a necessarily right or wrong response, they’ll often fit into fields of purpose. One way to prepare for curveball interview questions is to get used to looking for what the intention is behind the weirdness!

Curveball Interview Questions


  • “Name five uses of a stapler without staples."
  • “What do you think of garden gnomes?”

What they’re really asking: Are you creative? Can you see the bigger picture, or are you focused on the detail? Are you happy to improvise, and are you a good communicator?

  • “Given 20 light bulbs (which break at a certain height), and a building with 100 floors, how do you determine the height at which the bulb breaks?”
  • "Out of 25 horses, pick the fastest three horses. In each race, only five horses can run at the same time. What is the minimum number of races required?"

What they’re really asking: Are you logical? Do you have a good knowledge of probability and equations? Can you figure out an effective method for solving problems and assess its viability?

  • “How would you weigh an elephant?”
  • "If you were shrunk to the size of a pencil and put in a blender, how would you get out?”

What they’re really asking: How creative are you when it comes to problem-solving? Do you have an eye for important details? How do you improvise under pressure?

What Are All The Questions Really Asking?


Job candidate interviews for an open position

They’re all challenges: challenges to normal interview structure, challenges to your ability to think on your feet, and logical challenges that reveal your thought process. Most importantly, don’t see a curveball question as an attempt to trip you up: see it as an opportunity to show that you relish a challenge.

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How To Handle Curveball Interview Questions

3 Things You MUST Do Before Your Next Informational Interview



The job interview—this is where it all really begins! While your resume may have impressed the hiring manager and helped you get your foot in the door, now you really have to bring home those points on the resume in person. Failing to convey the right message in the job interview means it is game over!

Don't expect a callback from the employer if you fall short of conveying key messages. There's a lot that can be done to prepare for the job interview so that you go into it confidently. However, it's one thing to be prepared and it's another thing to perform well in the job interview.

Along with proper preparation, here are three things you must convey in the job interview...

You're A Go-Getter!


Job seeker conveying three things during a job interview

Employers desire employees who have a real passion for the work. During the job interview, demonstrate that desire, passion, and excitement for the challenges that lie ahead with the position.

Make the interviewer believe you'll be able to hit the ground running on the job by demonstrating you have the experiences and skills to succeed on the job. Ask what the biggest challenge is and present examples of previous relevant work where you've been in a similar situation and what you accomplished and achieved.

The research you've done ahead of time should also allow you to demonstrate that you are knowledgeable about the company, its business, and more.

You Fit Right In!


Job seeker conveys they are a good fit for the position in a job interview

Fitting right in is not so much about being agreeable but being likable. Come off as friendly and share your understanding of working in a workplace like the employer's. Ask questions during the interview to further understand the type of work environment that exists and then make an effort to demonstrate you have similar experience working in such an environment.

Another way to create the feel that you'll fit right in is by building rapport with those you speak with. The interview should not take on a model of a Q&A session; you want to turn it into a dynamic conversation. Find ways to build rapport that will help show how well you understand the ins and outs of the business and working in a workplace like theirs.

You're A Character With Great Personality!


Hiring managers understand that job candidates may come into a job interview nervous, but those who are able to overcome their nerves and show some personality are more memorable and attractive as a candidate for the job opening.

When you present your personality, it's easier for employers to see how you stand out from other job candidates. Presented the right way, you can also come off even more likable.

When there's the opportunity for it, don't be afraid to add to the conversation by talking about your personal quirks or likes. It's what makes you you! When there is a lack of personality in a character, the individual can come off as boring and dry. It also doesn't hurt to show how you differentiate from the next candidate with similar experience and skills.

Find opportunities throughout your job interview to weave into the conversation these three things above. In the end, you'll come off as a more memorable and desirable candidate for the job!

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3 Things To Convey In Your Job …

When Companies Start Firing People To Avoid Layoffs



Unfortunately, it's true: many companies will start firing people to avoid additional layoffs. If you're currently employed and worry that your company might fire people instead of announcing layoffs, what can you do to prepare for the worst?

Here's what J.T. O'Donnell, Work It DAILY's founder and CEO, advises professionals to do if they're in this situation...

Prepare To Explain The Situation To Future Employers


Companies facing financial troubles after massive layoffs are placing more employees on performance reviews to avoid additional layoff costs and boost productivity. Survivors of these layoffs should prepare to explain their situation in future job interviews, as many employers conduct reference checks.

To address this issue effectively, consider using the "Experience + Learn = Grow" model when asked about the situation (your reason for leaving/getting fired) in job interviews. The "Experience + Learn = Grow" model is the best way to answer behavioral interview questions—those hard interview questions that require a lot more than a "yes" or "no" answer.

When you use the "Experience + Learn = Grow" model to explain this situation to employers in job interviews, you provide a factual response about the layoffs, your commitment to improving, and your proactive approach to personal growth, demonstrating accountability.

It's unfortunate that when companies are in financial trouble, they feel like they need to blame people who they think are no longer performing. They put them on performance reviews and then fire them instead of announcing layoffs. There are some warning signs, and there are things that you can do to combat this. But most importantly, you should be prepared to explain why you got fired from a job if you know it had to do with their financial situation and their desire to avoid layoffs.

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When Companies Start Firing People To Avoid …

2 Ways People Fail In Job Interviews



Most people don’t properly prepare for job interviews. As a result, they usually make one of these two common mistakes in their job interviews, and it costs them the job.

You might think you can get away with doing minimal interview prep in your job search, but hiring managers can tell if you haven't done your research and are struggling to answer questions.

If you're not doing enough interview prep in your job search, you've probably run into one of these two problems during your job interviews...

Lack Of Interview Prep = Saying Too Much Or Too Little


In job interviews, people often make two major mistakes related to the Goldilocks principle: either they provide too little information and clam up or they talk excessively, sounding self-absorbed. To succeed, it's crucial to strike the right balance by following the "Experience + Learn = Grow" approach, which ensures well-structured answers.

It’s very important that you structure your interview answers in a logical format so that you give hiring managers the right amount of information. Behavioral interview questions require more than a simple "yes" or "no" answer. By following the "Experience + Learn = Grow" model for answering behavioral interview questions, you'll effectively answer any question the hiring manager throws your way.

This takes practice, though. And practice is a huge part of proper interview prep. So, do your research on the company, review your resume, and practice your interview answers in a mock interview with a trusted friend or colleague. You'll never fail a job interview by talking too much or too little again.

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2 Ways People Fail In Job Interviews

How To Stay Calm And Confident In A Job Interview



As a career coach for 20 years, I've worked with people who are so nervous to go into job interviews that they literally sweat through their clothes. Thankfully, there are a few things that significantly helped them stay calm and confident in job interviews so they could make a great first impression and land the job they want.

Here are three tips I have taught all my clients who are going into job interviews to utilize in order to feel calmer and show more confidence. I think at least one of these will help you...

3 Tips To Stay Calm & Confident In An Interview


@j.t.odonnell

3 Job Interview Tips To Make You Calmer & More Confident 😀👍♥️ For years I've been coaching people that get so nervous in job interviews that they sweat through their clothes. as a result I've built a lot of tools and tips to help them succeed in job interviews. these three tips have been the most successful for people who need to be more common focused. the benefit is when you do these things you'll also appear more confident. knowing how to reset yourself in a job interview is very important. you also need to know how to answer really difficult questions in a way that shows the person asking them that you are not afraid. I think you'll find these three tips super helpful and if you like what I suggest you may want to check out my new tiktok series on the 18 hardest behavioral questions and how to answer them correctly. I think it'll give you the confidence you need to truly succeed in your next job interview good luck and go get'em!

♬ original sound - J.T. O'Donnell

1. Wear/bring something that will be a cue to relax.

The first tip that will help you stay calm and confident in job interviews is to go into the interview with something that, when you notice it, will be a cue for you to take a breath and relax and put a smile on your face. For example, if you wear jewelry, put the ring on a different finger or the watch/bracelet on the other wrist. If you usually carry a pen, bring a different color pen.

When you notice this one thing, don't over-smile, but take a breath and remind yourself that you're not there in an interrogation. You're there potentially meeting a new colleague. And when you look at it that way, that you're there to make a friend and get to know somebody, you will take that breath, you will smile, and you will relax. And the more you notice it, the more you'll connect with who you are in that moment so that you're giving off the right body language and facial expressions because that's a big part of your communication in a job interview.

2. When you get asked a difficult question, begin your response with, "That's a great question," and remember to smile.

Whenever you get asked one of those difficult questions in a job interview, those questions that just make us anxious, condition yourself to say, "That's a great question," because, psychologically, in my experience, when you say that's a good question and you say it with a smile on your face, you approach it like, "I'm going to answer this question the best that I can."

Also, the hiring manager knows they're asking you a hard question. That's why they're asking you. They want to see your reaction. So when your reaction is, "That's a great question," that tells them you're not afraid of that question. You're ready to answer that question—a sign of confidence.

3. Learn how to answer behavioral interview questions.

The last and most important tip that will help you stay calm and confident in a job interview is to learn how to effectively answer behavioral interview questions. This is an essential part of interview prep.

Behavioral interview questions are open-ended questions designed to get inside your head and help the hiring manager learn how you think. And by having to give more than a one-word answer, it reveals more about your personality in the workplace, your aptitude, whether or not you're flexible, and your whole mentality and strategy. And this is really important because they're trying to find the right person for the job. By learning how to effectively answer behavioral interview questions, you'll be sure to show the hiring manager you are the right person for the job.

It's completely normal to feel nervous before a job interview. I hope these three tips will help you stay calm and confident during your next one. Good luck, and go get 'em!

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