The Interviewer is Not Your Friend – Helpful Interviewing Tips From an Interview Coach
Most career or interview coaches end up in this line of work because they love working with people and have gregarious personalities. These traits can help them network with and land clients but it needs to be tempered when it comes to coaching. Coaches all have different styles when it comes to techniques but providing honest feedback is paramount to helping candidates land the jobs or get to the next levels.
We had a client show up for a mock interview session [one day] in a running suit. We sent her home. She was enraged and tried to remind me that she was my customer (the customer is always right). I made the point that if you are not going to take this seriously, then we can’t help you. To quote George Halas, the famous football coach, “don’t do anything in practice that you wouldn’t do in the game”. A mock interview session should be handled by both the coach and the client with as much realism as possible. Be ready for tough interview questions. Point out and deal with weaknesses.
See how you hold up under pressure when grilled about your skill set.
I like chatting with clients on the phone to find out more about their personalities, what is going on with their job searches and what their goals, dreams and aspirations are for the future. But when it comes time for coaching, they should know that the interviewer is not their friend. Discourage idle chat and too many personal stories. Provide honest feedback with tact. I would rather hurt someone’s feelings than not help him and get him prepared.
Every job opening should be viewed as a strenuous competition. There are so many job applicants for so few jobs and no silver medal for second place. Competitors in this type of market need coaches to get them prepared, train them, help them to present themselves and be their best. Also, those who have been on numerous interviews get worn down. It’s depressing getting to the final steps in the job process and come away empty. Do not expect an interviewer to be sympathetic to your situation. Sympathy does not win jobs and a dejected candidate is a turn off. You need to get “pumped up” and excited for each interview.
Unfortunately, the career and interview coaching business is about trying to make your client not need your services. We are the mother birds that must push our clients from the nest to take flight. If we do a great job our clients will ace the interviews, land the jobs and make us obsolete at the same time. We are our own outplacement service but the rewards are tremendous.
Ross Calkins is the co-founder of the Interview Coaching Association and an Interview Coach for MVPSource.
