Building Confidence in Job Interviews

I've interviewed 100s of people for 6-figure roles. (Here's what nobody tells you...) It's not the most qualified candidate who gets the job. It's the best prepared for the interview. How to prep like the top 1%: 1. Research the company like you already work there. ↳ Know their challenges, victories, and latest news. 2. Practice your answers out loud. ↳ What sounds good in your head may not when spoken. 3. Prepare 3 specific stories that showcase your skills. ↳ Focus on your adaptability and leadership. 4. Study the job description. Find the top 3 skills they want. ↳ Then craft examples proving you have them. 5. Do a mock interview with a trusted person. ↳ Someone who will give you honest feedback. 💡 And 7 questions to ask that make YOU stand out: 99% of candidates ask basic questions at the end. Don't waste this opportunity to impress! Ask these instead: ➟ What does success look like in the first 90 days? ➟ What are the biggest challenges facing the team that I could help solve? ➟ How would you describe the management style of the person I'd be reporting to? ➟ What distinguishes your top performers from everyone else? ➟ How does the company support professional development and growth? ➟ What made YOU decide to join this company, and what keeps you here? ➟ What do new employees find surprising after they start? The best candidates don't just answer questions. They create meaningful conversations. Remember: Interviews are a two-way street. You're evaluating them just as much as they are you. You spend 90,000 hours of your life at work. Choose a company and manager that support your growth. Your career will thank you. P.S. What's your best tip for nailing your interview? Share in the comments to help others prepare. ♻️ Valuable? Repost to share with your network. 🔖 Follow Justin Wright for more on career success. Want my 80 best cheat sheets? Get them here for free: BrillianceBrief.com   

I bombed three interviews before landing my dream role at Google. That's what one of my candidates, told me last week. But here's the thing, after implementing a structured prep system, she crushed her 4th interview and got the offer. I created this step-by-step infographic to help you: ✅ Build confidence before the interview ✅ Answer tough questions like a pro ✅ Make a lasting impression after it's over It breaks down: 🔸 What to do before, during, and after the interview 🔸 The exact questions you should be ready for 🔸 How to use the STAR technique (Example: Instead of saying "I'm good at problem-solving," share how you "Faced a 30% customer churn rate, Took ownership of customer feedback, Analyzed pain points for 2 weeks, and Reduced churn to 5% in 3 months") Whether you're actively job hunting or want to sharpen your interview game, this guide is gold. What's your #1 interview game-changer? Mine was preparing stories for every key competency - share yours in the comments below! 📌 Save this guide (seriously, you'll thank me later) 🔁 Share it with someone prepping for interviews

𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘆𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 6-𝗳𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿. When I came to the United States in 2011, I didn't speak English. I was so afraid to make mistakes while speaking English that I almost settled for less than what I could accomplish. As a first generation immigrant suffering from imposter syndrome with the English language is a brutal reality for most of us. At first, I was terrified, but I wanted to grow in my career, so I decided to take the challenges and learn the language. It was not easy, but I self-taught myself to overcome it. Don't let imposter syndrome prevent you from reaching your dreams. Here are six steps I recommend for overcoming impostor syndrome: ☝🏼 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 1: 𝗔𝗰𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: → Recognize that what you're feeling is common and it's okay. → Understanding that you're not alone can be comforting. ✌🏼 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 2: 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: →When self-doubt creeps in, question its. →Challenge these thoughts with evidence of your skills and accomplishments. 🤟🏼𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 3: 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: →Be kind to yourself. →Treat yourself with the same understanding and support you would offer a friend. 🖖🏼𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 4: 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: →Imagine yourself succeeding. →Visualization can be a powerful tool in building confidence and reducing anxiety. 🖐🏼 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 5: 𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀: →Focus on your path and accomplishments rather than comparing yourself to others. → Get Inspired By Others Who Are Doing What You Want To Do. 🖐🏼☝🏼𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 6: 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸: → Constructive feedback from peers or mentors can provide valuable insights and help build your confidence. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀. Have you ever taken yourself out of your comfort zone?

When I interviewed at Google, they asked me: “How many soccer balls fit in a school bus?” Here’s what went through my brain: "WHAT did this guy just ask me?! … I think I’m going to barf… No, Sarah, you can do this.  Wait - what’s the area of a circle? π r²? No, that’s not it. ... How big is a school bus? Does it have seats? Are there kids in it? … This is such a dumb question. WHY are they asking me this?! ... They’re trying to see if I’ll squirm. I actually might barf. SAY SOMETHING, ANYTHING!!." 👉 Don’t be like me. Don’t freeze and spiral in your inner dialogue. So, how’d I handle it? I took a breath, forced a laugh, and said, “Hm. Great question!” - trying to buy myself a few extra seconds. Back to my inner dialogue: “F*ck. AH! Okay, take a step back - What are they *really* asking? Why would *anyone* NEED to fit lots of soccer balls in a school bus? 💡 Oh - that’s a good place to start. Maybe if I understand the problem, I can make a plan.” So, with all the fake confidence I could muster, I said, “Well, to get started, I’ll need to know why we’re putting soccer balls in a school bus; What's the end goal?" The interviewer nodded. I was on the right track. Now that I’ve trained Google interviewers and analyzed thousands of interview feedback reports, I know the right way to answer.  When you get hit with a curveball question that seems totally unrelated to the job, here’s what they want you to do: ✅ Ask clarifying questions to understand the end goal & business needs.  Who’s involved, why, what are the timelines & budgets? Has this been done before?  ✅ Take notes to organize your thoughts. ✅ Make your assumptions explicit. To solve hypothetical problems, you’ll likely have to make assumptions.   ✅ Think out loud. ✅ Don’t rush into solutioning. ✅ Consider alternate approaches. ✅ Address risks & dependencies. At the end of the day, your thought process matters more than the answer. You’ve got this!! Drop the wildest interview Q you've been asked in the comments section & follow me, Sarah Goose, for job search strategies that actually work. ♻️ Repost to help your network.

When I was promoted from Senior Manager to Director, I struggled with severe impostor syndrome. Then, when I was promoted to Vice President, it was even worse. Here are 4 ways I fought it and how you can too: 1) Normalize it. If you worry that people might find out you don’t fully know what you’re doing, know this: it’s normal. Most people experience some level of impostor syndrome, especially in new roles. 2) Expect complexity. It’s completely normal to be in the biggest, most complex job of your life for much of your career. If you're not, it often means you’ve either stepped back intentionally—or faced a setback like a layoff. Growth means doing harder things than ever before. 3) Ask for help. Be open with mentors about what you need. Discuss your challenges and ask for input. If you're in an environment where admitting “development areas” feels risky, reframe your language and ask for *help optimizing performance and delivery*. No one argues with optimization, and the result is the same—insight and support. 4) Work on your mental game. Hire a coach, therapist, or counselor if you need one. Top performers rely on a strong mental foundation. Pro athletes and performers work with coaches—leaders should too. Who do you know that’s struggling with impostor syndrome? Share this post with them. If you feel comfortable, share your own experiences below.

The uncomfortable truth about impostor syndrome that no one talks about If you never feel like an impostor, you're probably failing at life. Studies estimate that up to 70% of people will experience at least one episode of impostor syndrome in their lives. Maya Angelou had it. Einstein called himself a "swindler." But here's what nobody tells you: "Impostor syndrome isn't a character flaw. It's a growth signal" Your brain is doing exactly what it's designed to do - alerting you when you're in uncharted territory. The question isn't how to eliminate the feeling. It's how to use it. Here are 5 reframes I use with clients that will change everything: 1. Reframe it as evidence you're growing ↳ When you feel like a fraud, ask: "What new challenge am I taking on?" Replace "I don't belong here" with "I'm exactly where I need to be to grow." 2. Normalize the learning curve ↳ Accept that feeling uncertain is part of mastering something new Remember: Every expert was once a beginner who felt over their head. 3. Focus on contribution, not perfection ↳ Shift from "Do I deserve to be here?" to "How can I add value right now?" Your worth comes from what you contribute, not from being the most intelligent person in the room. 4. Collect evidence of your competence ↳ Keep a "wins file" - positive feedback, successful projects, problems you've solved. Review this evidence when impostor thoughts arise. 5. Use it as motivation for growth ↳ Channel the discomfort into learning: Feel inadequate? Get training Let impostor syndrome become your compass for personal development. The bottom line: The people who never feel like impostors are either not challenging themselves or lack the self-awareness to grow. Impostor syndrome often means you're exactly where you need to be - challenged, developing, and contributing at a level that matters. Stop trying to cure it. Start using it as rocket fuel. Coaching can help; let's chat. Follow Joshua Miller for more on Mindset, Leadership + Coaching Tips. #executivecoaching #impostorsyndrome #coachingtips #mindset

Next time you're feeling stuck in your job search with zero interviews, try THIS resume strategy. Ask yourself these deep-dive questions: 1. What do you do better than anyone else? 2. What are you known for no matter where you work? 3. What do others come to you for? Finding these themes across your career reveals your signature strengths—the exact qualities hiring managers are searching for. This strategy transformed my client Kathryn's job search. As a global communications executive who worked 18-hour days and built departments from scratch, she thought her experience would speak for itself. But after four weeks using a template resume, she had zero interviews. When we dug deeper using these questions, we discovered her unique strengths and competitive advantages that weren't coming through on her resume. We restructured her resume to highlight these differentiators and showcase her accomplishments using the C.A.R. format (Challenge, Action, Result). The result? Five interviews with top Silicon Valley companies, including Amazon and Facebook. She accepted a VP role at Amazon within 30 days and was promoted again just eight months later. Your experience alone isn't enough—you need to communicate what makes you uniquely valuable. What patterns do you see across your career? What are your signature strengths? Those are your differentiators! If you're nodding along because you know you bring more to the table than your resume shows, I'd love to help you 1:1. Message me to discuss your executive resume. #LinkedInTopVoices #Resumes #Careers #PersonalBranding

7 Things You Must Research To Win Your Next Interview: Most people show up to interviews trying to answer questions. The best candidates show up already solving problems. Here's how to prepare to be the best: 1. Current Trajectory If the company’s growing, they’re hiring to scale. If they’re shrinking, they’re hiring to fix problems. ↳ Why It Matters: Tailoring your answers to their momentum shows strategic thinking on your part. ↳ How To Research: Use Crunchbase, Google Finance, earnings reports, press releases, or recent funding news. 2. Goals for the Next 6–12 Months Knowing the company's goals allows you to tailor your answers to show the interviewer you know how to help achieve them. ↳ Why It Matters: Shows initiative, alignment, and forward-thinking. ↳ How To Research: Review the company’s blog, earnings calls, investor presentations, and recent job postings for clues about growth areas. 3. New Initiatives What’s the company doing right now to reach those goals? ↳ Why It Matters: Helps you link your value directly to active projects you'll be working on in this role. ↳ How To Research: Read press releases, review marketing campaigns, check LinkedIn posts from employees, or filter news in Google with the “Past Month” setting. 4. Big Challenges Every goal and initiative comes with challenges. Showing that you know what they are and have a plan to help goes a long way. ↳ Why It Matters: Positioning yourself as the solution to a known challenge is interview gold. ↳ How To Research: Listen to interviews with executives, network with current employees, check out product reviews from the company, or search “[Company Name] challenges” on Google. 5. Leadership’s Vision What future are they trying to build (and are you inspired by it)? ↳Why It Matters: Interviewers want to know if you buy into their direction. ↳ How To Research It: Watch executive interviews, scan leadership’s LinkedIn posts, read the “About Us” on their site, and tune into earnings report calls. 6. Company Culture Culture lives in behavior, not buzzwords. Knowing what that looks like allows you to tailor your approach. ↳ Why It Matters: Helps you evaluate fit and tailor your tone / approach. ↳ How To Research It: Read reviews on Glassdoor, check out posts from employees on LinkedIn, read the company's careers page 7. Mission & Values Show the interviewer you're aligned in more ways than just a paycheck. ↳ Why It Matters: Signals depth, values-driven thinking, and long-term fit. ↳ How To Research It: Read the mission and values on their website, check CSR or sustainability reports, and listen for how leaders talk about impact in interviews. —— 🎯 Tag someone who's preparing for an interview right now! ➕ Follow Austin Belcak for more 🔵 Ready to land your dream job? Click here to learn more about how we help people land amazing jobs in ~3.5 months with a $44k raise: https://lnkd.in/gdysHr-r

Interviewing is one of the most stressful experiences. I’ve interviewed hundreds of software engineering candidates in the last 14 years and the stress was palpable. Here are 5 things you can do to help candidates overcome interview anxiety. 1. Build rapport    “I’ve noticed … in your resume and I found it very impressive. Can you tell me more about it?”     2. Show empathy    “I’ve been in your shoes and I know this is a lot. But you can overcome the stress.”     3. Deep breathing    “First let's pause. Let’s take a deep breath. Okay, now let's think through this together.”     4. Reorient from binary answers to having a discussion    “My goal here isn’t to see if you know the answer, I want to see how you’re thinking about the problem.”     5. Invite them to imagine they’re in a comfortable team setting    “Think of me as your teammate right now and we’re brainstorming about this problem. What would you tell me?” What else would you add? #softwareengineering #interviewing #emotionalintelligence ♻️ Please repost if you found this useful ✍🏻 If you enjoyed this post, I talk more about similar topics at  https://lnkd.in/gxtnCFay 🤝 DM me to learn how we can work together

She was in a high-level interview when the CMO asked: "A co-worker and client are arguing loudly in a meeting. What's your move?" My client smiled, paused and said, "What a great question." The truth was she hadn't prepared for it. In fact, she'd never been in exactly that situation. But, she nailed her answer. We had worked in depth on how to answer unexpected questions. Here's the 5-step process I taught her. 1️⃣: Take control of the moment ↳ Say "That's a new question..." ↳ Smile, pause and breathe 2️⃣: Do you have an answer? ↳ Why they are asking this question? ↳ Do you have a relevant or related example? 3️⃣: Ask for clarification ↳ "Do you mean..." ↳ "Could you give me an example..." 4️⃣: Confirm understanding ↳ "The thing that stands out to me in this situation..." ↳ "Have I got that right?" Make it a conversation 5️⃣: Answer the question ↳ Share a similar or related situation ↳ OR share how you would handle it, highlighting you understand the issues Questions we don't expect are inevitable in the interview process. The key to success with these is: 🌟 A deep of understanding of your skills, and ability to articulate them 🌟 5-10 stories that show how you have applied these skills in real life 🌟 Patience with yourself and a willingness to pause 🌟 Asking questions to learn more 🌟 Clarifying before answering a question you're unsure about Remember: It's not always about the right answer. It's about how you handle the situation. 🚀Get more career advice and job hunting tips in my weekly newsletter: https://lnkd.in/eEdhDCb3 Follow @Sarah Baker Andrus for more career insights