Here's how you can avoid common mistakes mid-career professionals make during job interviews.

One thing that every professional has to understand and keep in mind is the fact that one can never know everything despite the years of experience. Yes you should give tailored response as to how your previous experience can help the company meet its goal. But you should also go into the interview with an open mindset ready to learn new things. - You should be confident about your learnings, humble about knowing new things and wise enough to unlearn.

It’s good to be self-confident but do not cross the line to be perceived as overconfident or worse as arrogant. Instead of bragging how good you are (even if you are really great in what you are doing) just state your achievements and back it up with good examples, describing the situations, your tasks, actions and results, supported by facts and figures.

While confidence is important, I’ve learned that there’s a fine line between being self-assured and coming off as arrogant. What really helped me walk this line was making a conscious effort to listen actively and show genuine interest in the company and the role I was aiming for. Instead of just rattling off my past achievements, I focused on how my experience could specifically benefit the potential new employer or partner. Pairing humility with confidence not only showed that I was wise but also that I was willing to learn and grow. This approach helped me connect more organically. It's all about finding that balance and showing that you're both experienced and adaptable.

In-depth research enables you to anticipate the types of questions the interviewer might ask and tailor your responses accordingly. By understanding the company's values, goals, and recent achievements, you can align your experiences and accomplishments with their specific needs. This approach demonstrates that you have taken the time to understand their requirements and are genuinely interested in contributing to their success.

Regularly refresh your knowledge and skills through continuous learning, industry certifications, and staying current with trends. Highlight your commitment to professional development during the interview to demonstrate your relevance and adaptability. Discuss recent projects or roles where you applied new techniques or tools, showing that you’re proactive about growth. By updating your expertise, you present yourself as a forward-thinking candidate who brings both experience and contemporary knowledge to the table.

Companies want to hire life-long learners that can grow and adapt. They want to hire the unicorn that will take it upon themselves to make it happen. As far as taking courses, I recommend LinkedIn Learning and Coursera. You can add them to your profile once complete as well.

Discussing salary can be tricky for mid-career professionals, especially since expectations vary widely by industry. Tech Industry: Compensation often includes base salary, stock options, and bonuses. Be prepared to negotiate the full package, not just the salary. Non-Profits/Education: These sectors may have tighter budgets. Highlight your willingness to accept lower pay for benefits. Finance/Law: Often have structured pay scales. Emphasize your past achievements and back them up with market research. Creative Industries: Salary might be secondary to factors like creative control or project ownership. So approach salary discussions with flexibility and a clear understanding of the market rate for your role. Be prepared and adaptable.

Networking in today's job search world is NOT optional. SO how do you network well without getting frustrated? Here are some ideas! Drop a comment on 10 or more LinkedIn posts from folks at your dream companies. Show some love to LinkedIn posts from your top companies. Shoot an email to one cool person in your target industry. Share a post about something new you learned. Let me known how it goes!

Researching a company before an interview can help you identify any common connections you may have within the organization. Utilize professional networking platforms like LinkedIn to discover if you share any mutual contacts or if you have connections who have previously worked for the company. These connections can provide valuable insights into the company's culture and potentially offer referrals or recommendations, increasing your chances of success.

Mindset is everything. Reset refresh revitalize. A clear and positive mind is literally setting your entire life up for success and enjoyment.