How to Excel in Your Next Job Interview

Job interviews are important milestones during any person's job search. Yet, the excitement people feel when they get a chance to talk with potential employers is often tempered by a lot of anxiety. Those nerves can be reduced by knowing how to handle these types of conversations.

I recently sat down with Sam Owens , who is the author of I Hate Job Interviews: Stop Stressing. Start Performing. Get the Job You Want , to discuss strategies for excelling in job interviews. You can listen to the full conversation on my Get Hired podcast , but I want to share some of the key takeaways with you here, too.

Preparation: The Key to Confidence

Sam emphasizes the critical role of preparation in overcoming interview anxiety. He believes that true confidence in an interview setting stems from thorough preparation, not just surface-level rehearsal.?

“If you have a job interview coming up, you’re probably going to be preparing for 8 to 10 hours,” he says. This level of preparation transforms nervous energy into genuine confidence, allowing candidates to present themselves authentically and persuasively.

Additionally, he says that one of the most common pitfalls in job interviews is the lack of practice. Many candidates underestimate the power of practicing out loud. “They just don’t think they need to prepare as much as they do,” he adds.?

Practicing out loud helps in internalizing responses and delivers them more naturally during the actual interview.

The Power of Storytelling

You should respond to interview questions with structured stories, says Sam. Using frameworks like SPAR (Situation, Problem, Action, Result) for behavioral questions can help in crafting concise and relevant stories, for example. This framework —?and others?— ensures that candidates present their experiences in a compelling way that highlights their qualifications and fit for the role.

For unexpected or tricky questions, Sam suggests recognizing the type of question being asked and applying the appropriate framework. This strategy helps in maintaining poise and delivering thoughtful answers, even when faced with surprising questions.

"While there may be thousands of questions you could be asked, there's probably only a handful of question types you'll be asked," he says.

Be a Strong Opener and Closer

One crucial insight Sam shares is about capitalizing on the introductory question in interviews, often phrased like “Tell me about yourself.” Instead of treating it as a mere warm-up, he suggests treating this as an opportunity to succinctly demonstrate why you are the ideal candidate for the position.?

"If they could really rearrange that question and ask what they really meant, they would say, 'Tell me in the next three minutes why you are the perfect person for this job and why this is going to be the best meeting of my day because after this interview I don't have to interview anyone else because I hate interviewing and I can get back to my day job,'" he says.?

Your response sets the tone for the rest of the interview and can significantly influence the interviewer’s perception.

Similarly, Sam says it's important to close out the interview on a strong note. He stresses the importance of articulating interest in the role and clarifying any next steps. Asking thoughtful questions about the company’s challenges and culture not only shows your engagement but also provides valuable insights into whether the organization aligns with your career goals.

Perseverance is Key

Sam says persistence is key in any job search. “You are going to find a job,” he says. You must understand that rejection is not a reflection of your worth. Internalizing that can help maintain motivation throughout the job search journey.

Additionally, incorporating solid best practices and others into your job search can make the daunting process a little more bearable.

You can find a transcript of my full conversation with Sam by clicking here . Additionally, the entire discussion is available on Apple Podcasts by clicking here .

Salary negotiations are among the toughest parts of a job search. After all, you're in the proverbial home stretch of the hiring process. You and the employer just need to come together on a number and benefits. How can you help make that happen? I recently sat down with Daniel Space ????? , who is an HR expert and well known on social media as "Dan from HR," on my weekly podcast Get Hired with Andrew Seaman . We discussed everything about salary negotiations and how to get it right.

A transcript of the conversation is available by clicking here . You can listen to the episode above or on Apple Podcasts by clicking here .

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