Interviewing can be hard, but it doesn't have to be.

A few weeks ago I wrote about the STAR method of answering interview questions.

In this edition, I want to discuss ways to make interviewing easier.

I was training someone to interview and she asked a great question, especially for the Gen Z crowd.

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"Is it ok to say "my brain isn't working today" in an interview?

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No, it is not.

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Your brain needs to be working in the interview, or how will I know it's going to work while you're working? If you are struggling with a thought, it's ok to pause, take a breath, or even ask to repeat the question to give yourself more time to gather your thoughts.

"My brain isn't working”

Or

?"words are hard"

?in an interview sound extremely negative and that you aren't going to be able to do the job. How to overcome this and feel comfortable?

Practice.

Write out interview questions and answers beforehand and practice those answers until they sound like stories and you can tell them fluidly and easily. This will help make the interview more like a conversation rather than an inquisition.

It's also ok to have a pause, or some silence while you are formulating or thinking of your answer.

When I teach recruiters to interview, I tell them the same thing.? We don’t need to fill the air if someone needs to take a breath.? I say count to 5, slowly.? If the candidate is struggling, ask them if they need you to repeat the question. The best interviews I've had are the ones that don't feel like interviews.

A lot of people use self-deprecation as a form of humor.? An interview is not the place to do this.? Keep everything positive and upbeat.

Even when discussing negative things:

"I want to leave my current company because I’m not happy with the direction it’s going" sounds much better than, “it’s a toxic work environment”.

"I’m looking for opportunities that support my professional goals" sounds better than "I can’t stand my boss/leadership".

You can google Interview questions for your job title for help.

Take some time to come up with thoughtful, complete answers to interview questions and practice, practice, practice saying them until it feels natural.

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