The Interviewer is Not Your Friend - Helpful Interviewing Tips From an Interview Coach

Most career or interview coaches end up in this line ofyour friend. Discourage idle chat and too many
work because they love working with people andpersonal stories. Provide honest feedback with tact. I
have a gregarious personalities. These traits can helpwould rather hurt someone's feeling then not help them
network and land clients but need to be temperedand get them prepared.
when it comes to coaching. Coaches all have differentEvery job opening should be viewed as a strenuous
styles when it comes to techniques but providingcompetition. There are so many job applicants for so
honest and feedback is paramount to help candidatesfew jobs and no silver medal for second place.
land the job or get to the next level.Competitors in this type of market need coaches to
We had a client show up for a mock interview sessionget them prepared, help train them, help present
this week in a running suit. We sent her home. Ourthemselves and be their best. Also, for those who
client was enraged and tried to remind me that shehave been on numerous interviews get worn down. It's
was my customer (the customer is always right). Idepressing getting to the final steps in the job process
made the point that if you are not going to take thisand come away empty. Do not expect an interviewer
seriously, then we can't help you. To quote Georgeto be sympathetic to your situation. Sympathy does
Halas, the famous football coach, "don't do anything innot win jobs and a dejected candidate is a turn off.
practice that you wouldn't do in the game". A mockYou need to get "pumped up" and excited for each
interview session should be handled by both the coachinterview.
and the client with as much realism as possible. BeUnfortunately, the career and interview coaching
ready for tough interview questions. Point out and dealbusiness is about trying to make your client not need
with weaknesses. See how you hold up underyour services. We are the mother birds that must push
pressure when grilled about your skill set.our clients from the nest to take flight. If we do a great
I like chatting with clients on the phone to find out morejob your client will ace the interview, land the job and
about their personalities, what is going on with their jobmake you obsolete at the same time. We are our
search and what their goals, dreams and aspirationsown outplacement service but the rewards are
are for the future. But when it comes time fortremendous.
coaching, they should know that the interviewer is not