Interview Boss

Interview Boss
Interview Boss

Welcome to Interview Boss hosted by sisters Emma and Sarah Smith. This podcast is all about providing advice, inspiration and support for job seekers. Whether you're between jobs, or looking for your dream promotion, we're here to give you the tips, tricks and behind the scenes knowledge you need to be the boss of your career. We'll dive deep in to all things resume, cover letter, job application, job search strategy, interviews and offer negotiations. We're going to bring you a mix of advice shows, interviews with influential hiring managers, as well as job seeker stories all to help you during your job hunt. Hit subscribe, and get ready to be the BOSS of your career.

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    Why should I prepare for this interview when 'winging it' has worked for me in the past?

    If you have an interview coming up and are a little tempted to wing it, then this episode is for you! This week Sarah and Emma debunk the idea that because you didn't do 'XYZ' last time and everything worked out, you shouldn't worry about doing it this time either. We share a range of reasons interviews might have felt easy in the past and remind you that interview prep is like the seatbelt of job hunting: you don’t always need it, but you’re glad to have it when you do. 🏀 Shoot Your Shot - Shoutout to Dora who bought us 3 coffees! “Hi, Emma and Sarah, the past few months have pretty hectic career-wise and I want to thank you being there all along! I was approached by a firm offering an incredible 35% raise, and I did my best to get the job. I listened to your tips about best bits, how to make the most of the 'tell me about yourself' part of the interview, questions I should ask at the end etc. All went great and I got the job! Shortly after starting though, I found out that the role was not exactly how I imagined and my boss was unfortunately a very toxic person, so then came a totally desperate phase in my professional life. I couldn't have got through it without your podcasts on job regrets, and on how to survive at a place you already know is not meant for you. I was interviewing at other places while trying to hold on in my horrible new job. Your podcast helped me reflect on what I was actually looking for and how to prepare for my next move. I'm so happy to tell you that thanks to you I got exactly the type of job I was looking for and also managed to negotiate to keep my salary with the 35% raise, which I had previously achieved. I cannot believe I can do what I like and for the money I couldn't have imagined before. Thanks for your podcast on literally ALL topics related to job hunting. I'm sure you will be on the top of my yearly Spotify recap. ;)” 🎥 Check out our BRAND NEW free training - Top Interview Tips https://www.interviewboss.com.au/top-interview-tips 🏫 To get step by step help with your interview prep on demand check out our Interview Academy https://www.interviewboss.com.au/interview-academy ☕ Did our podcast help you out? Want to say thank you in coffee form? Shout us a virtual coffee here: www.buymeacoffee.com/interviewboss ☎️ To book an interview coaching session with Sarah, go to www.interviewboss.com.au/coaching  ❤️  Follow us on Instagram 📒 Check out our website for free jobseeker resources www.interviewboss.com.au

    22 min
  2. 13 NOV

    Why you should STOP tailoring your resume for every single job!

    Chances are you've probably been told you need to customise your resume for every single job you apply for, to perfectly match the job description, reflect the company culture and stand out from the crowd. BUT what if we gave you permission to abandon this time consuming and exhausting advice? In this week's episode, Sarah and Emma share an alternative tip that will alleviate stress and prevent you from burning out before you've even landed an interview. 🏀 Shoot Your Shot - Shoutout to Lysandra who bought us 3 coffees! “I went for a management position in educational psychology that I'm not sure I had enough experience for. It was a panel interview (4 people) which overran, lasting for 1hr 40mins. I was shattered! It was a virtual interview which I do not love but your pod helped me to see the positive side to this. I worked hard on my initial story. I was able to read from my notes & screen share ideas I'd prepared in advance. I also didn't let the lady with the 'resting b***h face' distract me like it often does. One other thing that I normally stress about is finding the perfect example for the "tell us a time when you..." questions. Instead, you helped me to focus on explaining my self-awareness & learning from the examples rather than the event itself. Last night I got the call to say they want me! Thank you guys so much for your help. Enjoy the coffee." 🎥 Check out BRAND NEW free training - Top Interview Tips https://www.interviewboss.com.au/top-interview-tips 🏫 To get step by step help with your interview prep on demand check out our Interview Academy https://www.interviewboss.com.au/interview-academy ☕ Did our podcast help you out? Want to say thank you in coffee form? Shout us a virtual coffee here: www.buymeacoffee.com/interviewboss ☎️ To book an interview coaching session with Sarah, go to www.interviewboss.com.au/coaching  ❤️  Follow us on Instagram 📒 Check out our website for free jobseeker resources www.interviewboss.com.au

    20 min
  3. 6 NOV

    Nervous to ask about part-time work? Here's how to bring it up!

    If you're hoping to ask about taking on a role part-time, but have no idea how or where to bring it up in the interview process, then this episode is for you! Sarah and Emma explain what you can say if you're strictly looking for part-time work, or looking to eventually transition from part-time into full-time. We explain why it's important to highlight your flexibility to boost your chances, but remind you that you can't control what the companies answer will be. You will never know until you ask! 🏀 Shoot Your Shot - Shoutout to Tricia who bought us 6 coffees! "Omg where do I even begin?!? It has been my life-long dream to live in the mountains, so 2024 was the year my husband and I made the decision to move across the country to Colorado. This meant I needed to quit my comfy corporate job where I had been for the past 6 years and find something new. I went into the job hunt very confident, because I have amazing experience and I thought my resume spoke for itself. I thought getting interviews would be a piece of cake. Boy was I wrong. With 28% of the American population looking for jobs right now, I literally picked the worst time to quit with no other job lined up. We moved in August, but I proactively started applying for jobs in January. I didn’t get a single interview until July. Yikes!! By September, I was extremely discouraged and terrified that I would have to take a significant step back in my career that I had worked so hard for. Your podcast was the one thing that kept me going and made me feel better. Anytime I had anxiety, I’d listen to an episode and felt more reassured. At this point, I’ve listened to almost every episode. Finally I secured 2 interviews in the same week with 2 companies. We will call them company 1 and 2. Neither job was my “dream job,” but at this point I was getting desperate and I definitely had to take my dream job off a pedestal. Company 1 was easy breezy. The interviewer didn’t ask me a single question but I was sure to interrupt him so I could tell him my best bits. He was thoroughly impressed. Company 2 was more intense. They made me prepare a 10 min presentation using 3 excel sheets of data where I had to give them a sales pitch. I was absolutely terrified and froze several times throughout the presentation… BUT I nailed the “tell me about yourself” part (which I had been practicing for the past 8 months), and every “normal” interview question. I even had them laughing with my jokes. I told them I was nervous because I cared about this job lol. At the end of the interview process, company 1 offered me a job with my preferred salary, and company 2 told me that I didn’t get the job I had applied for, but they liked me so much that they asked if I would interview for a different role! So thanks to you guys, I knew exactly how to play my power move!! I told company 2 that they needed to interview me and offer me the job within 1 week because I already had another offer. They ultimately told me they couldn’t meet my timeline, so I thanked them for their consideration and took the offer at company 1!! Even though company 2 was my preferred company, I’m SOOO happy to have a job (contract has been signed!). The bonus is that I ended on great terms with the HR team at company 2 and they told me they’d let me know if another role opens up!” 🎥 Check out BRAND NEW free training - Top Interview Tips https://www.interviewboss.com.au/top-interview-tips 🏫 To get step by step help with your interview prep on demand check out our Interview Academy https://www.interviewboss.com.au/interview-academy ☕ Did our podcast help you out? Want to say thank you in coffee form? Shout us a virtual coffee here:a...

    23 min
  4. 30 OCT

    Great job, bad ad? Why you might be missing awesome job opportunities

    Ever scrolled past a job ad because it seemed really boring or just didn’t stand out? You might be missing out! Just because an ad isn’t exciting doesn’t mean the job isn’t. In this week’s episode, Sarah and Emma dive into the hidden potential of 'bad' job ads and why judging a role by its listing could be keeping you from great opportunities. We’ll explain how to spot roles with hidden gems behind the bland wording and why it’s important to focus on what really matters when deciding to apply. Don’t let first impressions be the reason you miss out on your next big career move! 🏀 Shoot Your Shot - Shoutout to T “Having been a career coach, leader, and mentor for a number of years, when it was time for me to step away from my current role and get back into interviewing it was an embarrassing shock to realise I'd forgotten how to interview myself. My first interview (with a company I was a little too excited about) was a notable bomb that left me staring into space with absolute wonder at the level of 'bad' I'd displayed. I started searching for podcasts that I could listen to while walking the dog, and found you two. Between the varied topics that you cover, your fun banter, and accents that are very pleasant to listen to, I have been through much of your content. I prepared the best bits, re-tailored my introductions, and prepared myself for salary negotiations, and listened to your 'right before the interview' pep talk before every interview. Getting to the final stages with two companies, I listened to your show regarding how to best communicate the competing offers, and after accepting a new offer was able to confidently plan my exit with my previous employer. I've been with my new company now for about a month, and while the jump felt scary, I'm so glad I made the move to be somewhere where I actually feel respected and valued. I'm thrilled to have found you and have recommended Interview Boss to other 'yanks' struggling in their job searches. Thank you for the positive energy, advice, and fun you bring to the job search grind, which can so often feel awful and soul-sucking. Enjoy a couple of coffees!” 🎥 Check out BRAND NEW free training - Top Interview Tips https://www.interviewboss.com.au/top-interview-tips 🏫 To get step by step help with your interview prep on demand check out our Interview Academy https://www.interviewboss.com.au/interview-academy ☕ Did our podcast help you out? Want to say thank you in coffee form? Shout us a virtual coffee here: www.buymeacoffee.com/interviewboss ☎️ To book an interview coaching session with Sarah, go to www.interviewboss.com.au/coaching  ❤️  Follow us on Instagram 📒 Check out our website for free jobseeker resources www.interviewboss.com.au Pod follow link:

    20 min
  5. 23 OCT

    How to craft the perfect 'about me' profile on your resume!

    The 'profile' section goes at the top of your resume - it's PRIME real estate and therefore, the very first thing a hiring manager will read. It needs to be strong! In this week's episode, Sarah and Emma share a handy fill-in-the-blank style template, to help you craft the perfect summary that describes your job title, years of experience, areas of expertise, skillset and the industries you've worked in. We explain how most people go wrong by using too many buzzwords and emphasizing low level skills. 🏀 Shot Your Shot - Shoutout to 'Interview Squirrel' who bought us 3 coffees! "Ladies, THANK YOU! Your podcast helped me get confidence and knowledge in all aspects of the job hunting process. I went from working for myself for the past 15 years to stepping into the corporate world and I felt like I had about the same amount of experience in the interview process as a squirrel. I thought “what do you mean prepare? I’ll just show up and they’ll ask me stuff right?” Needless to say, after the first fairly awkward interview I found your podcast and over the past month I’ve been religiously listening to episode after episode, improving my strategy each time. Surprisingly, I moved on to the next round in the previously mentioned interview and I went through 5 INTERVIEWS for this position. I was so nervous in the final presentation round that I even tried the butt cheeks strategy! Haha unfortunately my hands and voice were still shaking so that one didn’t work for me. Luckily almost everything else I learned did though, both the skills you teach and the encouragement! I specifically love how you make the interview process less intimidating and how to laugh at the uncomfortable. Anyway, I'm happy to report that the company just made me an offer, which was 25k over what I would’ve been happy to accept! Thanks again, you rock!" 🎥 Check out BRAND NEW free training - Top Interview Tips https://www.interviewboss.com.au/top-interview-tips 🏫 To get step by step help with your interview prep on demand check out our Interview Academy https://www.interviewboss.com.au/interview-academy ☕ Did our podcast help you out? Want to say thank you in coffee form? Shout us a virtual coffee here: www.buymeacoffee.com/interviewboss ☎️ To book an interview coaching session with Sarah, go to www.interviewboss.com.au/coaching  ❤️  Follow us on Instagram 📒 Check out our website for free jobseeker resources www.interviewboss.com.au

    31 min
  6. 17 OCT

    Why it's okay to have a 'boring' job and decenter it from your identity!

    Landing your dream job isn't always linear. Sometimes, you have to take a longer path to get there. Kids might come along, your financial situation could change and unexpected life events can demand your attention, re-shuffle your priorities and pull you in different directions. This re-assuring episode is for all our listeners that are putting too much pressure on themselves to land the 'perfect' role right away. Spoiler alert: there's no such thing! Sarah and Emma explain that it's okay to decentre your job from your universe for a season of life or forever. We chat about how side steps are still progress and how you can begin to re-define your identity outside of work. 🏀 Shoot Your Shot - Shoutout to Caroline who bought us 5 coffees! "I’m a long time Interview Bossee who stumbled upon the podcast when looking for career & interview support. I had loads of experience across my career, but had some career gaps due to moving countries, having kids, and changing industries. I felt this held me back & as a working parent, as it pains me to say this, but I started to feel lucky to land a job, so I started applying for roles I was overqualified for. I was feeling desperate to return to work and feel relevant again, but the more I applied the more silence I got, and the rejection was hitting hard. Eventually I thought I’d found it! A part time role that seemed really interesting. Despite my gut telling me something wasn’t right in the interview, I ignored the flags, took the job and thought, just get in and it’ll work out. Well, within my first week those red flags were clearly evident and I gave notice within a month, not without listening to your episode on resigning. A new school year rolled around which came with parental responsibilities, so I ended up taking a school hours role, for some absolutely lovely people, but it was far from what I was seeking from a career. I just needed a break from the corporate job hunt and ability to pick my kids up from school. I continued to listen to Interview Boss almost every day, as I knew the right thing had to be coming along and I wanted to be so prepared. Well it did. 5 months later a role was advertised for a company that I had been following for some time. I really loved work they did and heard the hiring manager was a fantastic leader. I jumped on it immediately and less than 2 weeks later, their HR team reached out to schedule a screening interview. It couldn't have gone better. I scripted up the perfect 'tell me about yourself' story which made the gaps on my CV sing. A few days later when the company called with what I thought was with the offer, they were so impressed that they offered me an even better role with a higher salary to match! I couldn’t believe it! All credit to all the IB resources and support. I’m now a few weeks into my new role and am so happy. I can finally look forward to longevity in my new career. I can’t thank you both enough – your advice and support has been incredible." 🎥 Check out BRAND NEW free training - Top Interview Tips https://www.interviewboss.com.au/top-interview-tips 🏫 To get step by step help with your interview prep on demand check out our Interview Academy https://www.interviewboss.com.au/interview-academy ☕ Did our podcast help you out? Want to say thank you in coffee form? Shout us a virtual coffee here: www.buymeacoffee.com/interviewboss ☎️ To book an interview coaching session with Sarah, go to www.interviewboss.com.au/coaching  ❤️  Follow us on a...

    33 min
  7. 9 OCT

    "Best Bits" explained - our game changing approach to preparing for interviews!

    Whether you're a longtime listener or new to the pod, chances are you've heard us mention 'Best Bits' before. It is undoubtedly one of our most important pieces of advice and underpins all of our teachings. We thought it was time to revisit this game changing concept. Forget googling 'common interview questions' and trying to come up with specific answers for each one. In this week's episode, Sarah and Emma explain why that's the exact OPPOSITE of where you should start. We unpack how to brainstorm and structure your examples (best bits) so that you can walk out of that interview with confidence knowing you did yourself justice, regardless of what questions you were asked. 🏀 Shoot Your Shot - Shoutout to Shannon Tate who bought us 5 coffees! “Hi Emma and Sarah, I am so glad I found you. I have spent the majority of my Career in the Military (close to 20 years) so have had minimal experience with traditional interview processes, having only done 3 interviews ever before this most recent job. I applied for a role with a company that I have wanted to work for, for a while. I had very little confidence in my resume so when I received an email letting me know I had a video/recorded interview I was excited but also terrified. I had done one of these once before and it was an awful experience. I have a friend who had recently been applying for jobs and had found your podcast. She forwarded me the link to your one on recorded interviews. The advice around letting your personality show through to see if you are a good culture fit was a game changer for me. It went better than I thought, though I still had a few cringe moments remembering back to what I had said and that it would be forever kept in video form. Amazingly, I got a call the very next day (before the recorded interview time frame had finished) to let me know I had an in-person interview. This is where I got serious and started bingeing all your episodes any time I was in my car. I also purchased the Interview Academy to make sure I was prepared as I could be. I felt super confident coming out of the interview and again got a call the following morning for a second interview with the GM. This went great and was followed up by a call only hours later to say I was moving onto the "vetting" phase. I am now days away from getting a contract. I cannot thank you enough and I have been recommending your podcast to anyone that will listen.” Other episodes of ours that touch on 'Best Bits:' The BEST way to prepare for a job interview How to answer behavioural job interview questions Interview worthy examples - what makes a good story? How to level up your interview answers: why the ‘situation’ matters most! Send this to your job interview practice buddy 🎥 Check out BRAND NEW free training - Top Interview Tips https://www.interviewboss.com.au/top-interview-tips 🏫 To get step by step help with your interview prep on demand check out our Interview Academy https://www.interviewboss.com.au/interview-academy ☕ Did our podcast help you out? Want to say thank you in coffee form? Shout us a virtual coffee here: a...

    36 min
  8. 2 OCT

    Is it safe to hand in my resignation if I've received a contingent offer?

    You've been told you've got the job - but there's some t&c's. Your offer is contingent on you passing some third-party health and background checks, which could take weeks. Because of this, you haven't been given a start date. Can you start celebrating? Is this offer legitimate enough to warrant resigning? In this week's episode, Sarah and Emma respond to listener Mandi's conundrum and discuss how to protect yourself so you don't end up in a sticky situation. We share some tips on how you can find out more information about the background check process to make an informed decision on the perfect time to resign. 🏀 Shoot Your Shot - Shoutout to “no longer jobless” who bought us 5 coffees! "Girls, I just got an offer for the job that fits me best which is a 20% increase on base salary!! Thank you so much for giving me the tools, structure and inspo. It has been a wild 6 months. Having not worked for a year, I'd lost confidence and direction. The market is completely different, and I've never had to go through formal processes. Also, I am sure there is a special place in hell for interviews. While the first few interviews for this process were not perfect, at least I turned up (I cancelled soooo many first and second interviews due to nerves/self-sabotage), and I even managed to get out my stories and showcase my best bits. I nailed the presentation (mostly) on Tuesday, references done on Wednesday, got the offer today! I'm so inspired, this was exactly what I needed to get out of my funk. I loved how I could work through the steps at my own pace and download your tools without having to sell my soul. Thanks for sharing your expertise with me. I wish you both all the success, Your fan in Melbourne. PS. I would buy you more cuppas but my budget is low after having spent $500 on a career coach before I found your podcast!😭" 📄 To get step by step help with your interview prep on demand check out our Interview Academy https://www.interviewboss.com.au/interview-academy ☕ Did our podcast help you out? Want to say thank you in coffee form? Shout us a virtual coffee here: www.buymeacoffee.com/interviewboss 📄 To book an interview coaching session with Sarah, go to www.interviewboss.com.au/coaching  💌  Follow us on Instagram 💻  Check out our website for free jobseeker resources www.interviewboss.com.au

    21 min

About

Welcome to Interview Boss hosted by sisters Emma and Sarah Smith. This podcast is all about providing advice, inspiration and support for job seekers. Whether you're between jobs, or looking for your dream promotion, we're here to give you the tips, tricks and behind the scenes knowledge you need to be the boss of your career. We'll dive deep in to all things resume, cover letter, job application, job search strategy, interviews and offer negotiations. We're going to bring you a mix of advice shows, interviews with influential hiring managers, as well as job seeker stories all to help you during your job hunt. Hit subscribe, and get ready to be the BOSS of your career.

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