Interview Coaching Works

Interview Coaching Works

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.”

— Henry David Thoreau

I am passionate about enhancing your confidence through honing your interview skills. I want you to be able to shine through any and all fears, doubts, worries or limitations you have about interviews so there is NO question in the interviewer’s mind that YOU are an amazing candidate.

Read below for more information on how this all works and who this type of coaching may work best for.

WHAT is Interview Coaching?

Interview coaching is coaching that specifically focuses on preparing an individual for an employment interview. Now I’m using the term “coaching,” but what we will do in a session is a combination of coaching and mentoring. We will focus specifically on the areas that are of most concern for you and determine how to break through any blocks you have, while I also provide you information and insight into what interviewers are looking for and how you can present your best self – while still being YOU.

HOW Interview Coaching Works

Steeping Hot Full Interview Coaching package: Before scheduling a session, we’ll schedule a brief telephone consultation to make sure we are a fit. Upon determining fit, we will schedule a session to occur at a mutually agreeable location. It is ideal to have these sessions in person, however a phone or Zoom video chat session can still be just as effective. Before the session, you will email me a copy of your existing resume and a copy of the job description for your upcoming interview (or a few different job descriptions of jobs you’ve applied for, if you don’t already have an interview scheduled).

During our session, our primary focus will be to work on what is of most concern to you. This may be things like:

  • You aren’t sure how to answer interview questions.
  • You get really nervous.
  • You aren’t comfortable “selling” yourself.
  • You have fears and doubts that seem to cloud your mind, leaving you feeling discouraged.

Other elements we will also address or work on, are:

  • Your resume
  • Your strengths/weakness(es)
  • Answering common interview questions – gaining clarity on what you want to say and how you want to say it.
  • Asking the interviewer(s) questions
  • Practice with 1-2 mock interviews
  • Assess your interview mindset
  • Discuss your image, attitude and attire

For the other interview coaching packages, sessions will take place via phone or Zoom and will always be guided by your agenda.

WHAT Experience Does Kim Have With Interviews?

My experience with interviewing is well-rounded, as I have been in the seat of the interviewer, interviewee and as a first point-of-contact for several other interviewees. I was led to provide interview coaching after years of witnessing people arrive for interviews ill-prepared or somehow not able to break through their own barriers and show the best of themselves. I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t. I’ve been privy to many conversations about what employers seek…and what they don’t. I’ve also received competing job offers that left me in the driver’s seat. I want to help you get there too.

My Interview Experience

A. As Interviewer: As Human Resources Coordinator I conducted interviews for entry-level administrative, customer service and sales positions. In this position and others, I’ve been invited by other departments to co-interview applicants for key positions.

B. As Interviewee: I have often sought advancement and to gain new skills and knowledge. As a result, I have held many jobs in the last 20 years; never fired (this means lots of experience being interviewed). Some positions held concurrently; each new position was an advancement from the one before. Received concurrent, competing job offers more than once.

C. As 1st point-of-contact for Interviewees: I have been the first point of contact for hundreds of job seekers in the law enforcement and fire service industries. Involved in many interview planning meetings and conversations with decision makers about what employers seek and what turns them off.

My Educational & Professional Summary

  • Graduate-level certificate in Comprehensive Evidence-Based Coaching
  • Bachelors degree in Communication Studies, emphasis on Interpersonal and Organizational Communication
  • Industry Experience: Construction, Education, Entertainment, Food Service, Healthcare, Photography, Public Safety (Law Enforcement and Fire Service) and Retail
  • Employed by large, corporate, government-run agencies as well as small, family-owned companies
  • Entrepreneurial experience
  • Current mentor to at-risk youth through local non-profit organization
  • Former math and English tutor to youth ages 8-16

I get this stuff, and I love it. My goal is to help you know what your strengths and weaknesses are and find ways to shine NO MATTER WHAT during your interview. Interviews are very subjective, and there’s a fine balance between coming across confident and coming across cocky. I will help you strike just the right balance in embracing all of your own power while still remaining open and likeable. The interviewers will feel engaged when they hear you speak, as well as secure – both in your ability to perform the job, but also in knowing that you will represent their organization well.

WHO Will Benefit Most from Interview Coaching with Kim?

You and I will work well together if…

YOU:

  • Don’t know what to expect at an interview
  • Aren’t sure how to answer certain questions
  • Know that your nervousness is getting in the way of how you present yourself
  • Desire to have an edge above other candidates

AND you:

  • Are ready and open to receive insight and guidance into ways that you, specifically, can improve
  • Are ready to put in some work to prepare yourself (both during and after our session)
  • Accept responsibility for what you do have control over in an interview setting

I always spend time consulting with new clients so we may both assess our fit before scheduling any sessions. To schedule a free, consultation, email me at KimONeill@outlook.com.

WHERE Interview Coaching Takes Place

For optimal results, an in-person session is most ideal when possible. This allows us to simulate a real life interview situation, having that other person physically across from you. I will also be able to provide you feedback about your body language and overall presence during our mock interviews. We will meet at a mutually agreed upon locale to conduct our session.

Phone and Zoom video chat sessions can still be incredibly effective. For those who live outside of southern CA, all you need to do is set aside a chunk of time in a location where you will not be distracted and we’ll prepare, prepare, prepare!

WHEN Should I Schedule My Interview Coaching Session?

I get asked this question a lot.

If you already have an interview scheduled, it can help to have your session just a few days to one (1) week before; this allows the positive momentum built during the session to transfer more easily into your upcoming interview. Keep in mind, however, that sometimes waiting for the interview to be scheduled first, winds up leaving very little time for a session beforehand.

On the other hand, if you have a session before your interview is even scheduled, this can help if you think you might want more time to lock in and practice what we work on during the session. Similarly, the more time that lapses between our session and your interview, the greater the chance for the momentum we developed to have completely dissipated. This is where the work you do after our session (reviewing your notes, practicing how you want to answer questions, etc.) will be of great benefit to you. At the same time, this is why I now also offer the Simmer Down: Last-Minute Interview Gear Up Session for additional prep closer to your interview date. Scroll to the bottom of the Coach with Kim page for more info on that one.

Either way, you can’t go wrong. It’s just a matter of preference and what you think will work best for you.

If you purchase the Steeping Hot Full Interview Coaching package, I find it best to work through everything we can in one bulk session. This way everything you learn and practice can come together in the same session, rather than being watered down over time. These sessions typically last 3-4 hours (and tend to FLY by!). If you would like to order this package, but prefer to split the session up into 2 or 3 sessions, that can also be arranged. Just let me know when you schedule your appointment.

Sessions are typically Fridays-Sundays Pacific Standard Time (PST), with some weeknight availability Monday-Thursday.

WHY Interview Coaching Works

Interview coaching works because it’s deliberately focused time you have spent to prepare for your interview. Not only did you prepare, though, but you prepared with someone who has both useful information and insight as well as a lot of experience to share with you so you present your most optimal self. Preparing isn’t just about having your resume and your outfit ready. It’s about getting really clear on who you are and what you have to offer and anticipating how you will answer questions based on that information. By filling in those gaps ahead of time, your bucket will be overflowing with confident, clear answers. You will then also present yourself as a whole package, both professionally and personally.

When you have the bigger picture in mind and know exactly who you are and what you have to offer, you become incredibly attractive to employers. During our session, I’ll suggest some alternative word choices, share with you first impressions of what your current answers sound like, and work with you until your confidence is at it’s peak (or at least much higher than when we started). I’m going to help you connect the dots and empower you to be your best self in that interview. What you have to offer right now, in this moment, is enough. It’s just a matter of knowing how to present that within a limited timeframe to an interviewer.

Interview coaching also works immensely well because there are still many people out there who take very little time to prepare for their interview(s). Maybe you don’t know how to prepare or even what to prepare; the fact that you have taken time to seek out a coach and additional resources, already tells me you have what employers want. Everything else we can work on together.

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DISCLAIMER: This service is provided as a means to assist the job-seeker to increase his or her chances of being hired by a potential new employer. This service aims to provide you with the necessary tools for delivering an impressive interview. This service does NOT guarantee you will be hired by any employer.