The #1 Job Search Mistake You're Probably Making (And How to Fix It)
Are you sabotaging your job search without even realizing it? Recently, I’ve been noticing job seekers making the same critical error time and time again. Today, I'm going to reveal this common pitfall and show you how to avoid it, setting yourself up for success in your next interview.
The Interview Prep Problem
Here's the truth: most job seekers are severely underestimating the amount of time they need to prepare for interviews. In today's fast-paced job market, companies are often scheduling interviews for the same day or the next day. If you wait until an interview is scheduled to start your prep, you're already behind.
Why Proper Preparation Matters
You might be wondering, "Can't I just wing it?" Absolutely not! Interviews, especially those involving behavioral questions, require thoughtful preparation. These open-ended questions are designed to give employers insight into your personality, skills, and approach to work. How you answer can make or break your chances of landing the job.
The Experience + Learn = Grow Model
To nail these crucial behavioral questions, I teach a structured approach called the Experience + Learn = Grow model. This framework helps you craft answers with a clear beginning, middle, and end, providing just the right amount of information.
Without this structure, you risk:
1. Saying too little, leaving the interviewer wanting more
2. Rambling and going off-topic
3. Sounding unprepared or, worse, like you're hiding something
Common Behavioral Questions to Prepare For
Some examples of behavioral questions you should be ready to tackle include:
- "Describe your biggest mistake on the job."
- "What's your greatest professional accomplishment?"
- "How do you handle working with difficult people?"
These questions may seem simple on the surface, but they require careful thought and preparation to answer effectively. (Click HERE to learn about the 18 Most Common Interview Questions.)
The Solution: Proactive Interview Prep
Here's the good news: once you've done thorough interview prep, much of that work will apply to future interviews as well. The key is to start this process before you have any interviews lined up.
But how do you know if you're on the right track with your prep? That's where expert guidance comes in handy.
Join Me for a Free Interview Prep Session
I want to offer you a unique opportunity to supercharge your interview skills. Every Thursday at 12pm EST, I host an exclusive "Interview Sandbox" session for Work It DAILY members. In this hour-long class, I answer all your burning interview prep questions and provide personalized feedback.
The best part? You can join this session for free! Here's how:
1. Head over to Work It DAILY
2. Sign up for a 7-day free trial
3. You'll receive an invitation to join Thursday's Interview Sandbox session
This risk-free trial gives you access not just to the Interview Sandbox, but also to our comprehensive Interview Prep course and all the other resources Work It DAILY has to offer.
Don't Miss This Chance to Level Up Your Interview Game
Remember, it's incredibly challenging to secure job interviews in today's competitive market. Don't let all that hard work go to waste by stumbling through your interviews unprepared.
Join me tomorrow at the Interview Sandbox, and I'll walk you through exactly what you need to do to ace your next interview.
Click HERE to start your free trial!
Go get ‘em!
J.T. O’Donnell
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