Career Kickstart Interview skills
Applying for your first job, or near the start of your working life? Finding the interview process tough?
Get proven skills, advice and support.
Interviews can be some of the most stressful events you’ll have to deal with. You need to rise to the occasion and show your ‘best self’, no matter how you’re feeling, or how much pressure you’re under.
How do you let your personality come through when you’re being judged? And when this might feel like ‘make or break’ to set you up for your future goals.
My clients come to me for some or all these reasons:
Mindset
Worry prior. Fear of crumbling under the pressure. Or failing due to over-confidence.
Structure
What order to use (this matters). How much information to add or leave out.
Delivery
Memorise or not? Clarity, articulating clearly in the moment while being watched.
Whether you lack self-belief, are a worrier – or know in fact that you come across too confidently, overbearing or “too much” – you need practical behavioural, mindset tools and skills.
These sessions are tailored, specific and highly practical. How to manage time, mind-blanks, having no notes. We look at anything that’s getting in your way.
In Career Kickstart, here are just 3 of our key focus areas:
Effective communication techniques
- Being brief (enough). Giving clear responses that don’t drift or go down paths you can’t come back from.
- Speaking articulately. We’re articulate first in our head, then as we speak. Both need to work for you.
- Choosing the right words. Using language that works for your interviewer(s) and keeps you authentic.
- Pausing during delivery. To breathe, highlight key ideas and show confidence and control under pressure.
Professional and personal presence
- Sounding confident when you’re not. Staying focused, present and able to listen, even under pressure.
- Showing warm and competent body language. You’re still authentic but can highlight what’s needed.
- Habits! How might you come across? Quiet? Disengaged? Scattered? Or focused and in control?
- Projecting your personality. Using your strengths and uniqueness to create a positive impression.
Skills and competencies.
- Practice skills. How to prepare, and how not to. Giving you tools to rehearse beforehand.
- Role-playing skills such as STAR responses and knowing the right ratios for each point.
- Memorising scripts. If you do this, you’ll be in your head. How to shift from memorising to conversational.
- Listening well and handling follow-up questions naturally while staying present.
The details:
- 1 month
- 2 x 50-minute sessions
- Online or in person (Melbourne)
- Includes resources: videos, templates, exercises
- Access to me between sessions
- Discussion and testing including role-playing (if chosen).
- Video modules to reinforce the learning.
Note: the coaching can be extended if desired.
Investment $540 + GST.
Can be paid in 2 instalments.
My background and how it supports you to succeed
The ability to think and speak coherently, get your tone right and your non-verbals working for you while being watched: this is something I’ve personally had to overcome, as well as working with 1000’s of clients with these challenges.
After years of struggling with performance and public speaking anxiety I’ve learned what’s needed to prepare and perform at your best when people are watching you.
Even if that audience is just one interviewer. You know it’s not about the number of people judging you, it’s the fact that you need to perform under pressure, you’re being tested and evaluated in a short amount of time with no ‘redo’ button.
What my clients are saying
Invited to interview for numerous jobs I was ‘second best candidate’ each time. After several sessions with Sarah and putting her advice into practice, I received three job offers from leading organisations in my field.
18 months later I applied for my boss’s job and engaged Sarah again. I was offered a promotion at my current workplace and three days later was offered a job at a different company.
Every time I’ve worked with Sarah, she has guided me in a way that reveals my best attributes and how she suggests improvements makes me feel more confident. I attribute the success I’ve had largely to her coaching.
Naomi Lennox
Faculty Services - University of Sydney
Sarah’s constructive critique and professional advice has been invaluable in helping me polish my online presence. Her knowledge and delivery of a broad range of skills and topics that will enhance my professional image was concise and effective.
I plan additional coaching when I am ready to progress further within my career journey. Thank you, Sarah, this exercise was one of the best investments I have made for my career.
Josie C.
Property agent
Sarah is an exceptional coach who understands my struggles and knows how to build my confidence and skills progressively. The lesson learned has been invaluable for my speaking and thinking process when facing pressure. It also helped bring out the part of me that is more grounded, authentic and resilient. Thank you Sarah!
Yue Zhang