From ‘thanks, but no thanks’ to multiple job offers

Job interviews seem to hold a particular place in people’s hearts. And it’s not a good one.  

A client came to me recently who had been out of work for a little while. They’d been applying for quite a few things and getting invited for interviews but that’s where it ended. It was becoming a disheartening routine. 

The invite (excitement) 

The preparation (I best prepare hard for this one) 

The interview (Not sure if I’m doing well – the panel are hard to read) 

The rejection (oh no, not again) 

As you might expect, his confidence was taking a real hit, which was leading to losing faith and a sense of no control. But after just three sessions of coaching, he quickly got job offers and importantly the job he wanted. So what changed? What advice did I give him?  

I didn’t give him any advice. I just listened, then asked him some questions and gave him some time to think. He did the rest. 

By asking focused questions and reflecting back what I was hearing, I helped him to look at his situation differently; to look beyond the physical interview itself and see what was happening for him. By asking questions which made him look more closely and deeply at the situation, he realised it was previous work problems that had led to a lack of self-confidence in his ability. 

This showed up as over preparing because he didn’t trust his instincts and judgement, which in turn meant he wasn't able to demonstrate his knowledge properly in the interview. Ultimately, he came across as unsure and his answers lacked the depth and authenticity the panel wanted. 

This awareness then helped us to tackle the real issue holding him back and to remove and reframe the limiting old assumptions about previous roles that were unhelpful.  

What do you think a coach could help you with?