Acing the Interview Pt. 1

My unexpected, but highly effective, interview strategy

Author

Sara Kobilka
August 07, 2024

One simple strategy to improve your performance during a job interview (more strategies coming next week).

- Sara Kobilka, Renaissance Woman

In my last newsletter, I discussed how to prepare for a job interview by “unpacking your skillset suitcase” in the form of stories that show you have the skills needed for a position (show, don’t tell). I recommended you practice sharing those stories out loud with a trusted friend or family member to gain confidence. But what if you get asked a question you haven’t prepared an answer for?

A career coaching client recently asked me this very question. She was a TV news producer, one of the team of people behind the scenes helping on-air talent like anchors and reporters perform smoothly, even in constantly evolving breaking news stories. But she readily admitted that she struggled with smoothly and succinctly answering unexpected questions during interviews.

Here's what I told her…it’s OK to pause before answering.

During the stress of an interview, you may worry you’ll look less competent if you take a moment before answering. But in reality, it’s one of the BEST things to do IF you do it the right way.

Follow these three simple steps.

  1. Acknowledge the question: Say something along the lines of, “That’s a great question!” or “I’ve never been asked that before!”

  2. Ask for a pause: Ask your interviewer if you can have a moment to think things through. The chances of them saying no are EXTREMELY low.

  3. Take a short pause: Try to keep your silence to a minute or less. If it helps you concentrate, close your eyes. Briefly think through your answer and practice the first sentence you’re going to say in your head.

If you know you’re likely to use this strategy frequently during the interview, let your interviewer know that so you’re not asking for a moment over and over. At the beginning of your interview, inform them that, “I’m someone who likes to think through my questions before answering to make sure I’m as accurate and thorough as possible. When I pause, please know I’m collecting my thoughts.”

Accuracy and thoroughness are highly valued skills (from that skillset suitcase you’re bringing), so this is again reinforcing the message that you’re a strong candidate.

And how does this tie into this newsletter’s theme of your career as a journey? If you’ve ever traveled across multiple time zones, you know the impact that jet lag can have on your ability to enjoy yourself. While you may want to make the most of your trip, pausing for a nap, or at least a rest, is sometimes the best way to spend a portion of your limited time abroad. If you want to live it up, catch your breath first.

Next week, I’ll share another strategy for improving your interview skills which is all about having fun (and who doesn’t need a little more fun in their lives!)

Golden pause icon

PS: To keep myself and other fans of the arts entertained (remember, I am a Renaissance Woman after all), look for a reference to at least one song lyric or quote from a movie, TV show, play or musical. Message me on LinkedIn if you find it and you win…a virtual shout out in the next newsletter!

Hi! I’m Sara Kobilka, owner of Renaissance Woman Consulting.

I am a Renaissance Woman and part of my wider-ranging background includes time as a TV meteorologist/reporter, non-profit leader, higher education program coordination, and now, business owner. During each leg of this journey, I gained new skills that I was able take with me in my next step. Now, I work remotely with clients to help them confidently tell their story and navigate the transition to their next step on their career journey.

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