I keep blowing it with my top companies during the interviews.

7 Comments

1. Barb HansenOctober 5,2021 at 11:48PM UTC

   I'm guessing that some of your "blabbering" your word not mine :), comes from nerves, so I would say Practice is your friend.

   Make a list of the questions that you are asked in an interview and speak your answers out loud to yourself.

   Get comfortable hearing your answers. Critic your answers. Be tough on yourself.

   Make written notes on your answers, and do it over and over again, until you are so comfortable with your answers that you know when to stop talking.

2. Tshepo DitsebeOctober 6,2021 at 12:05AM UTC

   Interviews always bring out tons of nerves. The only remedy is to compile questions and answers and practice a lot. Do it infront of the mirror, on camera and with an audience. I've tried all these tricks and they have helped me a lot. Best of luck!

3. Barb HansenOctober 6,2021 at 12:12AM UTC

   Additional comment on your post:

   I have had this conversation with myself in the past - to be myself or someone else during an interview.

   I tend to be lighthearted during interviews because that's who I am. I'm open, lighthearted and I find a way for everyone to understand the "tech," so I like using simple analogies when explaining complex technical concepts and solutions.

   Why? Partly, it's who am I and partly because my job as a product leader is to ensure that everyone around a table (read: non-technical executives) understand complex technical concepts and solutions) and I've gotten good at that part of my job over the years.

   But when being interviewed by a highly technical person who built their career on being "the only one in the room who understand what they say," my use of simple (yet accurate) analogies diminishes my knowledge in their eyes, and I would get rejections like "You're not technical enough."

   But that's my strength, so I don't want to change.

   So I started interjecting why I use analogies - I don't explain highly technical things in simple ways because I don't understand the tech. I explain highly technical things in simple ways because that's my superpower. If the situation permits, I'll throw in the Albert Einstein quote of "Genius is making complex ideas simple, not making simple ideas complex."

   You might want to start framing your "jokes and silliness" (your words, not mine) as your superpower. Frame who you are as a benefit to your job, and 'show how you can bring business and "lightness" to your job.

4. Sue Gordon- retired Career CoachOctober 6,2021 at 12:58AM UTC

   I recommend either using a professional career coach to run through some mock interviews. Record yourself and watch- it can be excruciating, but worth it as you'll likely notice your quirks and can then modify your behavior accordingly. If no coach is available, write a list of frequent questions you've encountered and include those you most fear.

   Either simply record yourself answering them, or ask a friend to act as the interviewer.

   Practice, practice practice! And good luck!

5. Sue Gordon- retired Career CoachOctober 6,2021 at 1:03AM UTC

   As you practice, make sure your answers are less than 2 minutes. There are mock-interview resources out there that -- I've used Big Interview before as a tool through universities, not sure what's available for individual use. Some of these tools provide AI analysis or at least can cut you off at a specified time- then you really know you blathered on a bit too long.

6. AnonymousOctober 6,2021 at 8:51AM UTC

   Perhaps analyse your responses - are you answering the question, or giving much more information they didn't ask for (the blabber)? It's ok to the a pause and breathe (it will seem like an eternity to only you), and to speak deliberately. Like public speaking, your audience needs time to hear and process what you're saying, so you can speak more slowly than you think. You can also tell the interviewer(s) that you're nervous :)

7. AnonymousOctober 6,2021 at 10:57PM UTC

   So I can't believe it but I actually made it through to the final round! I am going to take all of these tips and practice, practice, practice!! Thanks for the input.