42 Year old Mike Michalak is changing careers. Michalak’s been an options trader for more than a decade, but he says he’s ready to find something else, maybe a position as “a financial analyst or in the banking environment”. But the last time Michalak’s had to go on a job interview, was 15 years ago, and he’s nervous about it…so he called in a coach to help him score the big job. Its what many job seekers are doing these days, to get an advantage, or just stay in game of today’s super competitive job market. “Having a great interview is so critical, and the only way to have a really great interview is to have someone who can coach you through that interview process. This is the only opportunity you’re going to have to make that first great impression and in order to do that, you have to be coached through the interview and prepared for that” says Vickie Lenchner of HR Staffing.
The tough economy and lack of job openings has lead to an increase in the number of interview coaches nationwide. Terry Kozlowski, of jobinterview911.com, holds seminars and gives mock interviews to prepare clients on how to best answer the tough questions that might come up during the interview process. “Interviewers will sometimes just pick a question out of the blue just to try to throw you, and just to see how you think under pressure, so you gotta be prepared for the predicatable questions and as much as you can, be prepared with your own stories and your own life experiences to handle the unpredictable questions that come your way” she says.
A fast talking, 23 year old, Joyce Yin turned to Kozlowski for help, while she looks for her first job in the non-profit sector. She’s a barely 5 foot tall, ball of energy, with a lot of enthusiasm, but says she had to learn from a coach how to calm down and keep her nerves in check when she’s being interviewed “I feel like my heart is beating so fast, its like in my throat and its about to come out because i’m so nervous, because I’m already an energetic person, so to have all that other energy just makes me kinda like fffzzzz” Yin says, as she demonstrates her emotions by shaking her hands in the air. Nervousness is normal, says Lenchner, you just have come to the table well prepared and ready to put your best foot forward. Kozlowski says one of the most important tips she gives to those preparing for that big interview: “Practice, practice, practice”.
CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS FROM INTERVIEW COACHES LENCHNER AND KOZLOWSKI: