What is interview coaching, and is it worth it?

Interview coaching is designed to help you “seal the deal” with a potential new employer during a job search. When you’ve already caught the hiring manager’s eye with a quick and clever cover letter and a resume that hits all the right keywords, the main thing standing between you and your dream job could simply be a successful job interview.

Even the most accomplished job seekers can feel nervous about making a good first impression. After all, no two interviews are alike, and there are plenty of variables to anticipate. To adapt to different interview styles, you must be able to be confident without being arrogant and come prepared with responses to situational interview questions and “tell me about a time” prompts.

Whether you’re beginning an entry-level career or are interested in changing careers, seeking job interview coaching can be a smart way to improve your skills. A career coach or interview coaching services can help you identify the tools you need to stand out from other candidates and nail your elevator pitch so you feel more confident during the interview process.

What does job interview coaching look like?

Interview preparation coaching provides you with constructive feedback and strategies to anticipate and perform well in a job interview. Typically, career coaches offer job interview coaching to prepare you for a specific interview.

However, a coach can also help you develop general interview skills, like effective communication and asking good questions, that you can showcase throughout your career.

Some interview coaching services analyze your resume and job potential from the perspective of a human resources manager or recruiter and ask questions to gauge alignment with your career goals and priorities. They explore the requisites and responsibilities of the job you’re applying to alongside your skill set, experiences, and know-how to identify a potential employer’s biggest concerns. 

Interview prep might include the following:

• • Defining your strengths and weaknesses
  • Connecting job requirements to your most valuable experiences
  • Identifying ways that your personal values align with the company’s values and overall vision
  • Examining your LinkedIn profile, doing a resume review, and creating a personal brand statement to identify potential concerns for the interviewer
  • Discussing different types of interview questions, like behavioral questions versus unstructured interview questions
  • Techniques for answering these questions, such as the STAR interview method
  • Rehearsing verbal and nonverbal communication techniques
  • Building your interview skills by engaging in mock interviews
  • Discussing unique interview questions to ask an employer
  • Covering interview tips for in-person and virtual interviews
  • Developing a personalized action plan and providing career advice to help you land your dream job

Do you need an interview coach?

It’s never a bad idea to polish your interview skills, especially if you want to land a specific role. Here are 10 telltale signs interview coaching might be just what your career needs:

1. You never make it past the first round in the interview process, even when you send a follow-up email.
2. You struggle to overcome nervousness, stress, and anxiety when interviewing.
3. You’re not positive of proper etiquette for an in-person interview versus a video interview using a platform like Zoom.
4. You aren’t sure how to address challenging interview questions about your resume, such as explaining career gaps.
5. Hiring managers and interviewers gave you negative feedback about your interviewing skills.
6. You have a difficult time expressing yourself in a confident and compelling way.
7. You feel uncomfortable in new or high-pressure situations.
8. You need one-on-one support to build skills and incorporate constructive feedback.
9. It feels intimidating to negotiate a salary.
10. You feel like you don’t know how to prepare for an interview.

What to look for in job interview coaching services

Once you’ve determined you could benefit from working with a professional coaching service, the next step is finding a reputable company. Here are some essential qualities any worthwhile job interview coaching service provider should have:

• Experienced coaches: Look for evidence that the company’s coaches have an extensive professional background, including years of experience, relevant industry expertise, and certifications from recognized organizations like the International Coaching Federation (ICF).
• Comprehensive interview prep: Make sure the company offers more than just a resume review or resume writing, including services like mock interviews, developing a personalized action plan catered to your career path, and helping you brainstorm questions to ask a recruiter.
• Good reviews: Read through recent reviews of the company’s interview coaching services and pay attention to patterns in both compliments and complaints.
• Easy online scheduling: Research how the company’s scheduling works to ensure you can easily access sessions at your convenience.
• Demonstrated thought leadership: While not required, it’s always a green flag when a company showcases thought leadership in the coaching industry by publishing educational content through a blog or news center.

6 benefits of job interview coaching services

Good coaching focuses on self-discovery and self-awareness, and interview coaching is no different. Professional coaching services often begin with identifying strengths and establishing goals.

To perform well in an interview, your goals might include responding well under pressure, developing negotiation strategies, and feeling more self-assured. Here are six benefits you can gain from participating in interview coaching sessions.

1. Learn more about your skills

Successful interviews require you to exercise your soft skills, critical thinking, adaptability, and creativity. You can leverage these abilities in response to different questions to make your value proposition stand out from other candidates. 

A good coach will work closely with you to assess your existing specialties. They’ll also provide constructive feedback about areas needing improvement and will partner with you to create an action plan to get there. 

During this process, you’ll likely learn a few new things about yourself. Maybe there are natural skills you excel at but aren’t aware of. Or perhaps you tend to overestimate other skills that require development. In any case, you might gain clarity around how to represent your personal brand in an interview and gain the tools necessary to work toward continued self-improvement. 

2. Build confidence

If you feel anxious about job interviews, you’re not alone. According to a survey by JDP, 93% of Americans have experienced anxiety around a job interview. Ironically, 20% of those job seekers were most nervous about looking nervous.

A job interview aims to evaluate you as a candidate. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed about being judged or misunderstood. While stress can motivate you to prepare and perform, too much stress can cause you to give a bad interview. 

A career coach can support you in building confidence in several ways. First, they can identify, emphasize, and spotlight what makes you a valuable candidate. Focusing on your unique strengths can fill you with pride that allows you to speak with conviction.

Second, practicing common questions and improving your responses in a supportive environment can help you feel confident about your ability to adapt and develop answers during the real interview. This can help you find interview success the first time around.

You can also practice questions to ask the interviewer during different interview rounds, such as second interview questions, so you don’t blank in the moment.

3. Fine-tune your communication strategy

While you use various abilities to deliver a good interview, your communication skills are some of the most important ones to display. An interview isn’t just a chance to evaluate whether you have the right experience and know-how to perform the job. It’s also an opportunity for a hiring manager to gain a preview of what it’ll be like working with you. Good communication is key to building strong work relationships.

A mock interview session can help you improve your active listening, body language, and ability to speak clearly. If you’re less experienced with virtual calls, online interview coaching can give you practical experience with virtual interviews. 

Your coach can help you learn to use purposeful body language, make effective eye contact, and avoid distractions to stay engaged and professional. 

4. Overcome nervousness

Interview practice may not be enough to shake your nerves. The right interview coach can also provide wellness coaching to help you manage your interview anxiety and walk in with a clear head. This might involve practicing wellness techniques like the following:

• Power poses
• Breathwork exercises
• Relaxation techniques
• Positive self-talk
• Visualization techniques
• Mindfulness activities

5. Improve your salary negotiation skills

During the interviewing process, the company may ask you for a suitable salary range. Learning how to answer questions about salary expectations can directly impact your quality of life.

But talking about money can be a slippery slope. If you ask for more than your experience is worth, you might come off as arrogant. If you ask for too little, you may demonstrate a lack of self-confidence. 

Skilled coaches have years of experience in professional development and can work with you to explore and evaluate your market value, articulate your worth, and develop techniques for negotiating trade-offs or counteroffers.

Healthy negotiations can have a lasting effect. A study published in the Journal of Organizational Behavior and explained by Harvard’s Program on Negotiation found that collaborative negotiation participants were happier with their job offers and achieved an average of $5,000 higher starting pay.

6. Better handle difficult interview questions

A gap on your resume, a big career transition, or job hopping might raise concerns for some hiring managers. A great coach creates a supportive environment to help you practice responding to challenging questions calmly and effectively. You can work on techniques to shift the narrative and paint potential red flags as unique employee strengths. 

For example, imagine you took a career break to care for an elderly family member. A gap may suggest you need to retrain some hard skills. But highlighting important soft skills like self-efficacy, patience, and conviction may convince the hiring manager it’s worth the trade-off.

Land your dream job with quality job interview coaching

Interview coaching often involves little risk and lots of opportunities for reward. It can help you feel more confident in yourself and your abilities, know your worth, and nail your next interview. Practice doesn’t make perfect, but it typically helps.

The job search isn’t easy, but you don’t have to do it alone. Whether you’re just stepping into the workforce or preparing to move up the executive ladder, interview coaching can give you the tools needed to deliver the answers hiring managers are looking for.

Land your dream job offer with confidence and pride by working with a BetterUp Coach to improve your interviewing skills.