Watched a career webinar clip during lunch (one of those recommended videos that showed up after I’d been looking up interview tips for the pile of weddings and overdue job hunting I’ve got going on) and the one thing that actually stuck wasn’t the sample answers, it was how the coach answered.
She’d get asked a question and instead of jumping straight in, she’d take a breath, repeat the question back in her own words, and only then start talking. Looked almost too simple to matter but I tried it out loud in the kitchen and noticed my jaw wasn’t doing that tight thing it usually does when I feel put on the spot…
What’s sticking with me from it –
– the pause reads as thinking, not stalling, even though it feels like forever when you’re the one doing it
– repeating the question back buys a little room without looking unprepared
– it apparently keeps your voice from doing that rushed, climbing thing when you’re nervous
Haven’t used it in an actual interview yet since nothing’s lined up, but I’ve been doing the kitchen version most days this week and it’s weirdly useful outside of interview prep too, like when someone puts me on the spot in a meeting out of nowhere. Mostly writing it down here so I don’t lose it before I actually need it.