Don’t Screw Up Your Interview

Being a brilliant leader, doesn’t mean you’ll ACE your job interview. It’s a whole different game!

Over the last 2 decades, we’ve interviewed AT LEAST 10,000 candidates… …so you BET we’ve seen the good, the bad, and the and the utterly cringe-worthy mistakes candidates make (like showing up to a virtual interview with an unmade bed as the backdrop 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️).

Advaita Naidoo (MD Extraordinaire) and CEO Debbie Goodman, sat down to trade war stories from the interview trenches – and we hit the record button! This isn’t your run-of-the-mill advice—we’ve got straight talk about what’s REALLY holding candidates back.

Watch the series HERE:

6 Reasons you might be screwing up your interview:

1. The “Tell Us About Yourself” Question
   • Prepare a concise, relevant elevator pitch (2–3 minutes max)
   • Highlight career milestones related to the job rather than unrelated personal details
2. Resume Gaps
   • Be ready to explain employment gaps honestly and succinctly
   • Normalize common gaps (eg parenting, retrenchments or lifestyle changes)
3. Your Virtual Setup
   • Test your tech in advance, ensuring good lighting, camera angles and a distraction-free background.
   • Make the bed!
4. Your Attire
   • Err on the side of formality to convey professionalism and respect
   • Formal attire can improve your posture, confidence and overall presentation
5. Jargon Overload
   • Communicate your achievements in simple, relatable language
   • Be adaptable: switch between technical jargon and plain English when appropriate
6. Avoiding Difficult Questions
   • Listen carefully, avoid tangents and address the question asked
   • Prepare for tricky questions about difficult projects, teamwork challenges or gaps in your resume

If you have enjoyed this content, SUBSCRIBE to our NEWSLETTER for more industry updates and tips.