Ace the Curveball: 5 Tips for Navigating Unexpected Interview Questions

In this episode, special guest Tessa White joins us as we explore three crucial elements for interview success: improving conversation flow, asking the right questions and structuring answers. Discover how to break free from the rigid question-and-answer format and foster a more engaging dialogue with the interviewer. Next, we'll tackle the importance of asking the right questions during an interview. Tessa White is the author of The Unspoken Truths for Career Success. She is a former Fortune 50 executive and a 25-year human capital expert for fast-growth companies and mergers and acquisition strategies and has been published in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal and  recently named one of 2022’s top entrepreneurs to be inspired by in USA Today. She is known to more than 1,000,000 TikTok and Instagram followers as The Job Doctor.⁠ -- For a 1:1 mock interview coaching with Podcast Host, Lena Sernoff, click here to book.

In this episode of Girl You're Hired, we'll discuss tips and strategies about deciding if a job or company is right for you. Guest Kelli Thompson shares her values-fit framework, which includes questions such as, "Will this job allow me to use my best talents 80% of the time?" "What's my energy level after each interview?" and "Am I passionate about this company and who they serve?" Additionally, Kelli shares specific interview questions that you can ask to clearly understand whether the role meets your criteria, including questions that can help discern what is true versus what employers think they want to hear. Don't miss this insightful episode on finding the right value-fit for your next job. Kelli Thompson is a keynote speaker, writer, and leadership coach with over 10 years of leadership experience for financial services and technology organizations. She is featured in Forbes, MarketWatch, HuffPost and is the author of Closing the Confidence Gap. You can download her free career clarity guide here.

This episode features a discussion on the topic of mental wellness, specifically focusing on the experience of being laid off from a job. Guest Rose Choi Marques shares her personal story of navigating a tech layoff and offers tips on how to stay mentally strong and positive during such challenging times, including the importance of self-care and applicable strategies for finding a new job. Whether you're currently facing a job loss or seeking inspiration and strategies to stay resilient in today's job market, this episode is for you. 

The unexpected can be the toughest part of a job interview, but with the right strategy, it can also be the most memorable. In this episode of Girl You’re Hired the host, Lena Sernoff, shares her top tips for handling unpredictable interview questions with confidence and poise. With five expert tips, this episode will help you turn a curveball into a standout moment.

In this episode, we're diving into the wild world of ChatGPT, the cutting-edge language model that's here to revolutionize your job interview prep. No more boring and generic answers, we're showing you how to use ChatGPT to come up with killer responses to even the toughest industry-specific questions, crafting cover letters that'll make hiring managers beg to hire you, and even negotiating your salary like a pro. By the end of this episode, you'll be the master of your interview destiny, armed with the knowledge of how to use ChatGPT to dominate your next job interview. So sit back, relax, and get ready to learn how to become the ultimate job interview boss.

The job market is tough right now. With the increasing number of layoffs and narrowing job openings, it’s time to think creatively and find a job through out-of-the-box ways! This episode gives you 7 not so obvious things to do or change about how you apply or find jobs to help your chances of sealing the deal and getting back on the horse.

Rejection sucks, but does it have to? This episode covers how to deal with rejection from a job so you can walk away reenergized and ready to get back on the horse.

Don’t settle for a mediocre job offer. Here are three invaluable salary negotiation tips to use in your interview. Included are scripts of how to articulate the salary negotiation in order to walk away with optimal compensation.

Everything you need to know to prepare for a panel interview. This episode will help you pass the panel interview successfully with not so obvious tips! Included are examples of how to connect and engage with everyone in the room and leave a lasting impression to get you hired.

Whether you're a mother who took some months - that turned into years - off after maternity leave, or a business professional who feels worried about having hopped from job to job in more recent years, Kristen Zavo and Lena Sernoff break down the most successful ways to address gaps within your work history. Together they provide tactical tips for how to take unrelated roles and use them to your advantage if you’re looking to pivot to a new industry. Kristen is a Career Coach and Best-Selling Author of Job Joy: Your Guide to Success, Meaning & Happiness in Your Career. Her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes Magazine, Real Simple, CBS News and more.