Interview Boss

Being asked to come in for a trial shift can feel exciting…and slightly confusing. Is it a great sign? Is it free labour? And how do you actually perform well when you’re being assessed in real time? In this week’s episode, Sarah and Emma unpack what you can expect at a trial shift, and why it’s often less about skill, and more about how you show up. We discuss what employers are actually looking...

Job searching can make you feel a little superstitious. One person swears a specific resume template got them hired. Someone else says it was the follow-up email. Another is convinced one “brilliant” question in the interview sealed the deal. But we have to remember: correlation does not equal causation!!! In this week’s episode, Sarah and Emma unpack the urge to assign a single cause to a complex...

What are you supposed to say in an interview…when you've never actually been a manager before? In Part 2 of this deep dive series, we explain why self-awareness is your secret weapon, what to say when you don’t have a perfect example, and how to show a growth mindset instead of panicking. We also share the fundamental advice every first-time manager isn’t always told, but absolutely needs to hear....

Going for your first manager-level role can feel like a whole different sport. Suddenly it’s less about your individual output and more about leadership, dealing with people problems and judgement. In Part 1 of this two-part series, Sarah and Emma unpack the mindset shift you need when applying for your first leadership role. We discuss the fear of not feeling “ready,” why trying to fake managemen...

What would you do if the interviewers started talking about you...while you were literally sitting right there? In this week's episode, Sarah and Emma react in real time to a listener story that made our jaws hit the floor. During an interview assessment, Katie could see live messages being exchanged between the recruiter and hiring manager about her performance, on the same laptop she was using!...

You’re only five months into a new role, but you’re burnt out, crying daily, and dreading every shift. You know you need to leave for your mental health, but the old advice is ringing in your ears: "Never resign without another job lined up!" In this week’s episode, Sarah and Emma tackle a heavy listener dilemma from Rita, who is ready to walk away during her probation period but is struggling wit...

If you’re not ready to job hunt yet but you can feel a change is on the horizon and the idea of talking about your achievements makes your mind go blank, this episode is for you! Coming up with strong examples on the spot is one of the hardest parts of resumes and interviews! That's why creating a "best bits" tracker is one of the biggest gifts you can give your future-self! We break down how to t...

There's nothing wrong with applying for a role through a job board - people get hired that way every single day. But sometimes it pays to apply directly through a company's website, especially when it's a role you're genuinely excited about. In this week's episode Sarah and Emma explain how going direct can give recruiters more context about you from the start. From accessing extra application fie...

Stepping down a level on the career ladder can feel strangely just as intimidating as aiming higher. How do you explain why you want a less senior role without sounding like you’re burnt out, unmotivated, or trying to “quit” responsibility? Whether you’re shifting from director to individual contributor, prioritising family life, or simply craving work that’s meaningful without the extra leadershi...

No one likes the “What’s your biggest weakness?” question. It’s awkward, overused, and honestly…a bit lazy. But it still pops up in lots of interviews, so you need to know how to answer it without sounding fake, cliché, or like you’ve been media-trained within an inch of your life. In this week’s episode, Sarah and Emma break down what this question is actually about—self-awareness, vulnerability,...

Should you bring a display folder to your job interview, or is that a bit of an overkill? This week, we're answering a listener question about whether it's worth bringing along your certificates, volunteering highlights, and uni achievements. Sarah and Emma explain who this works best for (hello new grads and early-career applicants), how it can add to your overall impression, and the easiest way...

When a job ad lists a certain number of years’ experience, there’s no way to know whether it’s a hard and fast rule or just a guide, and that’s exactly the point. Since you can’t predict which way a company will lean, if you’re close enough, it’s worth applying. In this week’s episode, Sarah and Emma explain how to make that call and share when it’s worth shooting your shot. We use listener Charlo...

You’ve been invited in for a “casual chat.” No panel, no formal questions, maybe even coffee instead of a meeting room. Sounds chill, right? Not so fast. These chats might feel relaxed, but they’re still interviews, and plenty of people get caught out by treating them like they’re not. In this week’s episode, Sarah and Emma unpack what “just a chat” really means, when it happens in the hiring proc...

Seeing the job you’ve applied for get re-posted can send you into a full-blown spiral . Does it mean you’re out of the running? That they didn’t like your application? Or is it just bad hiring? In this week’s episode, Sarah and Emma unpack exactly what’s going on behind the scenes when a role pops up again after you’ve already applied. From lazy auto-reposts to managers chasing a “perfect” unicorn...

Sometimes in an interview, it becomes clear there’s a genuine mismatch. Maybe they're after three years of experience in an area you’ve only just become familiar with, or the role requires travel, which you can't commit to. In this week’s episode, Sarah and Emma unpack how to gracefully pivot an interview for a role that’s not the right fit, into a valuable coffee chat instead. This one was inspir...

There's a mysterious condition sweeping through jobseekers everywhere - and no one's immune. It's called ' Interview Mode' Syndrome, and it only flares up in interview conditions. Symptoms include sudden amnesia about your own achievements, robotic tone, and an uncontrollable urge to say 'stakeholder engagement' way too many times. In this week's episode, Sarah and Emma put on their lab coats to d...

Ever walked out of an interview thinking, “I prepared so much… why didn’t my stories land?” So many people practice their 'best bits' stories to within an inch of their life BUT they skip the most powerful (and hardest) step - proper thinking time. In this episode, Sarah and Emma unpack why slowing down to actually think about your stories (not just rehearse them) is what gives your answers real d...

Having two job offers on the table sounds like the dream, but in reality, it can feel like a nightmare decision. Do you take the higher-paying contract role with less security, or settle for the lower salary in a permanent role that feels “safer”? This week, Sarah and Emma unpack a listener dilemma from Lizzy, who’s weighing up a permanent job at a luxury brand with average pay and worrying review...

Ever spotted your dream company online only to realise they aren’t advertising any roles? It can feel like there’s no way in, but what if you could create your own opportunity ? In this week’s episode, Sarah and Emma break down how to “shoot your shot” with a company when there isn’t a job listed. From crafting a specific, targeted pitch to finding the right person to email, we cover everything yo...

Being asked about company values in a job interview can feel like a minefield. Do they want a big-picture statement, or a real-life example? And how do you stop yourself from sounding like you’ve just memorised their website? In this week’s episode, Sarah and Emma break down how to answer values-based interview questions with confidence. Whether you’re interviewing in healthcare, corporate, govern...

Losing hope in your job search? You’re not alone - but be careful where you turn for support. In this week’s episode, Sarah and Emma issue a warning about the dangers of falling into online negativity spirals. From comment sections and forums it can feel like everyone is struggling - like the system is broken, and it’s you vs the world. And while there’s often a kernel of truth to these ideas, the...

Ever been hit with an interview question that feels like it has five different parts rolled into one? You start answering, then halfway through you realise you’ve completely lost track of what they even asked. Multi-part interview questions are the worst and they pop up all the time, especially in government, education, and healthcare recruitment. In this week’s episode, Sarah and Emma break down...

You’ve handed in your resignation and maybe even felt guilty about leaving your team in the lurch. But instead of a heartfelt send-off, you notice you’re left off meeting invites, your projects are quietly reassigned, and your manager suddenly feels distant. By your last week, it’s…crickets. Was none of it appreciated? Did you not matter after all? In this week’s episode, Sarah and Emma unpack why...

Quitting your job can feel less like a professional decision and more like a personal betrayal, especially when your boss has been kind, the timing is awkward, or you just really hate confrontation. In this week’s episode, Sarah and Emma unpack all the emotional landmines that come with handing in your resignation. From guilt and fear, to navigating tricky situations like quitting a job you just s...

Internal interviews can feel super weird, especially when your panel includes people you already work with. Maybe it's your current manager, someone you had a tricky project with, or just colleagues you usually chat to in the kitchen. So how do you pitch yourself without feeling awkward, fake, or like you're stating the obvious? In Part 2 of our deep dive on Internal Interviews, Sarah and Emma sha...