What we have here is a failure to communicate (in the interview). How to be Cool Hand Luke in the interview (Updated Post).

There are 3 tips I usually give my clients to help them remain calm in their interviews so they don’t have a “failure to communicate.”

1. Power statements


2. Practice questions


3. Shop around

It’s tough to be prepared for every scenario in an interview, but these are 3 tips that usually help to ease your sweaty palms.

1. Power statements were designed by a board of business men for a non-profit organization’s efforts to help their members find employment. A power statement is a poignant expression of your past work.

e.g. I am a hard worker. For example, when I worked at X Company I headed up a project focused on transitioning our companies operations. I was able to finish the project 6 months ahead of schedule and as a result I saved the company over $250,000.

The main components are as follows:

• to think of your quality, such as hard worker


• give an example of a time when you proved that quality


• Finally, tell the results, such as saving money (IMPORTANT NOTE: quantify your results (e.g. 6 mos ahead of schedule, saved $250,000)

Review all your past experiences and write down several of these statements so that you can practice them before hand.

2. Practice answering several of the standard questions that are asked in an interview. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve interviewed, anyone can get a little rusty.

3. Shopping around will keep you cool. Just like dating, you will never sweat when the worst thing that could happen is that you get the girl. The only way to be in that situation is to have more than one option that you are seriously interested in and vice versa.