74 | How To Answer Uncomfortable Job Questions: Job gaps, Toxic Former Employers, Compensation And More

In this week’s episode, we are focusing on the interview process;  how to prepare for interviews, how to handle the tough questions about job gaps, former employers, and the dreaded money talk.  And to add in an extra layer of complication in this whole new world since the pandemic, you also may be interviewing remotely for the first time and need to prepare for the uniqueness of that as well.  I have been in HR for over twenty years and have done what seems like millions of interviews and they can be hard!  You may feel like there are some “gotcha” questions, which are not intentional but just may be hard to answer if you aren't prepared - but don’t worry, you will have everything you need to handle all those questions!  I also share with you my Interview Preparation Guide to help you shine your brightest at the interview!In this episode, you will specifically learn…Basic interview prep - Research the company, the interviewer and the details of the job so you  have detailed questions for the interviewer and stay away from those surface level questions. How to approach tougher questions - You know they are going to come up, so be ready to answer questions about a gap in your resume, why you are making a career change, why you are leaving or have left your previous company and the always dreaded question about compensation.Practice answering interview questions - Take the time to say your answers out loud and get some feedback so you are comfortable with how you are saying it.  And if the interview is remote, practice getting on ZOOM or checking your surroundings.Link mentioned…Interview Prep GuideI’m Karen Weeks, the CEO & Chief Shine Officer (aka transformation coach) at KDW Coaching, the host of the Shine at Work podcast, award winning culture leader (currently leading the People team at Ordergroove), a speaker and published author. My purpose is to help career-oriented humans get unstuck so they can shine bright in business and in life.  And I know how that feels, I navigated a career from theatre & the arts to HR (with lots of twists and turns there) to expanding my career into coaching as well. I live in NYC with my husband and furry babies!Connect with Me!WebsiteInstagramLinkedInYouTubeTwitterAs always, please consider subscribing, leaving a rating and review and sharing this podcast and the whole series with others.  We do this podcast to help spread the word that everyone can get unstuck and find the thing that brings them joy in their careers.  If our guests can do it, you can too!  Welcome to the Shine at Work Podcast! On this show, your co-hosts Karen and Dan will shine a light on your job search so you can land a role that lets you flex your strengths and progress your career in an environment you actually look forward to working in each day. From creating a stand-out resume, to confidently negotiating your salary, to finding your footing as a new manager, you can expect to hear actionable advice to help you shine your brightest in your role.Karen D. Weeks is the CEO and Chief Career Coach of Shine at Work Coaching. She has over twenty years of HR experience, including as CPO at Ordergroove.Dan Carr is a Shine at Work Career Coach with over a decade of recruiting experience helping high-growth startups expand with top talent.Connect with Us!WebsiteInstagramKaren Weeks on LinkedInDan Carr on LinkedIn