From nervous to natural — Mastering job interviews
Summary
Interviews aren’t about “performing” — the strongest candidates treat them as a two-way conversation, not a sales pitch
Preparation matters, but it’s about understanding the role, the business and your own story — not memorising answers
Confidence comes from clarity — knowing your value and being able to articulate your experience with relevance
The goal isn’t perfection — it’s connection, authenticity and leaving a clear, credible impression
Liam Killen recently joined Sarah Denholm for a LinkedIn Live, where he shared his clear, modern approach to tackling interviews — so that they feel natural, not forced. We’ve packaged up Liam’s key take-aways from the session:
Do your homework
Research the company beyond the job ad.
Understand their challenges, growth plans, and team dynamics.
Look at news articles, LinkedIn, and tap into your network.
Internalise, don’t memorise
Prepare your stories and examples.
Focus on being familiar with your content rather than word-perfect.
Trust your knowledge and stay present in the moment.
Practice your pitch
Have a clear, concise career story (think Pixar-style storytelling).
Identify 2–3 key points you want to convey.
Rehearse out loud: in the shower, car, or with friends.
Avoid overloading with too much detail.
Think problem-solving, not performance
Show how you can help the team or organisation succeed.
Highlight achievements that solve real problems (e.g., “Reduced month-end close from 10 days to 3”).
Be authentic, humble, and confident.
Improvise naturally
Treat the interview as a conversation, not a script.
Prepare your key points but allow flexibility to adapt.
Improvisation demonstrates confidence, self-awareness, and engagement.
Serve don’t sell
Focus on helping the organisation succeed, not just pitching yourself.
Approach the interview as contributing value, not proving worth.
Be authentic, humble, and solution-oriented.
Be present & engaged
Listen actively—avoid tunnel vision.
Use “peripheral awareness” to stay open and alert.
Ask thoughtful questions:
“What’s your biggest team challenge right now?”
“What does success look like in the first 90 days?”
