No BS Career Advice: November 30, 2025

By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter

“If you think you’re too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito in the room.” -Anita Roddick

Thanksgiving was lovely AND we did too much travel. NC to Maryland to New Jersey to Connecticut to Vermont to New Jersey to North Carolina. Along the way, I was monitoring a lot of coaching situations with people I’ve been working with, released a new book on Amazon but still it was too much.

It is good to be home and beginning to return to normal.

Executive Interview Command Protocol

You’re interviewing for a senior role. These initial screening calls are high-stakes, requiring precision and unwavering focus. The interviewer isn’t just checking boxes; they’re assessing your gravitas and leadership potential. The standard rules don’t cut it.

1. The Scheduling Mandate: Own the Calendar

Never let a recruiter or HR person ambush you with an impromptu call. At your level, you manage your time—you don’t react to theirs.

• If ambushed: State clearly, “That sounds interesting, but I’m currently between meetings. I want to give this the proper attention it deserves. Let’s schedule 30 minutes. Does X time tomorrow or Y time later this afternoon work better for your calendar?”

• The Goal: You schedule the meeting during a time when your concentration is guaranteed, eliminating the mental clutter of your primary responsibilities.

2. Technical Excellence: Demand Flawless Quality

Your communication shouldn’t be undermined by poor acoustics. This reflects poorly on your planning and attention to detail.

• No Cell Roulette: Avoid relying on a standard cell connection for critical interviews. Use a VoIP line with a dedicated headset, or a reliable, crystal-clear landline. The connection must be professional grade.

• The Test: Always conduct a test call with a colleague or friend immediately before the interview starts to confirm microphone clarity, volume, and connection stability.

3. The Interview Cockpit: Strategic Setup

You need a dedicated, focused area. Think less “home office,” more mission control.

• Establish Your Zone: Conduct the interview from a quiet room, seated upright at a substantial desk or table. This posture changes your breathing and your voice, projecting authority and confidence.

• The Visual Anchor: Put a notepad or even a small mirror in front of you. This is not for vanity. It’s a visual cue to maintain your facial expressiveness—smiling, nodding—which transmits energy and warmth through your voice.

4. Strategic Information Access

This is an open-book test. Use your notes, but use them like a highly organized executive references a brief.

• The Cheat Sheet: Develop a one-page, high-impact reference sheet. Divide it into three sections: Company Metrics/Names, Key Accomplishments (PAR/STAR stories), and Key Questions for the Interviewer. Use bullet points only.

• The Water Rule: Keep water nearby. A dry throat is distracting. A cough breaks the flow and disrupts your narrative.

5. Vocal Gravitas and Pacing

Your voice is your only tool for conveying leadership presence.

• Vary the Cadence: Avoid a monotone drone. Adjust your pitch and pace to emphasize key achievements. Slow down when discussing major strategic decisions; quicken when showing enthusiasm.

• Silence is Power: When you finish a point, be comfortable with a brief pause. Do not rush to fill silence. It suggests insecurity. A deliberate pause, followed by a strategic, confident question, shows you are in control of the conversation. Example: “Does that align with the challenges the current Director/VP is facing?”

6. Absolute Focus: No Multi-Tasking

You’re a VP. You manage multiple workstreams daily. Do not do it here.

• Zero Tolerance: Do not check email, mute the call to take a message, or work on a deck. Your focus must be total. Any lapse in concentration will make your answers sound less detailed, less strategic, and less convincing.

7. Rehearsal is Mandatory

Even seasoned VPs need to rehearse the delivery of complex stories.

• Record Your Stories: Record yourself delivering your top 3-5 high-impact, strategic accomplishment stories. Listen back critically. Do you sound like a leader? Is your language precise? Are you selling the impact and scale of your work, not just the task? Refine until the delivery is crisp and compelling.

This is how you turn a simple screening call into a demonstration of executive authority.

Ⓒ The Big Game Hunter, Inc., Asheville, NC 2025  

Last week, I did not share an issue of No BS Coaching Advice but I did share content in my blog including:

What Should You Look for When Hiring? https://wp.me/p4aIk1-h1S

The Executive Playbook: Navigating a C Suite Transition  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-orx

AI and LinkedIn: Here’s Another Way It Can Help https://wp. me/p4aIk1-orB

10 Unusual Ways to Find Job Leads Without Asking for Referrals https://wp.me/p4aIk1-oqo

Final Interview Reminders . . .  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-orc

Using A Portfolio at an Interview  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-m2x

The 24-Hour Rule  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-orP

Your Resume May Be Getting  Rejected on LinkedIn for This Reason!  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-orT

Finding Your Fit: The Skills Matcher Tool  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-oia  

Stupid Hiring Mistakes: You Lie to Potential Hires https://wp.me/p4aIk1-av0

The Truth About Employment Agencies https://youtu.be/Zy1td6d6v8A

Two People Submitted My Resume! https://wp.me/p4aIk1-aPX

How to Get More Interviews: Ditch the Objective  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-jMT

Take This Precaution When You Use AI  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-m6L

Applying for Two Different Types of Jobs at the Same Company https://wp.me/p4aIk1-7UL

Debunking Myths About HR and Job Search  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-le1

Tough Interview Questions: What Are Your Weaknesses?  https://youtu.be/n_f0eFVNzJU

How Do You Sell Yourself in a Cover Letter?  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-men

No BS Career Advice: November 16, 2025  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-osy  

Simple Body Language Reminders for Interviews https://wp.me/p4aIk1-os1

Why Should They Choose You?  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-h50

When You’ve Been Made Redundant, Fired, Laid Off, RIF’d https://wp.me/p4aIk1-ha1

Tough Interview Questions: What Are Your Weaknesses?  https://youtu.be/n_f0eFVNzJU

How Recruiters Catch Fake Degrees  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-osr

Don’t Act Desperate!  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-osJ   

How to Stand Out With Recruiters When You Apply for a Job https://wp.me/p4aIk1-osT

One Piece of Advice for Someone Changing Careers https://wp.me/p4aIk1-liH

Tough Interview Questions: “How Do You Handle Stress?”  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-32Z

Executive Job Search: The Invisible Market  https://youtube.com/shorts/0RiIwe8DoNg

Tough Interview Questions: Are You A Leader or a Follower?  https://youtu.be/C5Jw-kNNPpM

What Is Best  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-h8w

Employer Branding: Don’t Punish Your Best People  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-jLp

What Recruiters Know That You Don’t: They Don’t Fill That Many Positions  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-otq  

Who Do You Assign to Do a Hard Job?  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-h5f

If You’re Trying to Help Someone with Interview Prep  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-otu

The Invisible Professional: How To Stand Out In Today’s Job Market  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-bow

Misconceptions College Grads Have About Job Hunting https://wp.me/p4aIk1-hBR

When Is It OK To Quit Without Giving Notice?  https://youtu.be/-Wl5VDt2xrg

You Only Lack Experience  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-hiV

Tough Interview Questions: What are Your Weaknesses? https://wp.me/p4aIk1-kss

The Fable of The Monkey and The Fisherman https://wp.me/p4aIk1-8aY

The Truth About Employment Agencies  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-oiJ

Entrepreneur for 10 Yrs. Shave Years Off Your Resume? https://wp.me/p4aIk1-ou6

Avoiding a Bad Hire  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-hct

How to Succeed in Life and Sales  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-h5O

Networking? I Don’t Know What to Say!  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-grq

Tailoring Doesn’t Always Refer to Your Wardrobe  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-3s

Cultivate Your Network  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-jTl

Why So Many Interviews?  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-ouh

15 Applications, ZERO Interviews? https://wp.me/p4aIk1-oul

Executive Job Search: The Invisible Market  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-oiY

What Recruiters Know That You Don’t: They Don’t Care About Clever Resumes https://wp.me/p4aIk1-jgN

The Smart Job Search Method  https://youtu.be/ZRdAKJz3Fns

I also released several Kindle books I have been working on for a while. They will soon be available at JobSearch.Community as part of any membership. I’ll also be making them available as PDFs through Gumroad, too

The Executive Edge: Strategic Interviewing for the C-Suite Final

Getting Through the ATS: How to Beat the Applicant Tracking System and Get Interviewed

Covert Job Search for Leaders: The Executive Edge

Schedule a free discovery call with me at www.TheBigGameHunter.us/schedule to discuss my coaching you during your job search and beyond. I tend to work with more senior-level talent than with individual contributors.

Subscribe to No BS Job Search Advice Radio in Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to or watch podcasts. Every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday I release new episodes.

Become an Insider at JobSearch.Community and have your questions answered, receive coaching from me, plus access to all my video courses, books, and guides.

#BeGreat

Jeff Altman, MSW, CCTC Author

People Hire Me for No BS Job Search Coaching and Career Advice Globally Because I Make Job Search and Succeeding in Your New Job Easier | 5x LinkedIn Top Voice | Career Coach | Former Recruiter | JobSearch.Community