Stupid Interview Mistakes: Being Patronizing Because You Have All That Experience | JobSearchTV.com

Let me talk to those of you who are older about one of those stupid interview mistakes you make. I'm Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter. I'm a career and leadership coach. And for so many of you . . . and I'm reminded of this from a podcast I was listening to this morning.

There were some sports reporters in New York, talking to a sports reporter representing the team that the New York team was playing this week. And it starts off with the one of the New York reporters saying, "How old are you? Okay, I've been doing reporting longer than you've been alive. And as a matter of fact, with the other reporters on this show, I'm pretty close to the same thing. I've done reporting since longer than you've been alive." Which translates into, "I know everything, and shut up and listen to me." And I know that isn't what you intend. But that's the way it's received. I know a lot and a lot more than you do because I've done it for a lot of time.

Instead of focusing on the years, which kind of make you seem sclerotic, now, it's like, I'm stuck in a past time. I know it all; you know, nothing. Shut up and listen to me," which wasn't radically different than what I heard the reporter do with the less experienced reporter from the other city. Instead, focus on them and serving them.

Talk about how you can help them so that you don't insult them. Remember, they've got a job that you think you may want. Why would you start off being patronizing to someone who you want to hire you.

Instead, serve them. Talk with them first about what they need to have done. You can then connect the dots to the things in your background that demonstrate that you've done something similar before, but don't focus on the "I've got 30 years, I've got 40 years. I've got half a century of experience," knowing all that happens is they stop listening and you don't get what you want. Focus on serving them and not on basking in your own magnificence.

Tough message today. I'm Jeff Altman. Visit my website, TheBigGameHunter.us. Go to the site. You can schedule time for a free discovery call or schedule time for coaching. Because, frankly, if you're doing stuff like this, you're making other mistakes that I know I can correct. There's also a lot in the blog there. Again, that's TheBigGameHunter.us You can go there and explore. It will help you and it's not personalized for you. Which is why I talked with you about the one on one coaching.

If this isn't the time to do it, put the address in your phone. Again, that's TheBigGameHunter.us and my name Jeff Altman. Lastly, connect with me on Linkedin at linkedin.com/in/TheBigGameHunter.

Have a terrific day. Be great