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Job interviews can be nerve-wracking. The pressure to perform, impress, and land the role can affect how you present yourself — even when you're highly qualified.

In this episode of Ella Podcasts, we break down how to pass a job interview with confidence, from calming your nerves beforehand to answering difficult questions like “What’s your biggest weakness?”

Dr. Jonathan Marshall, Chris J. Reed, and Aya Alim Kulova share expert insights on what hiring managers are really looking for — and it’s not always the smartest person in the room.

We discuss:

• How to calm interview anxiety using simple psychological techniques
• Why culture fit often matters more than credentials
• How to prepare properly (and the mistakes that instantly disqualify candidates)
• The importance of energy, chemistry, and reading the room
• How to answer “What’s your biggest weakness?” without sabotaging yourself
• The role of LinkedIn, social proof, and recommendations
• How to handle rejection and stay resilient during a long job search
• Ageism, authenticity, and confidence in mid-career interviews

From elevator pitches to research preparation, from body language to resilience — this episode is packed with practical interview strategies you can use immediately.

Whether you're early in your career or navigating senior-level roles, this conversation will help you approach interviews with clarity, confidence, and realism.

🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

✔ Take deep breaths and visualize success to calm pre-interview nerves
✔ Research the company thoroughly — there is no excuse not to
✔ Culture fit and interpersonal skills often outweigh pure intelligence
✔ Prepare concise, relevant answers — avoid “war and peace” CV recaps
✔ Turn weaknesses into growth stories
✔ Ask thoughtful, open-ended questions at the end of the interview
✔ Interviews are sales — you are selling your value
✔ Rejection is normal — you only need one yes

Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and leave a comment with your biggest interview challenge or your best tip for staying calm under pressure.

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe to our channel for more career insights.
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⭐ ⭐ ⭐ The Podcast is currently on your favorite platforms:

👉 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/ella-podcasts/id1862679668

👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4GTmqCXOGz2XFhD68gU5fi?si=04cfd833babf4d5d

👉 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/75909126-0b85-4c58-804b-ae07fc45d8f9/ella-podcasts

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