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Career Insights with the Old Jarhead: Why Attitude Matters in Interviews

In his insightful podcast episode, the seasoned career coach, known as the Old Jarhead, emphasizes the importance of having the right attitude during job interviews. With experience spanning the Marine Corps, corporate America, and career coaching, he offers a fresh take on navigating the interview process.

According to him, a positive attitude can trump skills at the interview stage. He reasons that by the time you're called for an interview, your skills have already been assessed favorably; what sets candidates apart is their enthusiasm for the role and the company. Instead of rehashing your resume, the interview is your opportunity to showcase your interest in the company and the position, demonstrating that you've done your homework.

Positive attitude aside, he also advises showing you're thinking long-term with questions about career progression within the company and its future prospects. However, he cautions against seeming too needy as it may suggest that you're likely to jump ship at the next best offer.

His final takeaway? Bring a good attitude to your interview, and it could lead to more job offers. And for further wisdom on finding the perfect job, he suggests picking up his book, "Find a Job Fits Your Life," claiming it could be a game-changer in your career search.

Boost your interview game and discover more pearls of wisdom by tuning into the Old Jarhead's podcast and checking out his book for comprehensive guidance.

[Listen to the full podcast episode and get a copy of "Find a Job Fits Your Life" for in-depth tips on successful job hunting.]

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:11):
all right, folks, I'm back again, the old jar head
with some great career advicethat's based on my three careers
in the marine corps, in thecorporate world and now as a
career coach.
So the other day I posted onLinkedIn.
I put these short little blurbsout there that are good career

(00:34):
advice and, as a side note, ifyou're listening to this podcast
and you want to improve yourcareer and you don't have a
presence on LinkedIn, you oughtto consider it.
And if you do, please drop me anote, let me know you want to
connect and we'll link intogether.
But anyhow, getting back towhat I was going to talk about,

(00:57):
so my little blurb was aboutinterview attitude and what I
said in that was that attitudeis more important than skills
during a job interview.
Attitude is more important thanskills during a job interview.
So that's about all I said onthat LinkedIn post.
So now I'm going to expound onthat.

(01:18):
First is the why.
Why is attitude more importantthan skills for a job interview?
Well, that's because you'vealready passed the initial
skills assessment or you wouldnot have been called in for an
interview.
So that's why I think it's moreimportant.
So you don't want to go into aninterview repeating everything

(01:42):
you said on the resume aboutyour skills.
You've already said it, it's inyour resume, your cover letter,
so you're good to go.
Sure, the interviewer may havesome specific questions about
your skills and that you shouldbe prepared to answer kind of
like the second level of thingsthat you put on there.
But the interview is a greatplace for you to show your

(02:04):
enthusiasm for the company andthe job that you're interviewing
with.
So both right the company andthe job.
You can do that in several ways, okay.
First is you got to have apositive attitude, right, show
excitement at this opportunity.
If you're not excited aboutthis opportunity but just want a
job for the paycheck, that willbecome abundantly clear during

(02:27):
the interview and that's not agood way to get a job.
Second is to show that you'vedone your homework, both with
regard to the company and thejob.
You show you've done yourhomework by having great answers
to interview questions such aswhy do you want to work for our
company?
You should have that answer inyour head before you go to the

(02:51):
interview.
Second, why does this job, thisposition, appeal to you?
Why do you want it?
You have to have that answeralready in your head.
You have to have that answeralready in your head.
Okay, you also do this byasking great questions that not
only allow you to decide if thisjob and this company is for you
Remember, it's a two-way streethere but also to show that

(03:15):
you've done your due diligenceabout the company and the
position.
Questions that I always like tohear along the lines of how do I
progress in my career at thecompany?
It shows that you're thinkingwell, I'm here for the long term
.
And then you ask theinterviewer what do you see as
the future of this company?

(03:35):
That's a great question.
You can get a good feel fromthe interviewer if this is a
good place for you to land, ifthis is a good place for you to
land.
When I talk about beingenthusiastic, one thing you
don't want to do is appear to betoo needy.
Okay, things like I really needa job.
That makes you think that if Ihire you and a short time later

(03:59):
you get a job offer that'sslightly more in salary, you're
going to jump ship.
So don't do that, okay.
So to wrap up this old jarheada podcast attitude is critical
during a job interview, so morethan your skills or experience.
So be prepared to bring a goodattitude and I think you'll find

(04:23):
you'll get more offers than youotherwise would.
And that's it for now.
Good luck interviewing.
If you want more interviewingtips, pick up a copy of my book.
Find a job that fits your life.
You'll be thankful you did.
Thanks for listening.
Bye, thank you, thank you.