Who Should Help You with Interview Prep – and Who Should Not

A person in black is standing on a dotted line between two roads going in different directions.

I am a big believer in preparing for a job interview. Many people think they can “wing it,” but after conducting thousands of interviews as a corporate recruiter, I am here to tell you most crashed and burned. They were not vague, rambled on, and could not connect the dots of why they would be good in the role.

It ended up being a waste of their time and mine.

So, they would have significantly benefited from practice.

Practice answering questions out loud to get the content and delivery right.

But even if you practice, sometimes you do not see what you are doing wrong or where you could improve.

You need objective feedback.

The problem is that not everyone you ask to help can give you this objective feedback.

Getting the right help can be the difference between landing the job and missing out—so who should you trust with your interview prep?

Why It’s Important to Choose the Right Help for Interview Prep

Simply put, you do not want to take interview prep advice that will not help you secure an offer. You could get advice from well-meaning people in your life, which, when acted upon, put you in a worse position in the interview than if you had gotten no advice. 

You need someone who is honest with you and has some expertise in what they speak about. This is key.

People who do not want to hurt your feelings or have never hired anyone may not be the best people to assist you. 

You want to show up and communicate in your interview in the best way possible. Sometimes, the advice you follow ends up doing the opposite.

The Types of People You Should Avoid for Interview Prep 

Close Friends and Family Members 

Many job seekers turn to their family and friends for advice. It makes sense; these people may be most willing to help.

But there is a reason I advise shying away from them—they often can’t be objective.

Have you ever had a friend tell you that you did something great when you knew, at best, it was okay? The friend wanted to protect your feelings, so they sugarcoated your actual abilities. The friend wants to be kind, but kindness is not especially helpful in interview prep. They will downplay your weaknesses, and then you think an aspect of your interview performance is fine when it is not.

Another thing is that they are emotionally invested in you and your relationship, which can cloud their judgment. They may not see what others can because they know you and love or like you. If you ramble when answering a question, they know it is your quirk, and you will eventually get to the point. They do not see this as a bug but as a feature. Yet, others who do not know you will not judge this the same way.

That is why you should avoid asking family and friends to help unless you know they will be honest and open about you.

Your Current Boss or Co-workers

If you seek an internal promotion or have a close relationship with your boss or peers, you might contact them for interviewing help. However, you should also be cautious about using this group because of possible conflicting agendas.

Here’s an example. You are going for a position in a different department. The boss is fully supportive of this. Yet, their advice to you about what to say could be based on how they want to be seen in the organization and not necessarily the best way for you to convey your accomplishments.

Your peers may have conflicting feelings about your leaving the team or organization. They may like working with you, and your moving on could be a significant loss for them. While they may not be aware, they could subtly sabotage your interview prep by not also being honest about areas of improvement on notice, hoping these issues may hold you back.

People Who Are Out of Touch with the Current Job Market

This category includes people who may be retired, have not looked for a job in ages, or have only worked in a specific industry. If they have not been in the job market for a while, they may have no idea about a modern job search. They may suggest very formal dress for the interview even though the environment is casual because that is what they wore in their interviews decades before. They may have never been through a technical interview, so they do not know what they are like.

Another issue can be hiring people with mismatched industry experience. Someone who has worked in government and only knows about hiring in that environment may not understand what interviews are like in the private sector. Someone who has only hired people in the marketing field may not have a good appreciation of what is desired for an accountant.

If you work with someone who might fall into this category, always ask where their advice comes from. If it doesn’t sound right, it might not be right for your situation. 

Who You Should Trust with Your Interview Prep

While outlining people who may not be the best people to reach out to for help, others can be excellent resources.

Professional Career Coaches or Interview Specialists

I fall into this category. These people have conducted many interviews themselves or have gone through training on effective interviewing. Because they do this for a living, they are knowledgeable about current trends in job interviews, like the average number of interviews in different organizations or levels) or virtual interviewing. 

The other thing is that we are not paid to be nice to you. We are paid to give honest and constructive feedback. You may have blind spots you are unaware of. Pointing them out is the only way to know what you can do to improve. With this feedback, you can work with the professional to change your content or delivery to make you more effective. 

Not sure where to find these people? A search for “interview prep” on LinkedIn will bring up many professionals who do this.

Mentors or Industry Experts

Those who have succeeded in your field or industry are helpful people to reach out to. If you do not know anyone in this category, see if your network can make an introduction. They can be invaluable, especially if they know what organizations desire in individuals in the roles you seek, or even better if they have hired people for these roles. They have real experience and insights that can be very helpful.

Peers Who’ve Recently Gone Through the Job Search Process

If you have had a co-worker who has recently gone through an interview process, especially if it was for a similar role, they can be helpful in your interview prep. They can tell you about their experience, what they learned, and what worked (and did not work) for them. If they are no longer working with you, you avoid some of the abovementioned issues with your peers.

The other nice thing about reaching out to people in this group is that you will also have someone to support you in other areas of your job search. They can also help with networking by introducing you to others who could be helpful or even in salary negotiations.

Choosing Wisely for the Best Results 

So, while I encourage you to find someone to partner with on interview prep, be careful who you choose. Getting the right person to give you honest, helpful, and unbiased feedback will be key. 

Be open to what they have to say. Just because you have approached your interview one way and it has been successful doesn’t mean it will succeed this time. If they have suggestions about demonstrating your value better, hear them out. Implementing their feedback could be the difference between a good offer and a thanks but no thanks email.

If you need help with interview prep, I am happy to work with you. Schedule time on my calendar.

Shelley Piedmont is a Career Coach who focuses on understanding your unique skills, interests, and aspirations and provides personalized coaching to guide you toward roles where you can truly thrive. Whether you are stuck as to what your next career move should be or need help with resumes, LinkedIn profiles, or interview preparation, Shelley is here to help you. Please set up an exploratory call to find out how she can help you reach your career goals.