Interview Boss

Job Interviews aren't designed with every brain in mind.
After hearing from listeners navigating interviews with ADHD, autism, and processing differences, Sarah and Emma dive into how traditional hiring processes can unintentionally test skills that have little to do with actually doing the job. From remembering answers on the spot and processing complex questions verbally, to eye contact, small talk, and performing in unfamiliar environments, we unpack the hidden expectations some candidates are facing.
This episode is Part 1 of our deep dive into neurodivergence and the job hunt, focusing on self-reflection and understanding how your brain shows up in interviews before deciding whether to ask for adjustments.
We’re also calling for listener stories to help shape Part 2, where'll we answer the big questions. If you’ve asked for accommodations, disclosed during hiring, or found strategies that made interviews more accessible, we’d love to hear from you.
🏀 Shoot Your Shot - Shoutout to Sonya who bought us 10 coffees!
“Dear Emma and Sarah, I started listening to your podcast in October 2025 after accepting a junior-level position because I felt it was the best I was going to get. Since 2023, I’ve been on a steady path of building skills and applying for roles, trying to reposition myself professionally. After running my own small business for ten years and then pivoting to pursue a MPH, I truly believed I would be able to land a meaningful position. Instead, I repeatedly heard that other candidates were “more suitable.” I revised my resume countless times and decided I needed to strengthen my skill set. I took Spanish classes because being bilingual was listed as a qualification in many job postings. But when I noticed that project management skills were consistently required for the roles I wanted, I studied for over a year and earned my Project Management Professional certification – something I wish I had discovered fifteen years earlier. (I would have run my business a lot better!) Then, I began applying for junior-level roles because I convinced myself I wasn’t qualified for more. That mindset led me to accept the job I mentioned earlier. Then I found your podcast. The most transformative shift came from the episode about interviews being a two-way process. I voraciously listened to as many episodes as I could while continuing to apply for jobs. Recently, I advanced to a panel interview with six executive leaders for a high-level role I wasn’t even sure I had a chance at. That was when I enrolled in Interview Academy. I had two weeks to prepare. What I discovered was that I had been approaching interviews in fragments; bits and pieces of preparation, but nothing cohesive. Interview Academy is structured which helped me step back and see the full scope of my 28-year career. I had spent so much time focusing on where I thought I “should be” that I minimized what I had actually accomplished. Through Interview Academy, I recognized the depth and breadth of my work: collaborating with local businesses, leading community outreach efforts, publishing a book, and launching an online industry magazine. I had been embarrassed by some of these things because I didn’t think they reflected “current” skills. Thanks to you Sarah and Emma, I could clearly see the impact I’ve made on organizations, clients, and colleagues. Now, as I pursue a career in philanthropy, I feel confident in what I bring to the next nonprofit I serve regardless if I get this position or not. My deepest gratitude and appreciation to you for creating something that helped me rediscover my professional worth. It was something I didn’t even realize I was looking for—but truly needed. Keep doing the good work you do! Sonya from Arizona, USA."
🎥 Check out BRAND NEW free training - Top Interview Tips https://www.interviewboss.com.au/top-interview-tips
🏫 To get step by step help with your interview prep on demand check out our Interview Academy https://www.interviewboss.com.au/interview-academy
☕ Did our podcast help you out? Want to say thank you in coffee form? Shout us a virtual coffee here: www.buymeacoffee.com/interviewboss
☎️ To book an interview coaching session with Sarah, go to www.interviewboss.com.au/coaching
❤️ Follow us on Instagram
📒 Check out our website for free jobseeker resources
www.interviewboss.com.au

Being asked to come in for a trial shift can feel exciting…and slightly confusing. Is it a great sign? Is it free labour? And how do you actually perform well when you’re being assessed in real time?
In this week’s episode, Sarah and Emma unpack what you can expect at a trial shift, and why it’s often less about skill, and more about how you show up.
We discuss what employers are actually looking for when they see you “in action,” especially in hands-on and customer-facing roles.
Most importantly, we’ll help you shift your mindset. Because a trial isn’t just about being tested, it’s your opportunity to decide whether the job is right for you too.
🏀 Shoot Your Shot - Shoutout to Maisie who bought us 2 coffees!
“Hey Emma and Sarah! Just wanted to thank you so much for your awesome and insightful podcast that helped me so much during my difficult job search journey. I've been looking for a new job in a totally new industry after having a terrible experience in my last company and leaving the job four months ago. The environment was toxic and the managers were really mean, and it meant my confidence in the working world was pretty low by the end of it. I started doing interviews as soon as I left and faced rejections, as well as two times where I actually did get the job, and then the offer got retracted afterwards due to budget cuts or them changing their mind. Feeling very defeated and making the decision to venture down a new path I found your podcast along the way and binged it all month, as well as listening to your pep talk episode about 4 times on route to each interview (love it!). Your advice made me feel confident, prepared and like I had all the attributes and skills to succeed within me so long as I prepared well, which you guys helped me do. Your lighthearted and funny outlooks also helped me feel less nervous and relaxed about the whole process. It's also worth mentioning that the success stories at the beginning of each episode not only inspired me, but helped me manifest to be one of those people one day getting the shoutout at the beginning of an episode because like those people, I'd achieved my dream job! I had a final interview for my perfect role last week, thinking it would be too good to be true to get it, but they called me on Friday to say I'd got the job. I was so beyond happy and I know your help was part of my success. I am going to recommend you to everyone I know searching for a job or needing career help.”
🎥 Check out BRAND NEW free training - Top Interview Tips https://www.interviewboss.com.au/top-interview-tips
🏫 To get step by step help with your interview prep on demand check out our Interview Academy https://www.interviewboss.com.au/interview-academy
☕ Did our podcast help you out? Want to say thank you in coffee form? Shout us a virtual coffee here: www.buymeacoffee.com/interviewboss
☎️ To book an interview coaching session with Sarah, go to www.interviewboss.com.au/coaching
❤️ Follow us on Instagram
📒 Check out our website for free jobseeker resources
www.interviewboss.com.au

Job searching can make you feel a little superstitious. One person swears a specific resume template got them hired. Someone else says it was the follow-up email. Another is convinced one “brilliant” question in the interview sealed the deal.
But we have to remember: correlation does not equal causation!!!
In this week’s episode, Sarah and Emma unpack the urge to assign a single cause to a complex outcome.
We break down why our brains love to create neat little stories (hello, confirmation bias), especially when so much of the hiring process feels outside our control. We explain why those conclusions are often oversimplified, and sometimes completely wrong.
If you’ve ever gone down a Reddit rabbit hole trying to reverse-engineer someone else’s success, this episode will bring you back to earth in the best way. The truth about landing a job is usually far less sexy than “one weird trick."
🏀 Shoot Your Shot - Shoutout to Lulu who bought us a coffee!
“I've been job-searching for 16 months. I've had a good job at managerial level, but wanted to find something closer to home as the commute (1.5hrs each way) was too much with a family. I have been with my employer for 10 years so I was nervous about the recruitment process. I stumbled upon your podcast and listened religiously while driving (benefits of long commute.) Your tips make so much sense, but I would have not thought of them myself. I also really enjoyed your style and there were some LOL moments. I'm happy to say that after more than 15 applications, 4 interviews and 2 offers, I'm about to start a new job much closer to home that I'm very excited about. I used your tips for getting my career story polished, focusing on the best bits in my interview answers, fine tuning my SAR and accepting water at the interview. Thank you so much, you have been fantastic coaches and will miss your podcasts. Until next time!”
🎥 Check out BRAND NEW free training - Top Interview Tips https://www.interviewboss.com.au/top-interview-tips
🏫 To get step by step help with your interview prep on demand check out our Interview Academy https://www.interviewboss.com.au/interview-academy
☕ Did our podcast help you out? Want to say thank you in coffee form? Shout us a virtual coffee here: www.buymeacoffee.com/interviewboss
☎️ To book an interview coaching session with Sarah, go to www.interviewboss.com.au/coaching
❤️ Follow us on Instagram
📒 Check out our website for free jobseeker resources
www.interviewboss.com.au

What are you supposed to say in an interview…when you've never actually been a manager before?
In Part 2 of this deep dive series, we explain why self-awareness is your secret weapon, what to say when you don’t have a perfect example, and how to show a growth mindset instead of panicking. We also share the fundamental advice every first-time manager isn’t always told, but absolutely needs to hear.
Remember, you don’t need to fake leadership experience. You need to show how you think, how you learn, and how you’ll lead.
🏀 Shoot Your Shot - Shoutout to Kyle who bought us 5 coffees!
“Hi Emma and Sarah! I would like to thank you both so much for the helpful advice on your episodes. After 6-7 months of interviewing I was able to land a job that I believe is the right fit for me with many opportunities for growth. I moved for personal reasons and I was leaving behind a job that I held for over 5 years. It was actually quite difficult to land a job that was the right fit for me. I had many swings and misses like making it to the final round 3 times prior to finally getting this role. But your episodes deep diving into your 'best bits' and really thinking and doing the hard part was much needed to keep persevering. I was able to connect my experiences and skills that I had acquired over the years to the job description and tailor my stories to what they were looking for. After the final interview I knew I had left it out all on the field. The very next day the hiring manager called me and said that the team loved me and that I would be a great fit. I was so excited that I had finally done it! After accepting the role I even listened to the episode on how to resign from your job as I've never had to before. Thank you again for all of your help! I cannot wait to start this new chapter in my life. I will forever recommend and listen when the time comes again for another job search. Thank you! -Kyle (Columbus, Ohio)”
🎥 Check out BRAND NEW free training - Top Interview Tips https://www.interviewboss.com.au/top-interview-tips
🏫 To get step by step help with your interview prep on demand check out our Interview Academy https://www.interviewboss.com.au/interview-academy
☕ Did our podcast help you out? Want to say thank you in coffee form? Shout us a virtual coffee here: www.buymeacoffee.com/interviewboss
☎️ To book an interview coaching session with Sarah, go to www.interviewboss.com.au/coaching
❤️ Follow us on Instagram
📒 Check out our website for free jobseeker resources
www.interviewboss.com.au

Going for your first manager-level role can feel like a whole different sport. Suddenly it’s less about your individual output and more about leadership, dealing with people problems and judgement.
In Part 1 of this two-part series, Sarah and Emma unpack the mindset shift you need when applying for your first leadership role. We discuss the fear of not feeling “ready,” why trying to fake management experience almost always backfires, and how employers actually think about potential vs experience. If you’ve ever worried that not having the title automatically rules you out, this episode is for you.
In the next episode (Part 2) we’ll get practical with leadership-focused interview questions and how to answer them. But first, let’s get your mindset right.
🏀 Shoot Your Shot - Shoutout to Leah who bought us a coffee!
"Hi guys! Last year I did a 1-on-1 coaching session with Sarah which was the best decision I ever made. It gave me the confidence I needed to get through some big interviews I’d landed, and resulted in the best interviews I’ve ever had and two job offers to pick from. Feeling super grateful for you girls and I’m super happy in my new role. I’ve now got super valuable advice for my CV and future interviews to keep forever. Cheers ladies!”
🎥 Check out BRAND NEW free training - Top Interview Tips https://www.interviewboss.com.au/top-interview-tips
🏫 To get step by step help with your interview prep on demand check out our Interview Academy https://www.interviewboss.com.au/interview-academy
☕ Did our podcast help you out? Want to say thank you in coffee form? Shout us a virtual coffee here: www.buymeacoffee.com/interviewboss
☎️ To book an interview coaching session with Sarah, go to www.interviewboss.com.au/coaching
❤️ Follow us on Instagram
📒 Check out our website for free jobseeker resources
www.interviewboss.com.au