Rita Babalola’s Post

Feeling Nervous Before Your Project Management Interview? Let’s Talk About It! It’s totally normal to feel the jitters before an interview, especially for a project management role where leadership, organization, and decision-making are in the spotlight. But don’t worry! Here are some tips to channel that nervous energy into confidence: 1. Prepare Like a PM Approach the interview like a project: Plan: Research the company, the role, and prepare answers to common PM questions (e.g., "How do you manage risks?" or "Tell us about a challenging project you managed"). Prioritize: Focus on your key achievements and skills relevant to the job. Practice: Run mock interviews with a friend or use a mirror to rehearse. 2. Calm Your Nerves Feeling tense? Try these: Breathe Deeply: A few slow, deep breaths can help ground you. Positive Visualization: Picture yourself acing the interview. Mindset Shift: Remind yourself, it’s a conversation, not an interrogation. 3. Highlight Your PM Superpowers Use STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to showcase how you’ve: Led teams to success. Handled risks and uncertainties. Delivered value on time and within budget. 🎤 Your Turn! How do you deal with nerves before an interview? Share your tips or challenges below—let’s help each other succeed! 💬👇 #ProjectManagement #InterviewTips #PMLife #CareerGrowth #NailTheInterview #TeamLeadership #JobHuntJourney #ProfessionalGrowth #PMCommunity #JobInterviewSuccess

Let's talk about messing up. We're all human—at least most of us are 👽. It's natural to make mistakes. And I have a secret about the infamous interview question, "Tell me about a time when you made a mistake." As a hiring manager, I ask this question in 100% of my interviews. And guess what? I don't actually care about the mistake itself. Unless you pulled a Milton from Office Space🔥. I want to know if: 1. You own your mistakes. Did you take accountability and ownership of your mistake, working quickly to fix it? Or did you pass the blame to someone else while rushing to complete it without anyone noticing? 2. You take constructive feedback well. Did you welcome feedback, admit your mistake, and turn it into a learning moment? Or did you push back, disregard the advice, and defend your actions, regardless of their effectiveness? This question isn't really about the mistake. It's about taking accountability, owning your mistakes, and being receptive to constructive feedback. Remember, we can't learn if we don't mess up. It's all part of the process. What interview questions do you struggle with? Drop a comment below, and meet me here next Friday for the second edition of Insider Interview Tips. Stay curious, my friends! For solid interview training, check out my website and schedule some time to chat: www.eacuriouscoaching.com #interviewtips #interviewprep #careercoach #accountability #ownership #hiringmanagers

So here I am in the busy period again! Taking interviews and a lot of them! This time around I have a good few people whom I talked to and understood how crucial it is to assess that the candidate should demonstrate open-mindedness and ability to accept feedback! So what exactly is the best way to access this? It is not like it is a skill, you can give an assessment, and rate them, right? However, I do check via a couple of questions that have worked well so far! 1️⃣ Behavioural questions  Can you tell me about a time when you received criticism at work? How did you handle it? What do you do when you receive feedback which you do not agree with? How does it make you feel and how did you handle it?   2️⃣ Real-time scenarios  Setting up real-time scenarios in the form of mock situations where they are given feedback about their primary skills. Observe the reaction and understand how they react on the spot and how open-minded they are.   3️⃣ Feedback during the interview This one's my favourite and can be very telling. Candidates who are receptive and make adjustments demonstrate their willingness to listen and adapt. Which is a big GO. The ability to accept feedback with a positive and open-minded state, not only talks about adaptability but also highlights the commitment of the candidate to both personal and professional growth. So how do you assess the ability of the candidate to accept feedback? #recruitment #openminded #leadership #feedback #Careergrowth #development

Last week, we highlighted how vital EQ is in leadership. But how do you show EQ in an interview? Let’s get into practical moves you can use right there in the room to make your EQ shine. 1. Listening Without Interrupting (and How to Do It) 🎧 What to Do: Practice active listening by staying quiet, even if you’re eager to answer. How to Use It: During the interview, let the interviewer fully finish their question. Then, pause for a beat before you start your answer. This not only shows respect but also gives you a moment to collect your thoughts and respond more meaningfully. 2. Handling Surprising Questions Calmly 🧘♀️ What to Do: Pause for two seconds, take a breath, and consider the question instead of jumping right in. How to Use It: If you get a curveball, don’t worry about having a perfect answer. Say, “That’s a great question; let me think about it for a moment.” It shows composure and lets the interviewer see you’re steady under pressure. 3. Self-Awareness Through Authentic Examples 💡 What to Do: Prepare one or two honest examples of challenges you’ve overcome or mistakes you’ve learned from. How to Use It: When asked about a time you handled a challenge or failed, share the lesson learned, not just the story. For example, “In that situation, I learned the importance of …,” which shows reflection and growth. 4. Asking Real Questions about Company Culture 🤝 What to Do: Prepare two questions that reveal interest in team dynamics, values, or the company's mission. How to Use It: Instead of generic questions like “What’s the team like?” ask, “How does the team handle conflicts or feedback? I’m interested in understanding how I can best fit in and support team goals.” This shows you’re thinking about integration and success for everyone. 5. Closing the Interview with Sincere Thanks 🙏 What to Do: Give a specific reason why you’re grateful for the interview. How to Use It: Instead of just saying, “Thank you for your time,” add something meaningful like, “I really appreciated learning about [specific point discussed], and I’m excited about the possibility of contributing to [something the company values].”

If acing L6+ (Director/GPM/Staff/Principle) PM Interviews with ease and confidence is something on your mind, envision that you will have figured it out in just a few weeks. You will grasp the core essence and nuances of Product Sense/Design/Strategy, Product Execution, and Product Leadership interviews so that you can deliver thoughtful responses that truly showcase your seniority: => WITHOUT feeling nervous and feeling like you might be lacking something => WITHOUT wondering if you are taking too long or not long enough => WITHOUT second guessing yourself wondering if you used the “right” framework The results you create in your interview prep are directly impacted by how you THINK. Including… what you think you have to do, vs what actually moves the needle. I am bringing a group of PMs together to work on their next L6+ (Director/GPM/Staff/Principle)Interviews, and I will share with them what actually moves the needle. And, I can share with you as well. => You WILL have an entirely different mindset around interview prep that is not a matter of going through the motions of mindlessly applying "frameworks" and randomly "scoring." => You WILL have the motivation, accountability, and support on an accelerated plan. => You WILL feel confident because you now have an approach that works for you that actually reflects how PM'ing is done in the real world. #interviewtips #interviewpreparation #strategicthinking #productstrategy This is the next level in PM Interview coaching, and that’s what we’re up to in our group, hybrid, and private programs. Do you want to join us? The group and hybrid programs start on March 20. COMMENT and let’s chat!

Ever walked into an interview thinking you’ve got it all figured out, only to have your brain freeze the moment they ask the first question? Yeah… me too. Here’s what happened next—and why it changed everything." Let me tell you a quick story about Osama. A few years back, he walked into a big interview—nervous, but prepared. Research? Done. Answers? Practiced. Confidence? Well… it was there until the first question hit. Suddenly, it was like a fog rolled in. Every well-rehearsed answer felt like it disappeared into thin air. By the time they walked out, it was clear: the job wasn’t happening. But instead of sulking, that moment sparked something bigger. He dove deep into understanding what separates the people who succeed from those who just try. And here’s the truth—they cracked the code.Now, the same Osama helps professionals who’ve been in that same spot. Whether it’s learning how to speak with confidence, lead like a pro, or simply survive those high-pressure moments, they’ve got you covered. I’ve been through it, learned the hard lessons, and are ready to share what actually works. And if you don’t want to miss out on those insights (trust me, you don’t), follow along— Mastering Professional Communication: Learn how to speak so people actually listen. Leadership Skills: Lead your team with confidence, even if you’re still figuring it out yourself. Interview Strategies: Stop overthinking it and start owning it. I’ll show you how. Presentation Skills: Whether it’s a meeting or a big event, I’ll help you keep your audience engaged (and awake). Interpersonal Skills: Building better relationships at work isn’t magic; it’s a skill, and you can learn it. I’m not here to give you generic advice. Everything I share is based on real-world experience—things I’ve tried, tested, and know actually work. Whether you’re looking to move up in your current role or transition into something new, these are the skills that will set you apart. . . #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment #LeadershipSkills #CommunicationTips #PersonalBranding #SuccessMindset

April 15! Yes it’s tax day but it is also the 1/4 mark of my Compassionate Communication Project. Here’s an update on how it's been going -- along with an anonymous client example. NVC is a tool and a model we can use when it makes sense. In the case of my client last week he joined the project exclusively to focus on showing up more confidently in interviews. So instead of applying the Nonviolent Communication model, we did an hour of pure coaching. We dug into uncovering 'why' he wasn't appearing confident in the interviews. After a number of deep questions, it became clear to him that speed (talking too fast) was the big thing he needed to work on. So we focused on *how* he responded (slowly) over what he said. He walked away with all sorts of experiments to try before, during, and after interviews to support moving slower and more thoughtfully. Coaching goes like this. It’s not linear. We have tools to support us, but we don’t always use them if they’re not in service of the client. I like NVC, but I'm happy to set it aside if it doesn't support the client in getting where they want to go. If you’re in “job search / interview mode” too, I invite you to join this project and get some free coaching. If you’re wanting to upload how you communicate and aren’t sure where to start, I invite you to join this project and get some free coaching. I hope to meet you soon. . . . . #jobinterview #interviewprep #lifecoach #communicationcoach #gowiththeflow #clientled #slowdown

Most people make a HUGE mistake in interviews by constantly saying… “I did this” or “I achieved that.” When you focus only on yourself, it can make you seem self-centered and less likable, no matter how qualified you are. Subtle shifts in language, like using “we” instead of “I,” can dramatically change how you’re perceived. Saying “we” when discussing your past experiences shows that you value teamwork and collaboration, making you come across as a humble and effective team player. How to implement: 1. Rewrite your stories: Look at your interview examples. Could you replace “I” with “we” to highlight teamwork? For example, “We improved our process” instead of “I did it.” 2. Focus on group success: Even if you led the project, show how the team contributed to the outcome. It demonstrates leadership without arrogance. 3. Practice out loud: Before your next interview, rehearse using “we” in your answers to reinforce this mindset. Ready to ace that interview? Schedule a complementary consultation. #creativity #strategy #buisness #innovation #careeralchemy

Great reflection questions for leaders.

Wow! These are wonderful questions! The focus on strategic thinking, leadership style, and innovation capability is spot on. Leadership indeed goes beyond guiding others; it's about inspiring growth and driving innovation. The advice to reflect on experiences, formulate concise responses, and practice through mock interviews is particularly practical and insightful. Thank you for sharing such valuable guidance!