Today’s job search is very different than it was just 10 years ago. The stakes are higher now. The competition is stiffer and the process is more rigorous. Cookie-cutter interview answers won’t land the role.
There is no silver medal for coming in second place in an interview.
With a combined 40+ years of interview coaching experience, we’ve helped some of the world’s top leaders prepare for high-stakes interviews, new graduates prepare for their first interview, and everything in between.
Our goal is to make the interview coaching session a safe place where you can practice your answers and get thoughtful feedback. We will work in a series of Zoom or phone coaching sessions with homework for you between sessions. We will work on your stories, your Q & A and, above all, on your confidence.
Our Executive Interview Coaches
Briefcase Coach interview strategists have been on both sides of the interview process and know what it takes to ensure you are positioned for success.
Founder, Sarah Johnston is a thought leader in the career coaching space. She is the instructor for one of the most popular LinkedIn Learning courses on high-stakes interview preparation. Her work on interview training has also been featured in Forbes, Inc and Mac’s List.
Lis Evensen, Ph.D. (Sarah’s former boss) is a seasoned executive human resources leader. She has served as the Chief Human Resources Officer in a number of government, healthcare, and financial organizations including Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. She was appointed an adjunct faculty member at Xavier University and Ohio University, has spoken at a number of conferences in the area of leadership, and was awarded Human Resources Executive of the Year by Columbus CEO Magazine in 2017.
Lisa Southorn previously led corporate recruiting at Korn Ferry, and now serves as the Senior Career Branding Strategist at Briefcase Coach. She brings to clients extensive experience, from empowering job seekers to pioneering inclusive hiring practices.
Interview Coaching Process
Our coaching is completely custom. Most of our clients reach out because they have an immediate need (often, an interview next week!) and they want to gain interview confidence and want support sharpening their responses. We’re a safe place to practice, gain clarity and learn how to better present your story.
We are not here to sell you an expensive package with all of the bells and whistles that you don’t need. We sell interview coaching by the hour à la carte.
When you work with us, we will unearth your value proposition, help you nail “tell me about yourself” and other common interview questions. We will practice questions like, “well, what do you think they are really looking for in this opportunity?” and “how does that experience meet their pain point?” We will help you think beyond cookie-cutter answers and tell impactful STAR stories.
We will help you nail questions like:
“Tell me about yourself”
“What is your greatest weakness”
“What are your salary expectations?”
“Why does diversity matter to you?”
“Why did you leave your last role”
Practice Interviewing with a former executive recruiter
Our interview coaching service includes:
One-on-one fully customized mock interview sessions, with immediate feedback
Comprehensive analysis of your verbal and non-verbal performance
Strategic insights into your industry or the individuals interviewing you
Video interview insights
Additional interview resources and worksheets
Interview Coaching Prices
Interview Coaching is priced at $219/hour-long session or $295 for a nintey-minute session over the phone or Zoom. We offer the option to record the call.
While we are happy to just do one session, we’ve found that for coaching to be most impactful, most people need more than one sixty minute session. You get out of this what you put into it. We recommend doing the post-session homework to get the maximum benefit from interview coaching.