Eric Mulwa - Performance Coach & Career Strategist

This Is Why You Get Shortlisted or Called In for a Job Interview.

Let me show you something many job candidates never think about.

You apply for a job.
You send your CV.
Then you wait.

And eventually…
you get the interview invitation.

But have you ever stopped to ask yourself:
Why did they invite you?

They had other CVs.

They had other candidates.

They had other people applying for the same position.

Yet they looked at your CV and decided:

“Let's meet this person.”

That matters.

Because it means your CV communicated enough relevant information for them to believe you might be a good fit for the role.

They saw something.

Maybe it was your experience.

Maybe your qualifications.

Maybe your achievements.

Maybe your skills.

Maybe the combination of several things.

Whatever it was…
something in your CV made them interested enough to invite you.

And this is where I want you to think differently about job interviews.

Your interview isn't necessarily about convincing an employer that you have value from scratch.

They already saw enough value to bring you into the room.

Your job now is to communicate that value clearly.

Because here's what can happen.

You walk into the interview.

The hiring manager has your CV in front of them.

They already know what you've written.

But now they want to meet the person behind the document.

They want to understand:

Can this person actually do what their CV suggests?

Can they communicate?

Can they solve problems?

Can they handle responsibility?

Can they demonstrate the experience they've claimed?

And most importantly:

“Can I trust this person to perform in this role?”

This is where many candidates lose the opportunity.

Not necessarily because they aren't qualified.

But because they haven't learned how to translate the value on their CV into convincing answers in the interview room.

They know what they've done.

They know their qualifications.

They know their experience.

But when the interviewer asks:

“Tell me about a time you solved a difficult problem.”

They struggle.

When asked:
“Why should we hire you?”

They start listing everything they've ever done.

When asked:

“What are your greatest strengths?”

They give a shopping list:

“I'm hardworking.”

“I'm honest.”

“I'm a team player.”

“I'm a fast learner.”

And the interviewer is left wondering:

“But how does this person actually demonstrate these qualities?”
That's the gap.

The value may be there.

But the interviewer needs to see it, understand it and believe it.

And this is why I keep telling job candidates:

Getting shortlisted is only one part of the journey.

You can get into the interview room and still walk out without the job.

Your CV may have opened the door.

Your interview performance determines what happens after you enter.

And I'm saying this from experience, having sat on both sides of the interview table.

So if you've been applying for jobs and repeatedly getting interviews
but not job offers, don't only ask:

“Why aren't they hiring me?”

Ask a better question:

“Am I communicating the value they saw in my CV when I get into the interview room?”

That question can completely change how you prepare.

Because your goal shouldn't simply be:

“I hope I get shortlisted.”

Your goal should be:

“When they shortlist me, I'll be ready to show them why they were right to consider me.”

That's a completely different mindset.

And it's one of the reasons I created The Interview Answer Blueprint™.

Not to give you hundreds of answers to memorize.

But to help you develop the skill of building and communicating strong answers from your own experience.

Because the interviewer may change the question.

They may ask a follow-up.

They may challenge your answer.

They may take the conversation somewhere you didn't expect.

You need preparation that can move with the conversation.

And that's the skill I want you to develop.

Your CV got you into the room.

Now learn how to make the room count.

If you are in earnest about making the room count,
and turn that interview into a job offer, I suggest 2 approaches.

✅ First approach

This is for you if you want to get the job offer sooner than later.

It's for you if you want to collapse the time you'd need to take to master the interviewing skill.

Simply go to my bio
and Get Instant Access to The Interview Answer Blueprint™

Then use it, apply it, implement it, and you will master the rare interviewing skill, that will make you stand out in any job interview,

and dramatically increase your chance of turning your next job interview into a job offer

If you have found my posts valuable, you’ll be blown away by what's in the T I A Blueprint™

because none of what I post here comes close to what's packed for you in that interviewing system.

✅ Second Approach:

This is for you if you don't mind a longer learning curve.

If you are not ready to invest in yourself at the moment.

If you are not in a hurry to land the job you desire fast.

If that's you, I totally get it. I really do. And that's totally fine.

Because the truth is,
we are all at different levels in our career paths.

For some of us, we want to accelerate fast. For others, we want to take our time

All those approaches are perfectly fine.

So, if you fit in this second approach,, I suggest you take these 3 steps:

🟢 Follow me here Eric Mulwa so you don't miss my best interviewing posts, which over time, will help you improve your interviewing game.

🟢 Watch all my interview coaching session 1-10, and save them in your favorites

🟢 Implement the exercises and lessons you’ll learn and will continue to learn from this coaching videos and posts, and you will, over time, develop the rare interviewing skill that will improve your interviewing game.

Rate yourself, determine which of the 2 approaches works best for you and act on it

Regardless of which path you take, I want you to know I will be here rooting for you.

Either way, be sure you follow me here so you don't miss my upcoming interviewing posts and coaching videos sessions

To wrap this up,

Let me ask you:

If you were invited for an interview tomorrow, what would be the hardest part for you?

A. Answering unexpected questions

B. Explaining my experience

C. Talking about my strengths

D. Proving my value

A?... B?... C?...or D ….let me know in the comments.

— Eric M.

You Finally Got The Interview. Then You Lost The Job. Here’s What May Have Happened…

Let me put you in the shoes of a job seeker for a moment.

You've spent hours writing and perfecting your CV.

You've spent money printing, scanning and preparing your documents.

You've sent application after application.

Yes…
even the cyber guy knows you by now.

They probably have your CV saved on their computer.

You walk in and they say:
"Eric, I know. Which job are we applying for today?"

You apply.

And apply.

And apply.

Some applications don't even get you an interview invitation.

But you don't give up.

Because you know you're competent.

You know you have something to offer.

You know that if someone would just give you the opportunity…
you can deliver.

Then one day…
It happens.

You receive the call you've been waiting for.

Or you open your email…

And there it is:

“Congratulations. You have been shortlisted for an interview.”

You can't believe it.

Suddenly, you're imagining yourself in that new job.

Maybe it's your first job.

You're imagining receiving your first salary.

Paying your own fare.

Paying your own rent.

Becoming financially independent.

Finally being able to take care of yourself without constantly asking someone for help.

Or perhaps you've been out of work for months or years.

And you're thinking:
“Finally. Maybe things are about to change.”

You start preparing.

You choose your outfit.

You press it.

You prepare your documents.

You get yourself ready to make that first impression count.

Then the big day arrives.

You walk into the interview room with high hopes.

You sit down.

The interview begins.

You answer the questions.

Then you go home…
waiting.

One day passes.

Three days.

Five days.

You check your email.

Nothing.

A week passes.

Then two weeks.

Then three.

Still nothing.

Eventually, you realize:

They aren't calling.

And you start the process all over again.

Another application.

Another CV.

Another interview.

And sometimes…

the same thing happens again.

I feel you.

And honestly, I wouldn't wish that experience on anyone.

The frustration is real.

The disappointment is real.

And the temptation to give up is real.

But before you do…

I'd like you to consider something.

Just a suggestion.

But it could change the way you prepare for your next interview.

Think about this:
You've already done the hard part.

You've found the vacancy.

You've prepared your CV.
You've spent the money.

You've sent the application.
You've waited.

And eventually…
they invited you for the interview.

So why spend all that time, effort and money getting the opportunity…

and then not deliberately prepare for the moment that could determine whether you turn that opportunity into a job?

The interview.

Think about it.

You wouldn't prepare for a football match by polishing your boots and then refuse to practise playing football.

You wouldn't prepare for an important examination by simply buying a pen.

Yet that's effectively what some job candidates do.

They prepare their CV.

They prepare their documents.

They prepare their clothes.

They prepare their transport.

But when it comes to the actual interview…
they wing it.

And then they wonder:
“What happened?”

when they don't hear back

Now, I'm not saying every unsuccessful interview happens because the candidate wasn't prepared.

There can be many reasons an employer chooses another candidate.

But here's something worth thinking about:

What if the value the employer saw in your CV never became visible in the interview room?

Not because the value wasn't there.

But because you didn't know how to communicate it.

And that's the problem I want us to start addressing.

Because getting the interview invitation is not the final destination.

It is an opportunity.

And if you've worked that hard to get the opportunity…
you owe yourself better preparation for what happens next.

If you'd want to be ready for your next job interview, I built for you a step-by-step system, and in this system, I show you exactly how to win job interview.

It's called The Interview Answer Blueprint.

Get Instant Access to this system on the link in my bio,
and walk into your next job interview READY TO WIN instead of HOPING TO WIN.

I'm rooting for you.

Because I know you can turn your next job interview into a job offer.

To keep improving your interviewing skill, I'd like you to take these 4 simple steps:

✅ Follow me here Eric Mulwa so you don't miss my post and upcoming interview coaching session

✅ Watch interview coaching session 1-10, and save them in your favorite

✅ Study and practice what you'll lean in these posts and interview coaching sessions.

✅ Share, like and leave me a comment on the posts. (I read all the comments, and reply in person)

Do that and not only will see dramatic improvement in your interviewing skill,
but you'll always be among the first ones to know when I release a new interview coaching video and post.

So here's my question for you:

If you received a “Congratulations, you've been shortlisted” email tomorrow, would you genuinely be ready for the interview?

Or would you start preparing after receiving the invitation?

Be honest.

YES or NO?...

Tell me in the comments.

— Eric M.

Day 13: Salary Expectations: The Interview Question That Can Cost You The Job Offer

There is one interview question that can make you doubt your entire worth.

You're sitting in an interview.

Things are going well.

You've talked about your experience.

You've answered several questions confidently.

Then the interviewer asks:
“What are your salary expectations?”

And suddenly, your confidence changes.

You start calculating in your head.

“What if I ask for too much?”

“What if I ask for too little?”

“What if they think I'm too expensive?”

“What if I say a figure and lose the opportunity?”

I don't just know that, those thoughts run through the mind of almost every job candidate,

I have lived through that experience, personally.

It took me years to crack the code of how to handle that tricky question.

And because I cracked that code,

and I have been on both sides of the table,

today I’m glad to share with you, how to handle this tricky question.

First,

Here's what I want you to understand:

This question shouldn't be answered by panic.

It should be prepared for, before you enter the interview room.

I didn't know that when I sat across the table in my first job interview,

That interview was a complete disaster. It was a train wreck!

But I learned my lesson 😀

So, get this …

This question should be prepared for, before you enter the interview room.

Because your answer can -- and does -- communicate more than a number.

How you respond to that question reveal:

✅ Whether you've thought seriously about the opportunity,

✅ Whether you understand your own value,

And…

✅ Whether you're approaching the conversation from a position of preparation rather than desperation.

I didn't know any of that in my first job interview. So I blew it!!

And there are 2 more colossal mistakes I want you to avoid when handling this question.

❌ Don't choose your expected salary simply because someone else told you what to ask for.

Your friend's salary isn't necessarily your salary.
Someone else's experience isn't your experience.

❌ The amount you earned in your previous job doesn't automatically determine what you should earn in your next one.

Your preparation needs to consider these 5 components:

✅ The role,

✅ The responsibilities,

✅ Your experience,

✅ Your skills,

and…

✅ The market.

So here's how to prepare for that question…

Before your next interview, do something simple.

1. Take a piece of paper and write down:

– What is this position worth in the current market?

– What value and experience am I bringing?

– What compensation would make this opportunity worthwhile for me?

Don't wait until you're sitting in front of the interviewer to start thinking about these things.

Because when you haven't prepared, the pressure of the moment can make the decision for you.

And sometimes,

❌ Candidates accept an offer they later regret.

Other times,

❌ They quote a figure without understanding the market and price themselves out of an opportunity.

Neither of those two mistakes serve you.

The goal isn't to walk into every interview demanding the highest possible salary.

That's a fatal mistake most job candidates make, and it costs them the job offer.

..The goal is to walk in prepared to have an intelligent conversation about your value.

That's an important interview skill.

And it's exactly the kind of thinking I want you to develop—not just memorized responses that work only when the interviewer asks the question exactly as you expected.

The Interview Answer Blueprint™ is designed around that broader principle: helping you become better at thinking through interview situations rather than simply collecting answers from the internet.

I'm deliberately giving you only one piece of that thinking here.
Because I want you to start preparing differently.

If you have an interview coming up,
research the role and its market value before anyone asks you about money.

Then you'll be making a decision from preparation—not pressure.

In The Interview Answer Blueprint™ we go deeper than that.

And The Blueprint is still available at the KSh. 999 launch price for now.

When you're ready to go beyond individual tips and learn the complete approach to the salary expectations question,
that's what I've built in the The Interview Answer Blueprint™.

Get Instant Access to T-I-A Blueprint™ on the link in my bio.

Whatever you choose to do…

Please, don't let the salary question be the question that catches you unprepared.

Or the one that causes you to lose the job offer, or get the job only to realize later that you are underpaid.

It's worth investment learning how to ask for what you are worth,
and getting compensated in alignment with your professional value.

In the T-I-A Blueprint™ I show you .

And once you learn that skill, it can be worth hundreds of thousands of shilling in the cause of your professional carer.

So...
To keep learning how to turn your next job interview into a job offer,

I recommend you take these 4 steps:

✅ Follow me here Eric Mulwa so you don't miss the daily post where I show you how

✅ Watch my interview coaching session 1 - 10 and save them in favourite

✅ Study all my posts on interviews and implement the exercises

✅ Share them, like and leave a comment

Take those 4 simple steps and you’ll interview way better than 80% of job candidates, not to mention you won't miss any of my posts.

To wrap this up,

Tell me this…

Have you ever felt unsure when the interviewer asked you:
“What are your salary expectations?”

Yes? …No?...let me know in the comments below.

–Eric M.

If You Don't Fix This, It Will Fix You In Job Interviews. It's Already Fixing You…

I know I have shared this with you several times, but only tangentially,

But this is such a fatal and subtle interview mistake that most people commit, but are not aware they are committing it.

Today we tackle it head-on and directly, because if we don't fix it, it will fix you.

I am talking about rambling.

So …
Let me put you in a real interview situation.

The interviewer looks at you and asks:

Interviewer:
“Tell me about a time you had to solve a difficult problem at work.”

You know this question.

You've experienced difficult situations before.

So you start answering.

Candidate:
“Well, there have been quite a few difficult situations in my previous job. I remember one time when we had a problem with a customer, although actually it wasn't really just one customer because we had several customers who were complaining, and I think it was around the time when we were quite busy.

I was working with the team and there were also some issues with communication because sometimes customers would call and we would have to talk to different departments, and sometimes the information wasn't really clear.

So, basically, what happened was that one customer called and they were complaining about something, although I can't remember exactly whether it was the delivery or the order, but it was something to do with the order.

And I remember that I had actually dealt with a similar situation before, so I tried to explain to the customer that we were doing everything we could.

And then I spoke to my supervisor because I thought maybe we should do something about it, and eventually we managed to sort it out.
So, yes, that's one example of a difficult situation I experienced.”

Phew!!!

All along, the interviewer nods patiently.

But notice what just happened.

The candidate talked for almost two minutes.

Yet the interviewer still doesn't clearly know:

What was the problem?

What did YOU actually do?

What was the result?

And most importantly:

What does this story prove about you?

That's rambling.

And oftentimes it may feel like you answered the question with enough details and clarity.

And most job candidates do it all the time.

But you know what's sad?

They are not aware that they are doing it

Now, understand this ...

The problem with rambling isn't that you give long-winded answers without direction, although that's one of the major problems,

Here are the myriads of problems caused by rambling:

1. Your answer is vague, and give interview nothing to evaluate

2. What you wanted to communicate is lost in the sea of verbosity

3.The interviewer has a hard time following your answer logically and pick what they want to know.

4. The interviewer has to rummage through your "cluttered answer" and investigate it to pick what matters -- and that means you are making their work hard in the interview room.

And because of this fourth problem, if you keep rambling throughout the interview, that will create the fifth problem

5. The interviewers will cut your interview short and call the other candidate in the line,

And the worst part of this fifth problem is that:

❌ You will never know whether you were cut short

❌ You lose the opportunity you could have used to demonstrate your value.

Think about all that.

With all this happening,
what are your chances of winning in that job interview, even if you were the most intelligent candidate in the room?

Truth is,
You have slim to zero chances of winning.

Honestly, the odds of you winning are stacked against you.

Not because you are incompetent

..not because you lack experience

..not because you are not intelligent.

..not because you can't perform in given the role,

But because you ramble.

Because you have a communication challenge.

Do you know how many job candidates lose job offers because of this simple but fixable problem?

That number is statistically staggering.

Rambling is a dream-killer.

But you don't have to be a part of that number.

Because this can be fixed.

And here's the uncomfortable part:

After they are done interviewing,
the candidate may leave that interview thinking they gave a detailed answer.

They didn't.

They gave the interviewer a lot of information without giving them a clear path through the information.

And what's usually the results of that?

It's failing in job interviews.

That's what rambling helps you achieve. Failure!

But here's why candidates ramble.

Usually, they aren't trying to waste the interviewer's time.

They're trying to prove themselves.

They're thinking:
“I need to show them everything I know.”

So they keep adding information.

Another example.

Another explanation.

Another qualification.

Another detail.

Another story.

And eventually, the answer loses its centre.

Get this…
"More information doesn't necessarily create more value.
Sometimes it hides your value."

That very statement is what I drill into the minds of the job candidates I coach.

Read it again, until you burn it in your mind.

So before you answer your next interview question, don't ask yourself:

“What else can I say?”

Ask:
“What does the interviewer actually need to understand from my answer?”

That's a completely different question.

Try this exercise before your next interview.

1.Take one of your interview answers.

2. Record yourself answering it.

3. Then listen back.

Every time you hear yourself:

repeat a point,

go off-topic,

give unnecessary background,

introduce information that doesn't answer the question,

or keep talking after you've already made your point…

Cut it.

4..Then record the answer again.

Keep doing it until every sentence has a job.

Because your goal isn't to say everything you know.

Your goal is to make the important thing easy to understand.

And this is one of the reasons I keep telling job candidates:

Interviewing is a skill. Not a memorization skit.

You don't develop that skill by simply reading more interview tips.

You develop it by practising how you think, structure and communicate your answers.

That's also why The Interview Answer Blueprint™ isn't designed to give you hundreds of answers to memorize.

I designed and built this system to teach you:

✅ The psychology of hiring managers, so you know how answer interview questions in a way that make the hiring manager want to hire you right away.

✅ How to think like elite job candidate so you can answer any question the interviewer throws at you, even if you have not prepared for it.

✅ The mistakes costing you the job offer in the interview room and how to avoid them

✅ How to stop memorizing interview answers and build your own answers based on the industry, role and the organization you are interviewing for-- answers that get you hired,

✅ The exact framework to use to stop rambling for good, and deliver concise answers

✅ And much more.

The Interview Answer Blueprint™ is ...

❌ Not a collection of interview tips

❌ Not a list of 101 interview answers copy-pasted from the internet

❌ Not a traditional or conventional theoretical book on how to interview

All the above are great, but reading them will almost never get you hired.

Instead...

The Interview Answer Blueprint™ is the ultimate Interview Prep Tool.

This is complete step-by-step system that show you how to interview so you can increase your chances of turning your next interview into a job offer.

The good news?

You don't have to keep failing job interviews, because today,

You can Get Instant Access to The Interview Answer Blueprint™ on my Bio link
and turn your next job interview into a job offer.

Go get it now, and your next job interview could become the new job you have been looking for.

Because when you know how to build an answer,
you become less dependent on memorized scripts—and much better prepared for the unexpected question.

You eliminate rambling.

Here's what you need to understand...

Your next interview doesn't need you to talk more.

It needs you to answer better.

And I show you how.

Follow me here Eric Mulwa because tomorrow, I shall show you how to answer the same question we looked at today without rambling.

Now tell me honestly:

Have you ever started answering an interview question…
…and halfway through realized:

“Wait… I don't even know where I'm going with this answer.”

YES or NO?

Tell me in the comments.

I'll see you inside The Interview Answer Blueprint™ on my bio.

—Eric M.

The Dreaded Employment GAP Interview Question And How To Answer It…

A few days ago,
we talked about one of the most dreaded interview questions.

You walk into a job interview, the interview starts.

Somewhere down the line, the interviewer takes a good look at your CV,

And then the dreaded question comes up:

Interviewer:
“I notice there's a gap in your employment history. What were you doing during that period. Could you explain that?”

In my earlier post, I told you what not to do.

When such a question come up,

Don't panic.

Don't become defensive.

Don't start apologizing.

And don't give the interviewer your entire life story.

Most job candidates do all that.

Please don't?

But then, in that very post,
I promised you that I would show you how to actually handle the question.

I’m here to honor my promise to you,

So let's do that.

First, understand something important.

When an interviewer asks about an employment gap, they're not necessarily asking:

“Why weren't you working?”

There may be a deeper concern behind the question.

They may be wondering:

“What happened?”

“What were you doing during that period?”

“Are you ready to return to work?”

“Have your skills remained relevant?”

“Can I confidently hire this person now?”

All these are the Questions-Behind-the-Question.

The hidden unverbalized questions.

The deep silent and unexpressed concerns of the interviewer.

Your answer therefore needs to do more than explain the past.

It needs to address these concerns and give the interviewer confidence about the present.

Here's the framework I want you to use:
1. ACKNOWLEDGE THE GAP

Don't pretend it isn't there.

For example:
“Yes, there was a period when I wasn't in formal employment.”

Simple.

No panic.

No apology.

No long explanation.

2. BRIEFLY EXPLAIN WHAT WAS HAPPENING

Give the truthful explanation.

Perhaps you were actively looking for work.

Perhaps you were taking care of family responsibilities.

Perhaps you were studying.

Perhaps you were running a small business.

Perhaps you were dealing with circumstances that temporarily kept you out of formal employment.

Whatever the genuine reason is, explain it professionally.

Don't invent a better story.

3. SHOW WHAT YOU DID DURING THAT PERIOD

This is where many candidates miss an opportunity.

Don't stop at:
“I wasn't working.”

Ask yourself:
What was I learning, doing, practising, managing or developing during that period?

Maybe you developed new skills.

Maybe you took courses.

Maybe you worked informally.

Maybe you managed a personal project.

Maybe you volunteered.

Maybe you continued practising skills from your previous profession.

There may be evidence of activity even if there wasn't a formal employer.

4. BRING THE CONVERSATION TO THE PRESENT

This is critical.

The interviewer isn't hiring your 2022 version.

They're deciding whether to hire you now.

So tell them where you are today.

For example:
“During that period, I also used the time to strengthen my skills in [relevant area]. I'm now ready to return to a professional environment, and I'm particularly interested in this opportunity because…”

Now you've moved the conversation from:

“Why weren't you working?”

to:

“Why are you ready and relevant now?”

5. CONNECT YOUR PRESENT TO THE ROLE

Finish by showing why you're interested in this particular opportunity.

For example:

“I'm now looking for an opportunity where I can apply my previous experience, the skills I've developed since then, and contribute meaningfully to the organisation.”

Notice what happened.

You didn't beg.

You didn't apologise.

You didn't hide the gap.

You didn't invent anything.

You explained it,
demonstrated what you did with the period,
and brought the interviewer back to your value today.

That's how you handle a career gap professionally.

And there's one more thing…

Don't try to make your employment gap disappear.

Your goal isn't to erase the gap from the interviewer's mind.

Your goal is to remove the uncertainty surrounding it.

Because sometimes the gap isn't the problem.

The unexplained gap is.

So before your next interview, look at your CV.

Find every period that could raise a question.

Then prepare your explanation using this framework::
Acknowledge >> Explain >> Evidence >> Present >> Align.

And practise saying it out loud.

Not once.

Several times.

Until you can explain your journey calmly and naturally.

Because when the interviewer asks about your employment gap,
you don't want to suddenly start searching for words.

You want to already understand your story.

And that's the difference between memorising an answer and actually knowing how to answer.

Want to master how to win job interviews?

I can show you.

Take these 3 simple steps

✅ Follow me here Eric Mulwa so you don't miss any of my posts.

✅ Watch interview coaching session 1 - 10 and save them in your favorites.

✅ Study my posts on winning job interviews and share, like or leave me a comment

Take these simple steps and you’ll always be the first one to know whenever I release a new video or post on how to win job interviews.

To wrap this up,

I have a question for you…
Ever been asked to explain your employment gap in a job interview?

Yes?... No? …let me know in the comments below.