What if the secret to sounding smarter isn't being smarter at all?

In this episode, we explore why confidence often matters just as much as competence, especially in job interviews. We'll talk about the mindset behind "fake it till you make it," how believing in yourself helps other people believe in you, and why the way you say something can be just as powerful as what you're actually saying.

The main part of this episode features an excerpt from Will Stephen's hilarious TEDx talk, "How to Sound Smart in Your TEDx Talk," a brilliant reminder that confidence, storytelling, and great delivery can completely change how people perceive you.

Trust me, you'll never look at public speaking or job interviews the same way again.

Fake it till you make it! The funny thing is, one day you'll forget you were ever faking it.

In this episode, I'm taking a hands-on look at three strategic ways to use NotebookLM to prepare for your next job interview. I'll walk you through each step, share real examples of AI-generated interview materials I've created, and even play a quick samples so you can hear what's possible.

NotebookLM is a free AI tool that can help you turn job descriptions, company research, and your resume into personalized interview prep.

I've included the link to NotebookLM below, along with the exact prompt I used to generate an audio interview summary that helped me prepare for one of my own interviews.

• NotebookLM Website: https://notebooklm.google/

• Prompt for audio overview: "Make this an audio overview of how {your name} is the perfect fit for the {Role title at company name} based on her background and work examples."
• Prompt for video overview (select "Explainer" and "Whiteboard"): "Frame the content as a guide for acing a {job title at company name} interview."

I hope this episode saves you time, helps you prepare smarter, and gives you the confidence boost of hearing an AI audio overview all about why you're an absolute baddie for the job.

Good luck, girl!

Want a major confidence boost before your next job interview? Press play on this Good Luck Song.

A pre-interview hype anthem. Written by Lena Sernoff, host of the Girl, You're Hired: Job Interview Tips Podcast, this song was created for every woman preparing for that big job interview moment.

Here's your assignment: -Play it the night before. -Blast it on the drive to your interview. - Sing it in the bathroom. -Throw in a power pose for good measure.

Now walk in with main character energy. This is your moment. I'm rooting for you.

Link to song on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7Iy0V-2szTU 

Lyrics:

This is your good luck song.

Just wanted you to know.

I believe in you because you're amazing

at everything you do.

This is your good luck song

because you deserve to know.

We're all cheering you on.

Whatever you put your mind to, amazing things unfold.

Walk into that job interview, you've done so much to get this far

Now it's time to let them see the very best of you.

This is your good luck song.

Because you're a star.

You worked so hard to come this far.

You deserve to win it all.

So if it's a job interview or a big next meeting,

Go show them exactly who you are.

We know you're going to go so far.

This is your good luck song.

You're a badass, don't you forget.

You've earned this chance, now go and get it.

They'll be lucky if they get you on their team.

Everything you've lived through has led to this dream.

Don't waste a second worrying what they might see.

You already know exactly who you're meant to be.

Now walk in with confidence from the very start.

It's time to show them the star you already are.

This is your good luck song.

In 2026, it's hard to find a job interview where AI doesn't come up. No matter your industry, employers want to know how you're using AI and how you're adapting to this new way of working.

In this episode, I'll walk you through three of the most common AI-related interview questions you're likely to be asked, along with practical examples and best practices for answering them. I'll cover how to talk about the AI tools you use and why you choose them, how to share an AI project using the STAR method, and how to show employers that you're staying on top of the latest AI developments.

These tips come from both my experience working at AI companies and my own recent job search, where I saw these questions come up again and again.

The AI era is here, and knowing how to talk about your AI skills could be what gets you hired over other candidates. Tune in before your next interview!

“Watch your thoughts, they become your words. Watch your words, they become your actions. Watch your actions, they become your habits. Watch your habits, they become your character. Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.”

This idea, often attributed to philosopher Lao Tzu, is a powerful reminder that the way we think shapes the life we create.

Our mindset, especially during times of change like the job search process, has a profound impact on how we show up. It influences our job interview confidence, our resilience, and our ability to focus on the things we can actually control.

After going through several interviews myself, I realized just how much the conversations I was having with myself affected the way I walked into the interview room. These affirmations were born from that experience. They helped me replace self-doubt with confidence, fear with preparation, and scarcity with abundance.

I hope you'll listen to this episode before your next interview and allow these affirmations to become part of your routine.

If this episode encourages you, be sure to follow Girl, You're Hired: Job Interview Tips Podcast for more career advice, interview tips, motivation, and affirmations to help you land the opportunities you deserve.

In this episode, special guest Tessa White joins us as we explore three crucial elements for interview success: improving conversation flow, asking the right questions and structuring answers.

Discover how to break free from the rigid question-and-answer format and foster a more engaging dialogue with the interviewer. Next, we'll tackle the importance of asking the right questions during an interview.

Tessa White is the author of The Unspoken Truths for Career Success. She is a former Fortune 50 executive and a 25-year human capital expert for fast-growth companies and mergers and acquisition strategies and has been published in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal and  recently named one of 2022’s top entrepreneurs to be inspired by in USA Today. She is known to more than 1,000,000 TikTok and Instagram followers as The Job Doctor.⁠

--

For a 1:1 mock interview coaching with Podcast Host, Lena Sernoff, click here to book.

In this episode of Girl You're Hired, we'll discuss tips and strategies about deciding if a job or company is right for you. Guest Kelli Thompson shares her values-fit framework, which includes questions such as, "Will this job allow me to use my best talents 80% of the time?" "What's my energy level after each interview?" and "Am I passionate about this company and who they serve?"

Additionally, Kelli shares specific interview questions that you can ask to clearly understand whether the role meets your criteria, including questions that can help discern what is true versus what employers think they want to hear. Don't miss this insightful episode on finding the right value-fit for your next job.

Kelli Thompson is a keynote speaker, writer, and leadership coach with over 10 years of leadership experience for financial services and technology organizations. She is featured in Forbes, MarketWatch, HuffPost and is the author of Closing the Confidence Gap. You can download her free career clarity guide here.

This episode features a discussion on the topic of mental wellness, specifically focusing on the experience of being laid off from a job. Guest Rose Choi Marques shares her personal story of navigating a tech layoff and offers tips on how to stay mentally strong and positive during such challenging times, including the importance of self-care and applicable strategies for finding a new job. Whether you're currently facing a job loss or seeking inspiration and strategies to stay resilient in today's job market, this episode is for you.