Mike Simpson is the co-founder of The Interview Guys, the career-advice site he launched in February 2013 to help job seekers actually land the roles they want. Over the last 13 years, the site has reached more than 100 million job seekers worldwide, and Mike's particular focus is interview preparation: how candidates can actually answer the questions hiring managers really care about.
He holds a Business degree from Bishop's University (HR major, Economics minor) and is an active member of the Professional Association of Résumé Writers & Career Coaches (PARWCC) and the National Career Development Association (NCDA). His advice has been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, and CNBC, and is referenced by career-services teams at the University of Michigan, Penn State, Northeastern, the University of Toronto, McGill, Wellesley College, and Kansas State, among others.
Articles credited to Mike on The Interview Guys are reviewed and edited by him personally to make sure the frameworks, examples, and recommendations match what actually works in real interviews.
You’ve landed the interview, dressed for success, and now you’re sitting across from the hiring manager who says those six seemingly simple words: “Walk me through your resume.” Your heart rate ticks up slightly. Where do you start? What do you include? How detailed should you get? This seemingly straightforward request is actually one of…
You’ve made it past the first round of interviews—congratulations! Only about 20% of applicants make it this far, so you’re already outperforming 80% of the competition. But now comes the real challenge. Second interviews are where things get serious. The screening phase is over, and now you’re facing tougher questions, meeting higher-level decision makers, and…
You’ve prepared your resume, researched the company, and practiced talking about your past experiences. But are you ready for the “What would you do if…” questions? Situational interview questions have become increasingly common in today’s hiring process. These hypothetical scenarios help employers evaluate your judgment, problem-solving approach, and decision-making process before you’ve even started the…
You’re cruising through your interview when the hiring manager casually asks, “So, what are you passionate about?” Suddenly your mind goes blank. Do they want to hear about your weekend rock climbing adventures? Your commitment to mobile app development? Your volunteer work? This seemingly simple question trips up even the most prepared candidates. Some panic…
You’re sailing through your interview when suddenly the hiring manager leans back and asks, “So, what makes you unique?” Your mind races. Do they want to hear about your stamp collection? Your technical skills? That volunteer experience? This seemingly casual question is actually a strategic opportunity that many candidates fumble. Some give generic answers that…
That moment when HR schedules your exit interview… suddenly your last two weeks just got more complicated. You’ve already submitted your resignation, cleaned out your desk, and mentally checked out. Now you need to navigate one final conversation that could impact your professional reputation long after you’ve moved on. According to a Harvard Business Review…
You’re sailing through your interview, confidently answering questions about your experience and qualifications. Then the interviewer leans forward, smiles, and asks, “So, what are your career goals?” Suddenly, your mind races. Should you be honest about wanting their boss’s job? Should you play it safe with something generic? Are they testing how committed you’d be…
You’ve sailed through most of the interview, confidently answering questions about your experience and skills. Then suddenly, the interviewer leans forward and asks, “So, what motivates you?” Your mind races. Do they want to hear about money? Growth? Making a difference? Is this a trick question? The “what motivates you” question catches even the most…
You check your email for the 50th time today. Still nothing. It’s been a week since you sent that perfectly crafted job application, and the silence is deafening. Your mind races with questions: Did they receive it? Am I being ignored? Should I follow up or just wait? If this scenario sounds painfully familiar, you’re…
Tell Me About a Time You Had a Conflict With a Coworker: The SOAR Method for Answering This High-Stakes Behavioral Question Picture this: You’re sailing through your interview, confidently answering questions about your skills and experience. Then, the interviewer leans forward slightly and asks, “Tell me about a time you had a conflict with a…
