Chloe SpillaneYour personal career strategist - start here ↓

TAKE CONTROL OF INTERVIEWS #careercoach #careeradvice #interviewtips #interviewquestions #interviews

4 May 2026 · 2 min

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1:39

In this instructional segment, career coach Chloe Spillane demonstrates how candidates can assert control during job interviews by using specific, confident language. She outlines concrete phrasing for four common interview challenges: (1) requesting clarification when a question is unclear, (2) addressing gaps in direct experience by highlighting transferable skills and a willingness to upskill, (3) articulating why the candidate is the right fit and aligning the role with personal career aspirations, and (4) explaining why they are leaving their current position in a positive manner. Spillane emphasizes that asking for clarification, taking a brief pause to think, and responding with confidence do not diminish a candidate’s suitability; rather, they showcase professionalism and self‑advocacy. The overall message encourages interviewees to view these tactics as tools for demonstrating competence rather than signs of weakness.

Chapters

This is what would happen if you as the candidate took more control in the interview. They ask you a question you don't fully understand. You say, "Just so I can make sure I'm answering this question correctly, do you mind rephrasing the question for me?" They ask you a question where you don't have specific experience. You respond with, "Well, I don't have direct experience in that area. I'm confident that my skills across X transferable skill would come across, and ensuring I had the right access to upskilling, I'd be able to get up to speed very quickly." They ask you a question and you're just not quite sure what they're really asking of you. You say, just to clarify the question, what you're asking is— and then you respond with what you think they're wanting to know from you. They ask you, why do you think you're the right candidate for this role? And you very clearly say, based on our discussion so far and what you're looking for in this role compared with my skills and experience, I believe that I bring a valuable amount of experience for what you're looking for. This position is also 'Exactly in line with my own career aspirations, which means I would be highly invested in a career in this company.' They ask you, 'Why are you leaving your current role?' And you say, 'I had a really positive experience at X company. I'm wanting to achieve this level of career, and I felt that where I was, I'd hit the glass ceiling.' What you'll find is that having the ability to ask for clarification when you need it, ask for a couple of seconds to think about your answer when you need to process it, or answering any of their concern questions with confidence is that it doesn't matter if you need clarification on a question. That has no determination as to whether you can do the job. Sometimes an interviewer can ask questions pretty poorly, but also you're not delivering on your job in that interview. You're simply answering a series of questions. If you hold yourself in confidence that even if you need a second to think about your answer, you're no less capable of doing the job.