Profound Professionals Interview with Randy Phares, The Interview Whisperer

Sam. Hello, everybody. I am back. That's right, and I am your host. This is Jessica Koch and our show is profound professionals. So we are an interview series that is about to have a 10 year anniversary next year. So we're gonna be 10 years old. And we bring you industry experts from all over our beautiful globe and they help you improve your personal life or they help you grow your business. Today I have Randy and Randy is awesome. And he is going to with us how he helps people out. Helps people out interview everyone else they can to get the job of their dreams. So he helps people out with interviews, right? To get the job of their dreams? Yes.

Absolutely. And then of course, to help them hit the ground running when they get in there so they can come across as the hero and then achieve a work life balance of happiness. So that's the goal.

All right, so are you helping people with their interview process, like to be the best version of themselves in an actual interview for a job? Are you helping people who are doing the interviews finding their best possible team, or is it both?

Okay, I'm helping people that are frustrated, overworked, underappreciated, or not happy in their current roles, that know they could be doing more, helping them out interview everyone else so they can get the job of their dreams.

Oh, I see, I see. All right, well, how did you become this interview expert, sort the interview whisperer, if you would, so that people can be what shines and what sparkles and they go, hey, we got, hey, we just interviewed that guy. We really need that guy or gal that came through the door. And it just so happens Randy had worked with them first and that's why they stood out. What made you be that superhero?

Well, you know, Jessica, I started out at rock bottom, literally digging ditches with a pick and a shovel at $4, Tourette's syndrome and ADHD and never earned my college degree, which made things a little more challenging for me than other people. So if you see my arm or my face twitching, that's my Tourette's. So you can either allow something like that to define you or you can use it as a springboard to not let it hold you back from what you can accomplish. So I ended up becoming a general laborer in manufacturing at 21 in a manufacturing plant and basically had an interview where I just completely blew it of some simple questions. So it pretty much put me on a mission to figure out what made people successful in interviews. So I studied psychology, communication, sales, storytelling, that kind of stuff, and developed what I now call The Fearless Achiever method. And I have a. So regarding that, I was able to implement these things and had attended one interview that ended with me being called in the executive vice president's office and he said, we don't want you to leave our building before you agree to work with us. What will it take to get you to run our plant without taking a counteroffer? And I basically wrote my own offer, 60% raised for myself and they were excited to get me at that salary. And then shortly thereafter, I became the youngest but highest paid general manager running a multinational business unit for a Fortune 1000 company on Forbes most admired list and leading a turnaround that won global awards.

That's fantastic. That's wonderful. Okay, so you have these people who are in a career of some kind. Does it matter what industry or any industry?

No, pretty much any industry. Mostly managers to early executives that basically want to take the escalator to the C suite instead of the stairs.

Sure, I love that analogy. So are they coming to work with you one on one or in a group setting or an online course? What's the way that they're working with you and how would they find out more to join those programs?

Okay, a few different things. I do like a career accelerator boot camp and I'll do a free masterclass. You can go to fearlessachiever.com and register for that. I pretty much do one of those a month. I have the boot camps, my low end program, then I have a group coaching program and then I have a one on one coaching program that basically gives unlimited access to me. Not only do they get scheduled calls, but anytime they're having an issue, they can reach out to me and as soon as I'm available, I'll get back with them and help coach them through any problem.

I love that. Those are great things. Is there a website or a best place to find you on social media or reach out to you?

Sure. If you want to find out more about me, just go to randyferris.com, r A N D Y P H a r e s.com and there's a whole bunch of different stuff on me you can find there, including links to socials and things like that.

Sure. All right. And so how about a tip? Something someone could apply today on this journey.

I've got a whole bunch of these, but I'll give you the starting one.

Okay.

At the beginning of an interview. Basically a lot of people have been passed over by promotion, but they felt they were the best candidate for the job. The reality is they weren't or they would have got the job. Because no manager says, I'm going to hire a bad person for this spot. So the reality is there was a disconnect in what you thought was best for the job and what the manager thought. So basically same concept here in an interview. Most people go into an interview and guess what the hiring manager wants, and they're wrong. And in addition to that, most people that are high achievers are good at a lot of things, so they end up talking about all the wrong things. So what you need to do at the very beginning of the interview, either before it starts or at the end of your answer to the first question, which is usually, tell me a little about yourself, you need to say, what are the current challenges in the current position? And what are the skills and traits and accomplishments that would lead you to believe that somebody would be ultimately successful in the job? By asking that question, you now narrow down your giant net to exactly what the hiring manager wants to hear. And then you can build your stories using my pace method. P for problem. A for assessment, C for correction, E for evaluation. So you structure stories from your history that you have solved that have delivered measurable results. And you explain, when they say, how would you deal with this? Well, I dealt. Here's a situation from when I worked for XYZ company and you go through all of that and here is how it ties into the new job and can deliver similar results for you in your company.

I love that. That's really good advice. I also, you know, add to that if you don't get a position you feel like you're right for, follow up with that person and get an exit interview. Find out what would have made you stand out and shine. What would they have loved to seen so that you can learn from that for the next one. All right, how about a nonprofit cause you care about?

All right. Well, a couple of them. One, I tithe at my church. So I like to try to bring people to Jesus because that has been a source of my success and lifting me up and keeping me from hitting the rocks on my downswings. And, you know, whatever your God is, then certainly having a strong spiritual life I believe is important for happiness. And number two, when I launch my book, I'm going to do a Kickstarter, feed children that are hungry.

I love that there's so many great causes in the world. It's part of why we included this in our series. We want to spread awareness and we want people to be inspired to give time Treasure and talent. So we thank you for sharing that with us. Randy, how about a book? We love books around here. Something that inspired your personal life or helped you grow your business.

All right. Whole bunch of them I could do. But let me start with an unusual story. When I was in eighth grade, back in the very early 80s, 81, I received a book from a book club or something, and I was a minor, so my dad told me I could keep it. It was called how to start your own business on a shoestring and make up to $100,000 a year. So I learned how to form a business, what types of businesses tax, you know, different tax benefits, how to structure things. So I learned all of that, and it took me another 30 years or 20 something before I actually went on my own and started my own business. But that was always burning in the back of my skull from that very young age.

I love that. Beautiful, beautiful. How about you? You have a book in the works, don't you?

I do. It's just out of editing, so it should come out here pretty soon. It's called the ultimate interview guide. How to out interview everyone else and get the job of your dreams. And Frank King wrote the foreword for it. Who is the most TEDx talks out of anybody? So, yep, I look forward to being able to help a whole lot more people and get a lot more reach as soon as my book hits the bookstores and all that kind of stuff.

I love that. Can't wait to check that out. So check out his book. It has been so much fun interviewing you today, Randy. Thank you for being here with us.

Oh, it's a pleasure to be here and just knowing all the value that you always provide, all the people in your audience, just being able to be a part of that and hopefully contribute a little nugget to try to help them. It's an absolute pleasure.

Thank you so much, Randy. And if you're out there watching and you're thinking to yourself, hmm, I have some value. I have some great stories to share. I could help improve someone's personal life or grow their business. I should be on that podcast. Maybe you should reach out to us and our team and we'll tell you just how to get on the show. And before we close today, I would just ask you to share with us a final thought, a piece of information or inspiration as we go. Randy, what do you have?

Okay, basically, write your own path. Don't let your own mental blocks stop you. Our biggest thing that keeps us from our goals is our own thoughts. Our own fears. We need to be able to overcome our those fears and step out there and take a chance and move forward. That's why I call my program the Fearless Achiever Method, because you've got to be able to get over your fears and move forward to really achieve what you're capable of in this world.

I love that. Thank you so much for sharing, Randi. Thank you, all of you out there, for watching and hitting that share button. You just don't know who might be inspired because of your kindness. I am your host, Jessica Koch. This is profound professional. And until the next one, everyone be kind to yourself out there and be kind to each other. Bye everybody. Sam.