Communicate about your schedule Interviewing can be a challenge if you’re currently employed. Most companies will want you to do an hour interview in the middle of the day, and that can be challenging if you’re already working 9-5. Be open and honest with your interviewer about your schedule. If you can take a half day on Wednesday to do a face-to-face meeting, but they suggest Thursday, don’t be afraid to ask to reschedule. Some potential employers will even sit down with you before or after hours to better align with your agenda. They understand that getting away in the middle of the day can be challenging, so don’t rush through an interview or jeopardize your current position by trying to please all parties.

Stay positive If you’re currently employed, you’ll be asked why you want to leave your current position for a new one. The answer should always be centered around the new opportunity, not focused on why you hate your current job. An interview isn’t the time to disparage a company, a boss, a problematic client, or even a city if you’re relocating. Focus on the positives of what’s in front of you, not the problems you want to leave behind. This will make the employer see why you want to be a part of your team, and that’s much more appealing than just knowing why you want to leave your current one.

Don’t try to be perfect During an interview you’re likely to be asked about your biggest weakness, or to tell the interviewer about a time when you failed. You should have honest, real-world examples of these situations ready to go if the question arises. What you don’t want to do is say you have no flaws, or that you’ve never failed. This makes you seem either arrogant, or unable to accept responsibility for your part in setbacks. A potential employer will want to know how you respond to adversity, and trying to convince them that you’ve never faced adversity will not make you seem like the perfect candidate, it will make you seem unprepared for the curveballs that can come in a business setting.

How do you move forward when your job search is in a ‘freeze frame’?