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I Hate Job Interviews: Stop Stressing. Start Performing. Get the Job You Want.
"For anyone wanting to elevate their interview skills, this superb book does the job!” —STEPHEN M. R. COVEY, New York Times bestselling author of The Speed of Trust
Go into your next job interview with confidence, ready to knock any question they throw at you out of the park!
The key to landing that dream job or big promotion often comes down to how you perform in the job interview. After bombing some interviews early in his career, Sam Owens vowed that would never happen to him again and began work on a system to ensure he was ready for even the most oddball questions in future interviews. The system he developed proved so successful, Sam built a career coaching business around teaching it to others and has now coached thousands of people on how to prepare for interviews.
In I Hate Job Interviews, Sam shares his proven methodology and provides simple frameworks and demonstrations on how to answer any type of job interview question. Using this proven system, job candidates will gain confidence in answering introductory, behavioral, hypothetical, opinion, personal, think-on-your-feet, salary, and self-awareness questions. You will
How to craft “power" examples to show how your skills align perfectly with the job you are applying for.To conduct practice interviews so you are ready when the big day arrives.To make a big first impression with that first question.To tell compelling stories that clearly demonstrate your abilities.Simple strategies and frameworks to nail hypothetical and scenario questions.Salary negotiation skills to maximize your job offer.
Go into your next job interview with confidence, ready to knock any question they throw at you out of the park!
The key to landing that dream job or big promotion often comes down to how you perform in the job interview. After bombing some interviews early in his career, Sam Owens vowed that would never happen to him again and began work on a system to ensure he was ready for even the most oddball questions in future interviews. The system he developed proved so successful, Sam built a career coaching business around teaching it to others and has now coached thousands of people on how to prepare for interviews.
In I Hate Job Interviews, Sam shares his proven methodology and provides simple frameworks and demonstrations on how to answer any type of job interview question. Using this proven system, job candidates will gain confidence in answering introductory, behavioral, hypothetical, opinion, personal, think-on-your-feet, salary, and self-awareness questions. You will
How to craft “power" examples to show how your skills align perfectly with the job you are applying for.To conduct practice interviews so you are ready when the big day arrives.To make a big first impression with that first question.To tell compelling stories that clearly demonstrate your abilities.Simple strategies and frameworks to nail hypothetical and scenario questions.Salary negotiation skills to maximize your job offer.
224 pages, Paperback
Published June 4, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
June 16, 2025
5 stars because I got the job. This book was just what I needed for my interview prep, especially after not interviewing for over 12 years.
September 5, 2025
AUDIOBOOK 🎧
Landed a promotion! And I credit this book with helping me prepare exceptionally well for the rigorous interview process. The author’s advice to compile a list 10 “Power Examples” that best demonstrate your unique experience and skill set was a game-changer. Regardless of what my interviewers asked, I was ready with well-developed answers to insert with precision.
The Lord absolutely led me to this book at just the right time. I’m so thankful that I discovered it in the week prior to my first interview for this big opportunity! Highly recommend if you’re job searching or trying to climb up in the ranks at work.
Exceptional book with incredibly practical application.
Landed a promotion! And I credit this book with helping me prepare exceptionally well for the rigorous interview process. The author’s advice to compile a list 10 “Power Examples” that best demonstrate your unique experience and skill set was a game-changer. Regardless of what my interviewers asked, I was ready with well-developed answers to insert with precision.
The Lord absolutely led me to this book at just the right time. I’m so thankful that I discovered it in the week prior to my first interview for this big opportunity! Highly recommend if you’re job searching or trying to climb up in the ranks at work.
Exceptional book with incredibly practical application.
January 27, 2026
Book was super helpful in navigating the challenges of interviewing in this day and age. He gave very detailed tips from beginning to end/salary negotiation. He also included insightful stories that made it feel very personal. Highly recommend to everyone striving to improve their interview skills and grow their careers.
January 16, 2024
I was excited to read this as I have a few interviews coming up. Sadly I was expecting some new advice and tips, but these are things I already know or have found on Google search. Thank you for the copy.
December 12, 2025
It has some descent interview prep advice, but reads like someone chronically on LinkedIn.
December 15, 2023
I used to say "I'm bad at interviews" but have realized in more detail that I'm actually really good at interviews, at telling stories about myself and my skills, and at researching and preparing. where I get thrown off track a lot is with "surprise" questions, which he calls scenario questions, because I'm nervous, I'm a slow processor, and have too many examples written down to choose from in the moment so I fumble over words. however, I've also realized there's nothing wrong with emailing the interviewers later with a more detailed answer I thought of after the interview.
I appreciate his detailed approach to controlling my interview chances of success as much as I can.
I also have done a practice interview before, but I gave my friend the questions to ask me, when I should have, like the author suggests, made it more like a real interview simulation.
not a critique of this book necessarily, but general self-help is often too general. I work in academia where a lot of these practices wouldn't help me, but in other fields they might be the most beneficial. also the end of chapter summaries are superfluous, but I did appreciate the larger interview checklist at the beginning that gave me the structure for the entire book and what my preparation process could look like.
I appreciate his detailed approach to controlling my interview chances of success as much as I can.
I also have done a practice interview before, but I gave my friend the questions to ask me, when I should have, like the author suggests, made it more like a real interview simulation.
not a critique of this book necessarily, but general self-help is often too general. I work in academia where a lot of these practices wouldn't help me, but in other fields they might be the most beneficial. also the end of chapter summaries are superfluous, but I did appreciate the larger interview checklist at the beginning that gave me the structure for the entire book and what my preparation process could look like.
May 28, 2024
I Hate Job Interviews: Stop Stressing. Start Performing. Get the Job You Want by Sam Owens Book Review
In I Hate Job Interviews, Sam Owens tried to help readers to land their interviews well and to help you get the job you are wanting. He realized that many people had interviewing and they stressed when they are faced to play the dreaded winner takes all game. There are no do overs. He explained how he entered business school and he had high hopes in landing him a good job. He had a good resume and worked for a well known consulting firm. He shared how he interviewed and tried to intern at top business places and had quite a few rejections. He did eventually get on with a top food company. They did one interview with him and typically there conduct multiple rounds but they were in a bind to get an intern quickly. He studied how to improve his own interviewing style and created comprehensive lists of possible questions. He learned the master of tailoring each answer no matter what style he faced. In 2015, he shared his techniques online via LinkedIn. This has led him to now writing a book about it.
The first big key lesson he teaches readers is that we have to first believe in yourself. You need to believe that you are an excellent candidate. He helped readers to build their confidence. Interviewing is a learned skill and anyone can learn how to do it. He encouraged everyone to give themselves ten hours to prepare. He also shared how the shy person is able to formulate answers to the questions. They need to learn to show more enthusiasm. He also taught readers the SPAR model and this will help you to provide better stories and the SEE model to answer truthfully the questions about you.
This book was very helpful to me in reading about how to interview and the principles he included was life changing. I liked how the teach readers the SPAR model and he walked readers how to offer a compelling result and the actions we took to bring about a result. He referred to it like a Disney movie and we have to walk our interviewees through a compelling story. He enclosed a few examples on how to do just that and how that will assist us in displaying our skills. I appreciate how he looked at behavior style questions, knowing yourself questions, answering the strength and weakness, and much more. I plan to use these next time I interview.
In I Hate Job Interviews, Sam Owens tried to help readers to land their interviews well and to help you get the job you are wanting. He realized that many people had interviewing and they stressed when they are faced to play the dreaded winner takes all game. There are no do overs. He explained how he entered business school and he had high hopes in landing him a good job. He had a good resume and worked for a well known consulting firm. He shared how he interviewed and tried to intern at top business places and had quite a few rejections. He did eventually get on with a top food company. They did one interview with him and typically there conduct multiple rounds but they were in a bind to get an intern quickly. He studied how to improve his own interviewing style and created comprehensive lists of possible questions. He learned the master of tailoring each answer no matter what style he faced. In 2015, he shared his techniques online via LinkedIn. This has led him to now writing a book about it.
The first big key lesson he teaches readers is that we have to first believe in yourself. You need to believe that you are an excellent candidate. He helped readers to build their confidence. Interviewing is a learned skill and anyone can learn how to do it. He encouraged everyone to give themselves ten hours to prepare. He also shared how the shy person is able to formulate answers to the questions. They need to learn to show more enthusiasm. He also taught readers the SPAR model and this will help you to provide better stories and the SEE model to answer truthfully the questions about you.
This book was very helpful to me in reading about how to interview and the principles he included was life changing. I liked how the teach readers the SPAR model and he walked readers how to offer a compelling result and the actions we took to bring about a result. He referred to it like a Disney movie and we have to walk our interviewees through a compelling story. He enclosed a few examples on how to do just that and how that will assist us in displaying our skills. I appreciate how he looked at behavior style questions, knowing yourself questions, answering the strength and weakness, and much more. I plan to use these next time I interview.
August 8, 2026
Sam Owens’ "I Hate Job Interviews: Stop Stressing. Start Performing. Get the Job You Want" is a practical guide that explains how to become more confident and successful in job interviews through preparation and practice. Owens argues that interviewing is a skill that anyone can improve rather than something people are simply born knowing how to do. He encourages readers to research the company and position, prepare answers to common and unexpected questions, and use specific examples from their experience to demonstrate their skills. He also explains how to make a strong first impression, stay positive when discussing past employers, ask thoughtful questions, handle salary negotiations, and follow up after the interview. The main lesson I took from the book is that good interviews are not about having perfect answers but about being prepared, telling your story clearly, and showing the employer how your experience can benefit the company.
Like most folks, interviews will almost cause me to break out in hives. I always seem to leave the room with a mountain of regrets and those annoying “I wish I had said that” moments. It is human nature to second-guess ourselves, especially when we know an interview could determine whether we get the job. What I liked about this book is that Owens does a good job of calming some of those fears by reminding readers that we do not have to be perfect. Preparation can make a huge difference in how we present ourselves and how confident we feel. His advice made me think about interviews less as an interrogation and more as an opportunity to have a conversation and explain what I can bring to the table.
Overall, I found Owens’s advice useful and easy to relate to. The book does not promise that every interview will go perfectly or that preparation will guarantee a job offer, but it does provide practical ways to feel more prepared and in control. I especially liked the idea that confidence comes from knowing your own experience and being able to communicate it clearly. For me, the biggest takeaway is that those “I wish I had said that” moments do not have to happen as often if I take the time to prepare beforehand. Interviews may never become something I look forward to, but after reading this book, they seem a little less intimidating and a lot more manageable.
Like most folks, interviews will almost cause me to break out in hives. I always seem to leave the room with a mountain of regrets and those annoying “I wish I had said that” moments. It is human nature to second-guess ourselves, especially when we know an interview could determine whether we get the job. What I liked about this book is that Owens does a good job of calming some of those fears by reminding readers that we do not have to be perfect. Preparation can make a huge difference in how we present ourselves and how confident we feel. His advice made me think about interviews less as an interrogation and more as an opportunity to have a conversation and explain what I can bring to the table.
Overall, I found Owens’s advice useful and easy to relate to. The book does not promise that every interview will go perfectly or that preparation will guarantee a job offer, but it does provide practical ways to feel more prepared and in control. I especially liked the idea that confidence comes from knowing your own experience and being able to communicate it clearly. For me, the biggest takeaway is that those “I wish I had said that” moments do not have to happen as often if I take the time to prepare beforehand. Interviews may never become something I look forward to, but after reading this book, they seem a little less intimidating and a lot more manageable.
July 19, 2024
Energizing read! Very informative and encouraging with a touch of humour.
The book is structured around different types of interview questions. Each chapter provides multiple examples and recommendations on how (and how not) to tackle specific kinds of questions (e.g., behavioural, "you" questions). Sam also teaches how to research a company you are going to interview with, negotiate your best offer, and close an interview. It is a very uplifting book. Sam genuinely wants to help you land your next job. Each chapter starts with a story and ends with a summary, making it easy to relate to examples and remember the message and suggestions. It helped me see what I did wrong in my previous interviews and made me optimistic about future ones.
I highly recommend the book!
The book is structured around different types of interview questions. Each chapter provides multiple examples and recommendations on how (and how not) to tackle specific kinds of questions (e.g., behavioural, "you" questions). Sam also teaches how to research a company you are going to interview with, negotiate your best offer, and close an interview. It is a very uplifting book. Sam genuinely wants to help you land your next job. Each chapter starts with a story and ends with a summary, making it easy to relate to examples and remember the message and suggestions. It helped me see what I did wrong in my previous interviews and made me optimistic about future ones.
I highly recommend the book!
January 13, 2024
I was drawn to this book because of the title, because, honestly, I hate job interviews. The author is asking you to commit to 10 hours of preparation to research, formulate, and practice for your interviews. In the grand scheme of things, 10 hours is a small commitment if it means you'll enter the interview room being prepared and feeling confident. After a hiatus from my analyst position with the federal government to raise my son, I'm ready to re-launch my career and this book contains everything I need to navigate the interview process.
Many thanks to Sam Owens, Harper Collins Leadership, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.
Many thanks to Sam Owens, Harper Collins Leadership, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.
January 9, 2026
Incredible Read. Concise. Great Models
I highly recommend this book. It offers great models that are easy to remember, and if you sincerely commit to the exercises in the book and put in the time, you will see an immediate change in responses to your job interviews. I purchased the e-book and the audiobook, but I liked listening to the audiobook better because the chapters were short to the point. And didn’t take up much time. This book will be my go to for recommendations. I’m getting through those tough questions in job interviews. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
I highly recommend this book. It offers great models that are easy to remember, and if you sincerely commit to the exercises in the book and put in the time, you will see an immediate change in responses to your job interviews. I purchased the e-book and the audiobook, but I liked listening to the audiobook better because the chapters were short to the point. And didn’t take up much time. This book will be my go to for recommendations. I’m getting through those tough questions in job interviews. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
May 30, 2024
This is a great book geared towards helping you get through a universally hated ordeal: a job interview. While this is definitely geared more towards people who work in an office type setting there is some useful information on how to approach any job interview and how to practice for the many questions thrown your way during one.
Thanks to the author and publisher for the e-arc I received in exchange for my honest review.
Don't
Thanks to the author and publisher for the e-arc I received in exchange for my honest review.
Don't
July 11, 2026
I think this book is useful for everyone, as we are all interviewing much of the time. I think this would be a great gift for someone approaching graduation. There is so much wisdom, much of which I have never heard before. I enjoyed the lessons and feel challenged and more prepared to be better.
June 27, 2025
This book was an amazing read, it totally demystified the interview process for me. Lots of good frameworks taught, plus the author is humorous and makes reading the book enjoyable. Anyone in 2025 looking to ace their interviews should not hesitate picking up a copy.
February 27, 2026
Audiobook: I was worried about this one if I'm honest, I'm not big into self-help books and sometimes find them hard to get through. This one was the opposite! Sam had some really great advice, and through it all he gives you the confidence you need to nail an interview! definitely recommend.
March 23, 2026
I would highly recommend anyone seeking a job in any field to read this book. It distills the precise advice I've received as a student. It's a sharp book worth continuous rereading. I have confidence in whoever absorbs this book will succeed in their next job interview.
Key ideas:
Stories that clearly indicate an ability to do the job well
Great ideas to fulfill future role
Insightful Qs related to the job
Key ideas:
Stories that clearly indicate an ability to do the job well
Great ideas to fulfill future role
Insightful Qs related to the job
December 18, 2023
Wow! This was such a helpful book. I am currently looking for jobs and this really helped me get ready for interviews.
June 20, 2024
Good advice, but mostly made me realize how little I truly care about my career at the end of the day. Just give me something that isn't complete crap, and I will strive to be happy.
August 26, 2024
I got this recommendation by chance and I am not disappointed…it is simple but very well articulated with good advice. I recommend it.
September 25, 2024
Great book that gives you a structure to prepare your interview and focuses on practicing
December 4, 2024
I skimmed through the book for research and educational purposes only. I put a copy for order at work library to see how we can use it. It was pretty okay read.
December 29, 2024
Great resource.
Read
March 2, 2025Many helpful tips here!
May 21, 2025
Everyone should read this book! It gives very clear and easy to remember tools for each type of questions you will get in an interview. This has completely changed how I prepare for an interview!
May 22, 2025
Excellent livre afin de se préparer pour une entrevue dans le cadre d'une recherche d'emploi. Les marges de ce livre sont pleines de notes et c'est devenu mon livre référence en la matière.
January 3, 2026
It had good organization and some insightful parts. Wish it had expanded more about the illegal questions- things change so much in this realm.
February 16, 2026
Very practical, straightforward guidance for interview preparation.
Want to Read
March 13, 2026O
May 18, 2026
Great tips! This is a valuable resource for those looking to improve their career advancement!
May 28, 2026
Pretty good actually
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews