Interview Speak

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What your interviewer really wants to know
  • June 2025
  • ISBN 9781633436220
  • 240 pages
  • printed in black & white

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Look inside
Discover how to decipher the most important job interview questions so you can tell your interviewer what they really want to know.

Interview Speak shows you how to ace job interviews by answering the questions behind the questions. Written for job seekers in any field, Interview Speak shows you how to draw on your own unique skillset and deliver answers that will make you stand out.

In Interview Speak you’ll learn how to:

  • Break down questions from the interviewer’s point of view
  • Anticipate potential questions from a job description
  • Develop authentic answers that make you stand out
  • Navigate different interview stages
  • Recognize and respond to different types of interview questions

Ever felt like you needed a translation guide for a job interview? Interview Speak is that book! From “what are your weaknesses” to “what salary are you looking for”, “why did you leave your last job” to “what questions do you have”, you’ll learn what employers are looking for when they ask these questions and how to give the best answer for you.

about the technology

Have you ever left an interview thinking “nailed it!” and all you heard back was a short rejection? What happened? Didn’t you say all the right things? Here’s the hard truth: probably not! Job recruiters, screeners, and interviewers speak their own language. If you want to know what they’re really asking, you need to learn interview speak!

about the book

Interview Speak translates the most common, important, and difficult interview questions into plain English and reveals how to answer them effectively and authentically. Experienced interview coaches and employment consultants Barbara Limmer and Laura Browne decode dozens of interview transcripts—including a few clueless responses that may seem all-too familiar. You’ll learn to appear confident and qualified as you turn your good answers into great ones.

Frequently Asked Questions

Unlike traditional books that list hundreds of questions and generic answers, 'Interview Speak' focuses on revealing the hidden meaning behind what interviewers say, breaking down real questions into their core intent, providing examples of both good and bad answers with expert critiques, and avoiding scripts so your responses remain authentic and personalized. It’s like having a career coach explain what the interviewer is really asking and how to respond accordingly.

The book addresses various types of interview questions including breadth versus depth questions, behavioral or competency-based questions, hypothetical questions, and general questions.

Yes! Interview Speak includes answer examples to interview questions and provides feedback on how to improve them. It also illustrates common mistakes. This book empowers you to create compelling, tailored answers instead of memorizing a script.

Yes! This book discusses various interview stages including the first screening, HR interviews, interviews with hiring managers, and panel interviews. It provides insights into what to expect at each stage and how to prepare.

Special situations include being unemployed, having frequent job changes, applying for a lower-level position, and transitioning to a new industry. This book provides strategies for addressing these situations in interviews.

This book offers strategies for dealing with various types of interviewers, including disinterested, talkative, and inexperienced interviewers. It provides tips on how to handle these situations effectively.

Yes! The techniques in Interview Speak apply across all formats, whether you're interviewing in-person, over Zoom, or by phone. This book teaches you how to stay concise, confident, and aligned with the interviewer's goals no matter the setting.

Absolutely! While this book is designed for job seekers, it offers insights that hiring professionals can use to improve their own interview question clarity, understand how candidates perceive questions, and refine evaluation processes.

what's inside

  • An insider’s perspective on the job interview
  • Dozens of sample answers to common questions
  • No canned replies—develop your own authentic responses

about the reader

For job seekers in any field.

about the authors

Barbara Limmer has personally coached thousands of professionals and executives from around the world. Laura Browne has extensive experience in leadership and management development, including time as Senior Director of Human Resources for a global tech company.

Real-world examples and advice from the book clearly bring to mind the old adage—Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.

Brian Boylan, BPB Talent Strategies

I have interviewed hundreds of people over the years, and I still learned something new in every chapter!

Jill Clark, Former VP HR, Transact Campus; Founder of IdeasYou LLC

An essential confidence builder for anyone facing their next career conversation.

Jothy Rosenberg, Author of Tech Startup Toolkit

If you want to move from ‘good impression’ to actual job offer, this book is for you.

Joanna Luth, Higher Logic
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choose your plan

team

monthly
annual
$49.99
$399.99
only $33.33 per month
  • five seats for your team
  • access to all Manning books, MEAPs, liveVideos, liveProjects, and audiobooks!
  • choose another free product every time you renew
  • choose twelve free products per year
  • exclusive 50% discount on all purchases
  • Interview Speak ebook for free