I Hate Job Interviews: Stop Stressing. Start Performing. Get the Job You Want.

by Sam Owens

I Hate Job Interviews helps young professionals land their dream jobs by mastering job interviewing. It uses simple frameworks and demonstrations to teach the reader how to answer any type of job interview question.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Personal Development, Audiobook

224 pages, Paperback

Published June 4, 2024

Reviews

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[oohlalabooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Anastasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Zuleika · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Jennifer T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Chris Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This was such a helpful book. I am currently looking for jobs and this really helped me get ready for interviews.

[Tani · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Byron Flores · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this recommendation by chance and I am not disappointed…it is simple but very well articulated with good advice. I recommend it.

[Severine T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book that gives you a structure to prepare your interview and focuses on practicing

[Adrienna · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Katherine Gage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great resource.

[Bert Dreifuss]

Many helpful tips here!

[Callie Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Manouane Beauchamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Ryan George Gierman · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent read

The information in this book will not only help you understand how to navigate job interviews , it will also help you understand how to better navigate your career