Category: Suggestions from clients

2022 2ND TIME PHASE II Clients

2022
A second-timer for the Phase II interview

Hey Carole,

I had the FBI Phase II interview last Thursday and I heard yesterday that I passed!

I think the skills learned by working with you definitely improved my odds.

I felt far more confident going into this panel interview than I did the first time around. I had to morph one story and had to come up with one other story on the fly. They mentioned I cannot give specifics around what I was asked, but I will say your tip to prepare a story about working in a diverse setting did help dig me out of a hole. 

I was somewhat worried when I walked out of the interview as I had a couple stories prepared that Ithought were important stories about me that I did not have a great opportunity to share, but I guess they heard enough to push me through. 

——————

I just got my results.
I passed!
100% I know it’s because of our sessions together. I can’t thank you enough.

I know it was a little touch and go with me for a while, but your tough love and insights really helped me succeed this time around.

I am so happy that I purchased the coaching. Again, thank you so much for all your help. 

DON’T WANT TO WORK WITH ME DIRECTLY?

POSSIBLE OPTIONS
A book recommendation – quiz book  – to teach you how to write a good “behavioral story.” 

You can purchase on Amazon.

Boost Your Interview IQ – Second Edition (white cover – published – 2012) – for a quick brush up on Behavioral Interviewing as well as other questions. It’s a quiz and you determine which is the strongest answer.

I wanted to share my news!

I PASSED! I just want to thank you again for your help in getting me where I needed to be. I know without your help it would not have been possible.
Any FBI second timers who are serious about the job should inquire about your services.
Going into the interview I had my stories pretty ingrained in my head, and I was still going over them as I was waiting outside the office for the agents to call me in. I think I ended up morphing a majority of my stories to fit the questions asked.
I’d have to say knowing my stories back and front and being able to morph them was the most helpful skill(s) you taught me.
Thank you so much again for everything Carole.

Another satisfied customer.

WORDS OF ADVICE FROM THOSE WHO PASSED THE 2ND TIME AROUND – AFTER USING MY PROGRAM.

I just received my Phase II testing results and I passed!!!!!

Your guidance and tough love along the way helped me tremendously. I want to thank you for everything!

The day before my interview (when I arrived in Atlanta) I felt confident and I was even a bit excited. I couldn’t wait to tell them all about me. During the interview, I was still a bit nervous but I was able to answer every question confidently. By the end of the interview I was certain they knew much more about me than the last time. I even finished my interview a bit early. I was prepared!!

Thanks again!!

03/11/20

I just wanted to drop a note to let you know I passed! I can’t thank you enough for the help and guidance you provided, as this was my 2nd attempt at the FBI phase II…so my last chance!.

 I also want to thank you for accommodating me as I was crunched for time when I reached out to you, but we were definitely able to do what we needed to do!

I also want to thank you for combining 2 into 1, as I had both the DEA & FBI interview within the same week. The only thing I regret is not reaching out to you before my first interview over a year ago.

Your critiques & direction is what got me through this one. I was able to polish up my stories to “tell the story”. It was night and day difference in comparing my first attempt with this one.

 I felt like they “got to know me” during this round….and confidence, confidence, CONFIDENCE! I was even able to introduce some southern humor to lighten the mood & to poke fun at myself a bit, which seemed to lighten their demeanor as well. 

I felt like the lack of confidence and not getting to know the person was my hindering factor for my first round/failure, but with your style of teaching and the materials we discussed….prepped me to portray the real me.

I passed the DEA interview before my FBI one, so that gave me a boost in confidence in and of itself…but going into both with the knowledge gained from your coaching was definitely the deciding factor with both of these.

Now…if you only had a coaching strategy to pass that pesky PFT….I’d be a satisfied customer.😊

03/05/20

As promised, pass or fail I would update you accordingly.

I passed!!!! Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you!!!

I could not have done it without you.  You did for me what I have failed in consistently within my own efforts alone.  

My interview this time around compared to the last was night and day.  I know it seemed like I wasn’t listening to you, but I soaked up every bit of advice you threw at me and followed it to the “T.”  

It wasn’t a perfect interview.  There were a couple of questions that I wasn’t able to discern which factors they were going for as it wasn’t so clear cut; but like you said, “just tell a story.  Anything is better than a zero.” I did exactly that.  

The rest I delivered were great.  Some questions I answered powerfully because I was prepared.  

I was nervous but like you said, I came in there with all the confidence in the world.

 I was “Mr. Personality”  from the beginning and I made them laugh a lot.  

My 5-points felt like my moment and I delivered! 

All in all, I did what you said; it wasn’t perfect but I walked out of there not knowing if I passed or not, but without a doubt I left knowing that they truly got to know ME –  the person.  

This was a huge win for my life Carole.  Thank you!!!!

2/03/20

I hope all is well. I wanted to let you know that I received a passing score! I can’t thank you enough for your work, support and encouragement. From your personal coaching to the exercises, it made a difference. It helped me gain more confidence in myself and allowed me to sit back and pause after each question to give me time to paint the best story. I can also say that this interview was better than my first, especially with regards to laying out the SAR (20/60/20).

Again, thank you for your time and support! It was truly a pleasure working with you.

I recommend you to anyone else who finds themselves struggling with interviews. 

01/29/20

Got the news last night. I PASSED!!! Thank you again for all your help. I know you continue to search for the reasons some pass and others do not. Of course, I do not have that answer, but I can share with you what I think helped me pass the second time. 

1) I left my “suit” at the door. I am an attorney, no doubt about it. But I spoke to the interviewers like I would to some friendly colleagues after work, not like I was talking to a panel of judges. 

2) In preparing I always had emotional intelligence in the back of my mind. I was thinking about opportunities in my stories to discuss my feelings and the feelings of others and how this impacted my decision making. I do not think they are looking for robots.

3) I spent a lot of time, as you know, working on my “why.” And I also went back and listened to the recordings of our sessions. I also sent you a lot of stories and applied your criticisms. This really nailed the story telling formula and proportions into my mind.

Other than that, I think the rest is just putting in the time to find and practice stories that match the eight factors. Having a couple stories for each factor, even if you have to morph them is a safe bet.

I think just sounding prepared gets you further than most people think. 

Thank you again. Regardless of whether I make it through the rest of the process, it was a victory for me to beat this the second time, and I can’t thank you enough for all your help.

I just got my results, and I passed the FBI Phase II!

3/16/21

I just got my results, and I passed!

I think I was subconsciously expecting at least some feedback and engagement during the interview, but I guess my answers fit the questions they asked. I kept in mind what you said about not trying to be a perfectionist, and I memorized my stories to the point that I knew every major point I needed to hit but not to the point that it became a script.

I want to say thanks for the honest feedback and for the encouragement!

——–

03/10/21

Just received news that I PASSED! I just accepted my job offer. I am so thankful for the delightful experience on such a short notice of time. Thank you again! 

——–

03/10/21

Put another notch in the win column! Thank you for all your help.

I would NOT have been even close to prepared without working with you. Instead I went in confident and calm knowing I had stories ready to answer any question.

Writing out every story (I had close to 20 ready) and reading them aloud daily prepared me immensely. Thank you again!!

——-

03/09/21

I passed! Carole, thank so you much. I really committed to your format, and I honestly believe that was the difference as a second timer.

I had a couple places where I stumbled a bit and had do some morphing and rearranging of stories, but in the end, I think it’s the consistency of the way I told my stories that did it.

Also, they were intently taking notes when discussing personal aspects of my life–particularly when I discussed how the tragedy of my uncle’s murder made me determined to work for the FBI.

Thank you again, best wishes.

Cheers!

——

2/14/21

I just received results from the FBI this evening.  I passed phase 2 of the special agent selection system! 

 Thank you so much for helping me prepare for the interview.  I felt so much more confident going into the interview. 

 I took your advice and tried to stay relaxed and show more of my personality – it definitely paid off!

Thanks!

——

01/25/21

I wanted to let you know that I passed the phase 2 interview!

After working with you, I felt extremely confident walking into it and felt prepared to answer all their questions. Thanks again for your help!

TALK ABOUT SHORT NOTICE

03/9/21

Coaching was on Saturday and Sunday – with an interview on Monday.

Hi Carole!

Just received news that I PASSED! I am so thankful for the delightful experience on such a short notice of time. Thank you again! 

WHAT WAS IT ABOUT THIS PROGRAM THAT HELPED YOU THE MOST?  (From clients who passed)

          Thank you so much for your tips. The important point you gave me about being confident in my answers and being myself helped more than anything.

            I have to say I think the biggest component to my success was the way you helped me        build confidence and feel secure in my answers. Practicing with you was      immensely helpful.

            I think my key was preparation. It helped to have another’s perspective on my material.         Thanks again. 

            For me, it was the feedback – both on my stories and on my presentation style.

            Listening to myself on the recording was very difficult, but enlightening.   

FBI — INTELLIGENCE ANALYST —PHASE III

Now more than ever, the global intelligence workforce must seamlessly combine their talents to protect the nation. The FBI continues to evolve into a threat-based, intelligence-driven organization that has expertise in identifying risks to our national security and an unrivaled ability to mitigate them.

At the FBI, we work diligently to play our part in the global intelligence community.

We execute our intelligence strategy via defined Intelligence Analyst (IA) career paths, rigorous selection processes and comprehensive training programs. FBI IAs are on the frontline of protecting America’s national security.

1/22/21

I have to say I think the biggest component to my success was the way you helped me build confidence and feel secure in my answers. Practicing with you was immensely helpful.

I think as a younger applicant with less experience, the ability to remain collected and on task gave me a great advantage. I think this training will help me for any kind of interview I have in the future. 

(So thanks again)

Hi Carole,

I wanted to let you know that I got my Phase III interview results yesterday via email — I passed! Thank you so much for your assistance. 

USDA

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management.

1-19-21

Earlier in the spring I applied for an auditor job with the USDA, I had a phone interview with them and all the coaching advice and training that you provided proved to be incredibly valuable.  I ended up getting a job offer from them and started working a couple months ago. 

So, I just wanted to let you know that your coaching is great for the FBI interview, but also has a lot of value for other kinds of federal interviews.

PEOPLE – “JUST PEOPLE”

SPECIALLY TRAINED PEOPLE – BUT,

“JUST PEOPLE” – WILL BE INTERVIEWING YOU!

Second-time around!!

In my first time interviewing with “Agents,” I put them on a massive pedestal and assumed they were so much better than me.

This was a mistake!

I realized that these agents had different experiences than me. Not that anyone is better than anyone else because of experience, but that realization made me more confident in myself.

I know that played a part in my first interview. I lacked the ability to be authentic and myself, for fear I wasn’t going to be good enough for them…as you know, that was self-sabotaging. 

ABOUT FACIAL HAIR

I was maybe 1 of only 2 applicants with a beard. And also, I was 1 of only 2 applicants with a grey suit. Everyone else was clean shaven and wearing dark blue…I only say this because I was so worried about my facial hair being an issue or just “looking too different.”

 It didn’t matter at all. I was groomed well enough, so the rest was presentation!

LAST MINUTE COACHING

We only had Saturday and Sunday to prepare her for the interview. Her interview was on MONDAY!

Monday –

Welp, it over! Answered every question. Got more than a few laughs and I definitely feel they got a good picture of who I am. 

I used a majority of my stories but I also used experiences that naturally came to mind.

I have a good feeling about this, Carole! I’ll keep you update.

Today –

I passed, Carole!!! Just got word. 

MORE PASSING THIS WEEK

Carole

I wanted to let you know that I passed the phase 2 interview! After working with you, I felt extremely confident walking into it and felt prepared to answer all their questions.

Thanks again for your help!

My Thoughts on why I failed the Phase II —

I realized that these agents had different experiences than me. Not that anyone is better than anyone else because of experience, but that realization made me more confident in myself.

When I did Phase 2 for the Bureau, I put the agents on a massive pedestal and assumed they were so much better than me.

This was a mistake. I know that played a part in my ability to be authentic and myself, for fear I wasn’t going to be good enough for them…as you know, that was self-sabotaging. 

BOUGHT SELF-PREPARATION – UPGRADED TO PREMIER

$400 difference for upgrade to Premier

I just wanted to let you know that I received my results today for phase II and I passed! I really appreciate all the help you gave and I’m so glad I reached out to you. Thank you so much. 

SELF-PREPARATION PACKAGE — $199

Carole,

I wanted to let you know that even though I purchased your materials only package, and we didn’t get a chance to talk over the phone, your insight and material was invaluable for me. I passed!  This was my first time taking the phase II interview.

Money well spent!

CLIENT INFORMATION FROM THE FBI

Just to give you a little information in case you want to share with your other clients, the FBI is not doing panel interviews at the regional offices like they usually do, but is instead doing them at local field offices. While this helps to reduce long distance travel, it is causing a lot of slow downs and stress on recruitment as field offices have not been trained/prepared to host panel interviews. So if your other clients don’t have dates yet either, it may just be because their local office is adjusting to this major change in process.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS FOR THE PHASE II INTERVIEW (feedback from clients)

Smaller offices use MASKS.

Larger facilities use PLEXIGASS

Whatever they use, just stay focused on letting them get to know YOU – THE PERSON!

DEEP SOUTH OR MILITARY — WHATEVER –

DROP THE “SIR” AND “MA’AM”

Easier said than done, but the words are too formal for this interview.

The “end-game” of this interview is for them to get to know YOU – the real YOU.

They are asking themselves –

            “Would I want to sit in a car with this person for 8 hours?”

            “Who is who is this person?”

            “Do we want him or her on our team?”

Talk to these interviewers like they were “people” – coworkers.

This is the demeanor that works the best!

BE YOURSELF!

10-15-20

I wanted to let you know I passed phase II!

I definitely would not have been prepared without you!

I’m glad I purchased the premium package as your unlimited advice on my stories was crucial to helping me polish them.

If I could give any advice to future applicants it would be to follow all of your advice, especially about being yourself and trying to bring humor to the interview if possible.

 One more thing I think should really be reiterated as the agent who conducted the group pre-interview meeting/briefing as well as all three agents who interviewed me expressed…they are on your side!!! They desperately want you to succeed and pass the interview.

They are NOT comparing you to the other applicants. They just have to be able to “check all the boxes” while interviewing you to see if you have the qualities and characteristics they are looking for.

Every applicant who passes the interview is a win for the FBI. They need agents.

Knowing this should help calm your nerves. I was EXTREMELY nervous at first and my voice was even shaky during my very first response, but as soon as I got through that first one I just relaxed and told myself they wanted me to succeed. 

My ability to recall the details of my stories which were critical to answering the questions was not about memorization so much as extreme familiarity.

 I recorded each of my stories on my phone and listened to them over and over (until I was bored to tears!!)  just to make sure I wouldn’t draw a blank or leave out crucial details during the interview.

Carole, thanks again for your dedication to your profession in helping applicants succeed in the phase II interview!!!!!

I am extremely grateful to have found you!

10-12-20

Just wanted to pass along the information I learned today. I PASSED!!!

Thank you for all of your help. Such a great feeling knowing the agents consider me to be someone they want to work with and that I was able to give them that confidence.

Thank you for all of your interview coaching and for the additional words of advice that I’m sure extended beyond your services.

I greatly appreciate you and hope we can stay in touch.

10-08-20

CAROLE!! I PASSED!!! 

I can’t believe it. I just received an email congratulating me. Thank you for your help. I couldn’t have done it without your direction and your patience. I am lucky to have found you online.

FYI— No plexiglass. We all wore masks. Small office. Intimate environment. Nice agents. 

10-01-20

I PASSED!

Just received official word tonight that I passed my Phase 2 FBI interview!!! I’m so excited I wanted to let you know immediately. 

As for the interview itself, my biggest advice is…and this should come as no surprise…be yourself. Wait, let me say it louder for the people in the back. BE YOURSELF! 

My interview was far from perfect. In fact, I had to skip a question at first and use the same story twice…BUT I feel that because I gave a wide variety of stories (professional, college, and personal) they really got to know me as a person. 

I was fairly confident before using your program, but I believe you really helped fine tune my skills and ensure I was fully prepared. Thank you so much. 

10-01-20

CAROLE!!!!!!!! I PASSED!!!!!! I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING RIGHT NOW!!!! THIS IS SUREAL!!! 

Thank you for all of your help, I couldn’t have done this without you. Your preparation was GOLDEN. 

I will say I was thrown off the cuff a few times but I stuck to the stories we went over and just kept talking. I knew my stories like my life depended on it, in fact I still catch myself telling the story to the trees outside.

When you said “BE YOURSELF” I took that literally in fact I was so much myself I really thought I screwed it up, but you were right. I didn’t try to impress them, I just showed them who I was. 

I cant  believe it!!! Thank you so much!!!!! 

A RED LETTER DAY – I PASSED – I PASSED – I PASSED — FBI Interview

RECEIVED 6-25-20

Carole,
Add me to your list of successes because I totally passed.
THANK YOU CAROLE!

I doubt I could have done with without your help.

—————

Carole,
I just wanted to let you know that I received an email from the FBI this morning saying I passed phase II.
Thank you for all the help and candid feedback you’ve given me, I don’t think I would have passed
without it. Hopefully the rest of the hiring process is smooth sailing.
Thanks again

————-

Carole,
I received the “good news” today. I passed Phase II!
Obviously I cannot disclose much of anything due to the NDA, but
here is what I will say:

I remember going in there, all smiles, and cool; calm; collected, as
you advised. The agents were very nice and welcoming. I thought
alright, this won’t be so bad.

The first two questions went great, then the next 11 came. Almost
every single felt like a curveball. I kept thinking, I had the perfect
story for that but I already used it.” I had that thought for almost
Every. Single. Question.

So what did I do? I took a minute to think,

I morphed,
I drank some water, I laughed to myself,

I thought on my feet. I answered the question. Even if it was with a
story I had not prepared…which happened a lot.

I took a solid 30 seconds after each question was asked to identify
the factor, then pick my story.

Or at least I tried to. Sometimes I was like, well I have no idea
what the factor is, but I have an answer!

I walked out of there thinking well, I made them smile and laugh,
got a lot of nodding, and most of all: I answered the questions.

Here’s what is even funnier: I used just over half of the stories I
had prepared. The rest I pulled from the depths of my long-term
memory storage, on the spot. This, I will say, is necessary to pass.

You HAVE to be able to think on your feet.

I am also proud to say — I did not skip any questions, and even
when I did not have the “perfect” story for a few of the questions, I told myself, “Just give them a dang story.” And I did. And it worked!

At the end of it, I could tell they liked me. I was 100% myself, I
did not try to tell the stories perfectly, I tried to tell them like I
would tell them to my coworkers. I fumbled, I was awkward, but I
was me.

And that was good enough for them.

Thank you Carole for all of your encouragement, for telling me to
not be a perfectionist in the interview, to not overthink.

That was the best advice, and I truly needed to hear that
constructive criticism.

I truly felt prepared, relaxed, and ready to let these Agents get to
know “me.”

All the best,

—————

NOTICE RECENTLY RECEIVED FROM A POSTPONED
“MARCH” INTERVIEW CANDIDATE

You will be invited the next time we are interviewing in your region.
Please continue to be on the lookout for an invitation in the upcoming months.

Thanks for your patience.

————–

FEEDBACK FROM A CLIENT

And yes, I listened to the recordings as you suggested. It really
helped me “massage” my stories. Your 5 points were the key
where i used the finger method you taught. The other thing is try
not to “memorize’ the stories. It definitely flows better when you’re
telling it from your feelings.

The other key thing is to relax. The agents saw how nervous I was
and repeated emphasized that they understand the feeling I’m going
through, they were once in my seat too.

“it was your coaching that made the difference…”

Carole,
I passed my second try at Phase 2, and I know it was your coaching that made the difference. I walked in my first time over a year ago with confidence that my prior job experience was more than enough and failed. I walked in this time, humble but ready to share more of myself and be genuine, and as you already knew, that made all the difference.

I gave them as much as I could in my first question to include my five points in case I didn’t have an opportunity later; as it turns out that was a very good move. I definitely had to morph almost all my answers. Only one question did I have to pull a story that I had not previously prepared.

Again thank you.

———————-
Since the federal government’s hiring process can take up to two years, and the fact that you can get disqualified at any time during the various phases, I’m applying with as many agencies as I can.

I’m excited to share that an opportunity presented itself to me in the private sector recently that I hadn’t even considered before, working at xxx’s world headquarters in their Security Operations division.

I applied and was invited to interview and was able to utilize all of the same interview techniques we worked on. 

After a month of waiting, I was offered the position on Friday! There are so many different jobs there, including internationally, that I can use my education and federal internship experience with that I’m excited to see where this takes me while I’m continuing with the federal agency hiring process.

Who knows, it could end up being a path I want to stick with for my career.

Thank you so much again for everything!

Interviewing for the FBI and Federal Agencies is NOT your everyday interview

Received from someone who DID NOT pass Phase II –

“I DIDN’T PASS PHASE II AND I WAS THE MOST QUALIFIED PERSON IN THE ROOM.”  (Very upset)

This is a very different interview. If you want to pass, you must be prepared to let them know

YOU the person – not the qualifications of the person.

The interviewers are BLIND – they know nothing about you.

It is your job to let them know you — THE PERSON.

The interviewers are not only looking for “qualified people” – they are looking for “special people” to be SPECIAL AGENTS.

I get calls from 2nd timers all the time – they didn’t pass the first time around. I ask them –

“DID THEY GET TO KNOW YOU — THE PERSON?’

Not one person ever said YES!

———————-

THIS IS NOT YOUR EVERYDAY INTERVIEW – PREPARATION IS KEY!

This is from a Second-time around candidate who I coached.

Carole,
I passed my second try at Phase 2, and I know it was your coaching that made the difference. I walked in my first time over a year ago with confidence that my prior job experience was more than enough and failed. I walked in this time, humble but ready to share more of myself and be genuine, and as you already knew, that made all the difference.

I gave them as much as I could in my first question to include my five points in case I didn’t have an opportunity later; as it turns out that was a very good move. I definitely had to morph almost all my answers. Only one question did I have to pull a story that I had not previously prepared.

Again thank you.

———————-
MORE SUCCESS STORIES AND ADVICE FROM THOSE WHO PASSED

Hi Carole,

I hope all is well. I just wanted to let you know that I received the email today stating that I had passed Phase II. I want to thank you for all of your help as I would have had a difficult time getting through that panel interview without you.

It just goes to show it doesn’t matter what your background is ( me being just a sales guy).

Just some things to touch on for your next candidates that I took away from you.

Be yourself!!! do your best to let them know who you are was great advice, try and speak to them as if u were telling a story to your buddy…professionally obviously.

Use details which I actually think I lacked on when speaking.

Also its ok to be nervous just go slow and think about your responses.

I found myself rushing through and had to catch myself and slow down.

Morphing was a huge factor as well, I caught myself doing it at least twice and thinking in my head wow this is a morph haha. Overall just another step closer to my goal, still not there yet and still have some work to do but its a good step. Thanks again.

————-

I got the green light today that I passed PH II! Thanks for the help over the past 2 weeks. I finished the interview in about 45 minutes which was way faster than I expected. I had a response for every question and morphed a few answers to fit them. Many of my stories were interchangeable between the competencies so I just picked the best one I felt was right. I also told a story that occurred just the day prior (on the flight) which helped show them truly the kind of person I am with strangers and my ability to draw from life experiences, big or small. 

I do feel that I could have spent more time telling them about myself but I had rushed through this part because I wanted to make sure I had enough time to answer all the questions. My advice, is take your time and make sure they have a good idea of your personal life and family. It wasn’t the perfect interview but I was able to get my humor in and got some consistent laughs and smiles out of them. This goes a long way and sets the tone for the rest of the interview so break the ice early. If you’re not naturally funny then don’t force it…I am at sparing moments so it worked well for the interview. They did seem genuinely interested in the stories I told. I had a few follow up questions after some stories which seemed to be more for their personal interest.

Overall, it was a pretty relaxed interview and I was able to show the type of person I am and what I have to offer through my stories and experiences. Thanks again and I’m one step closer to my dreams.

WOMEN RULE THIS MONTH!

PHASE II – FBI Interview

KUDOS – KUDOS – KUDOS  — PASSED – PASSED – PASSED

APRIL/MAY

WOMEN RULE THIS MONTH

5/09/19

Out of the 4 people that I know that applied and made it to this phase I was the only one who passed to the next. Thank you so much for working with me. I used most of my stories, there was only one question that I couldn’t figure out what factor they were looking for so I morphed the story a bit and actually ended up combining two factors. It was such a great experience. At the beginning of our session, you told me that you weren’t sure how the feel of the interview would go and you suspect that the person can encourage a different atmosphere. I completely agree with this. The other two applicants from Oklahoma said they were nervous and that the interviewers were very cold – no smiles, no eye contact, nothing. 

I went in and the first thing I did was made a casual joke about the hotel room we were interviewing in. I received immediate smiles and they talked to me like I was a colleague. Relaxing at the beginning of the interview set the cadence for the rest of the interview. I even had some time to ask them questions at the end of the interview such as where they were from, if there were as nervous as I was and the most rewarding thing about their positions. 

I think my strongest part was my “why” section. They were extremely engaging with me between taking notes. I got some head nods and even a solid smile.

Again, thank you for your help. I don’t think I would have passed if I wasn’t as prepared as I was. 

*****

Listening to the audio of our sessions, incorporating your feedback into my stories, and rehearsing my stories were vital to my success.  Your framework of listening to the question, identifying the factor, and morphing a story worked flawlessly.  I learned how to open up and show “Kelly Ann” to the three agents a week ago.      

Once again, thank you so much for your guidance and support.  I highly recommend your coaching services and enjoyed your book, too.

***** 

PURCHASED – SELF-PREP

So very happy. Thank you for your guidance. Preparation of stories is the key. Luckily I had a whole bank of them to pull from. Can’t stress enough how important it was to be yourself and be personable with the agents as well.

(INCLUDED ONE STORY CRITIQUE AND A BRIEF CHAT WITH ME)

*****

5/13/19

I would like to inform you that I PASSED!!! 

I couldn’t have done it without you! Your help in prepping me, explaining to me the process, and telling me to be myself was crucial in being prepared and confident! But you didn’t just tell me! You were able to remind me who I am and what I should tell them!

I made them laugh multiple times and they smiled and wrote down when I corrected myself when I said girls instead of women. They seemed pleased. 

Anyway, thank you again! I would recommend you to other candidates in a heartbeat!

I PASSED!!! The interview went really well. I kinda fudged my five points but eventually got everything out that I needed to. And then the question responses just came so naturally. I morphed some and some I had the perfect stories for (I think writing about 30 of them helped!). I topped it off with a variation of the moose story and I think that was icing on the cake. I just kept thinking “chill the eff out and be yourself”. And when I left the room, I thought, “I nailed that”. Anyway, I could not have done it without you and your guidance!! Thank you thank you!!! Second time’s the charm for sure 🙂

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I just wanted to inform you that I passed my interview! I was very nervous but happy that I passed on my first try!

Thank you so much for all your help. It was very, very helpful! I learned so much from you and will use those tips for the future. 

I will most certainly recommend you to anyone applying to the FBI. Only I would recommend they don’t wait a few days before the interview date to get started =)

12/2018 FBI News Flash!

There is a change in the FBI interviewing process.

You will take the “written test” before you do the interview – through a testing site.

Some tips to help you through this part of the process.

As For The Written Test –

  FEEDBACK FROM OTHERS WHO PASSED –

I agree that the best and only advice for the writing section is to read the directions carefully.

____________________________________________

Learn from another’s mistake

“My written assessment was BAD. It wasn’t difficult, but I got so much into writing my stuff that I just forgot to give what was specifically asked for. I felt good about it when I was done, but then some of the other guys were talking about it and then I realized that I left out the most important thing. All I ended up doing was summarizing the case given to me. I felt very frustrated that I messed up something so simple. The written assessment was by far easier than the interview, but I got so caught on my line of thought I didn’t follow the proper instructions. I’m writing you this email and I am still angry thinking about that. It’s just embarrassing really.”

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 “The writing portion was very easy but time consuming. I stuck to the facts and I wrote like my life depended on it. I didn’t waste any time reading everything I skimmed and then went to work. Just stick the facts and proofread as you write the report. I was able to write everything I needed to within an hour and half.”

A funny thing happened on the way to the FBI interview.

If you have your interview scheduled in a hotel –BEWARE – the Agents are staying in the same hotel!

Funny story and a piece of advice to your future candidates when going into Phase 2.  

On the day of my Phase 2, I got dressed and went down to the lobby to get some breakfast before the big day.  

On my way down, I ran into a woman in the elevator that was in a T-shirt, sweatpants, and looked like she just woke up 2 minutes ago.  She obviously was going down to get some breakfast and go right back to sleep.

I greeted her in the elevator and let her leave first when it was time to exit.  As I suspected she was going down to get breakfast as well.  We were both in line and she was indecisive on what you wanted to eat and almost ran into me with her food getting real close to spilling her food on my suit.  She apologized for almost running into me but instead of me getting mad at her or telling her to be more careful, I smiled at her and told her don’t worry about it she is totally fine.  

She thanked me and asked my name.  I told her and said it was great to meet her and we both went our separate ways.

As the seven of us Phase 2 candidates had just got done with our writing portion, we were asked to wait in the lobby while we were assigned our panel rooms in preparation for the interviews.   She asked us to line up and head to our panel rooms.  

I get to my panel room, knocked the door to be let in and sure enough I was greeted by the lady that I ran into in the elevator and at the breakfast line.  This time she was dressed up and I now found out she was the special agent that wanted to interview me.  

She smiled at me, told me I conducted myself this morning just like she would want an FBI agent to be with the public and we went about our interview.  

I would like to think that I passed my Phase 2 interview because of all the preparation I did and not how I acted before the interview but I’m sure it didn’t hurt either.  

Although my behavior wouldn’t have changed the way I normally treat people regardless of this situation or who is watching.

 

My advice to any candidates going into the interview, is to treat everybody kindly, respectfully and professionally from the minute you board your plane to when you get back home because you never know who you will run into throughout the Phase 2 process and how your behavior could affect the opportunity of a lifetime.

WHO BECOMES FBI EMPLOYEES? AGENTS? You’d be surprised.

*Diversified (all other backgrounds or skills not specified above)

*What is meant by Diversified?

Besides needing agent candidates with the specialized skill sets, the FBI also seeks well-rounded applicants with unspecified degrees and diverse
backgrounds who have demonstrated experience in the Special Agent core competencies.Who is disqualified from an FBI interview?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

** From an FBI Agent — “On a personal note, I served with an FBI Agent who was a former elementary school principal and another who was a full-time youth minister.”

**From Carole Martin, The Interview Coach—

“I have coached — a Middle School Band Director, a High School Teacher, and a Lancome Cosmetics Marketing Manager – who all passed Phase II.

My biggest achievement came last year when I coached a “chef” through the process – and he passed.

It’s not easy, but with some hard work, you can make it.”

Taken from the FBI website – www.fbi.gov

Below are specific elements that will automatically disqualify job candidates for employment with the FBI. These include:

•    Non-U.S. citizenship
•    Conviction of a felony (Special Agent candidates only: conviction of a domestic violence misdemeanor or more serious offense)
•    Violation of the FBI Employment Drug Policy (please see below for additional details)
•    Default on a student loan insured by the U.S. Government
•    Failure of an FBI-administered urinalysis drug test
•    Failure to register with the Selective Service System (for males only, exceptions apply – please click here to find out more)
•    Knowingly or willfully engaged in acts or activities designed to overthrow the U.S. government by force
•    Failure to pay court ordered child support
•    Failure to file federal, state, or local income tax returns

Please note that if you are disqualified by any of the above tests, you are not eligible for employment with the FBI. Please make sure you can meet FBI employment requirements and pass all disqualifiers before you apply for an FBI position.

Phase II can be taken a 2nd time – for the FBI Agent position. Here is some feedback from a female who didn’t pass the first time. She worked with me this time around.

“I even had one of the other applicants come up to me about 5 minutes after arrived in the waiting area and say, “You were radiating swagger when you walked in and that can’t be taught.

I thought you were one of the agents!  What is your secret?!”  He and I laughed and of course I replied “Well that’s a good sign.”

SHE PASSED this time around after working with me.

www.fbiinterviewcoach.com

Learning to “morph” your stories will help you get out of a tough spot when you cannot think of a story to match the answer.

I am writing to inform you that I……passed! Thank you again for your coaching. I believed it gave me the extra edge necessary to pass Phase II. In regards to feedback: morphing morphing morphing and BEING YOURSELF was the key to victory here.

I was just goofy and honest, which I think they appreciated. I laid it all out on the table for them, which I believed not only made me more relaxed, but made them a lot more relaxed too.

Great working with you and I hope you continued success.

Q. How much time will I need? I’m, not sure how if I have enough time.

The answer, more often you will have two to three weeks notice for your FBI interview – sometimes more – sometimes less.

Ideally – and believe me most are not ideal –

– you would begin to work with me after you have your date assigned. You would contact me 4 or so weeks – depending on your life’s schedule –  to get the materials to begin your preparation.

The greater majority of my clients have not been “ideal.” I have coached with as little as three or four days and still have helped people pass. This is not my preferred manner – but sometimes that’s what life deals.

I will support you through email – critiquing anything you want me to look at after our sessions. Some candidates like to send their written stories and have me comment on them. That is part of the deal and I am glad to do that.

My goal is to get you to pass the interview and I will do everything that I can to do just that. The rest will be up to you.  Get more information about how I coach, the successes of my clients and what to expect at FBIInterviewCoach.com
INTELLIGENCE ANALYST – PHASE III

You helped me prepare for my 2016 panel interview for the Intelligence Analyst position with the FBI. I just wanted to let you know that I just graduated from Quantico, and am currently at my new field office. I just wanted to say THANK YOU so much again!!

I truly don’t think I would have passed without you.

FROM A CLIENT WHO JUST PASSED PHASE II

I really appreciate all the effort you put into helping me prepare. I would use your service again and recommend you to others without a second thought.

Here’s a few of the highlights and a bit of advice for your own knowledge and for your future clients.

-Helping me convert my stories from technical, overly detailed logic/jargon into smooth stories (really just conversations) that highlighted the core competencies. Once I got one or two of them down, my preparation got much, much easier.

A bit of advice to any future clients would be to practice the stories out loud. Sometimes when writing the stories down I felt like I was getting a point across but when I spoke it out loud, I realized I wasn’t. This helped me a ton.

Overall, I’d say that my experience appears to fall in line with the majority of your clients that I’ve seen feedback from. The FBI Agents were very professional, and because I felt very prepared I wasn’t nervous, simply told my stories, morphed a few, and went with some off the top of my head.

Thank you again, DSS/BEX

 

I just wanted to write to let you know that I received an offer for the Diplomatic Security Special Agent Position after passing the oral examination this week. I am certain that the preparation and practice sessions from your program were instrumental in my success.

The advice given by former candidates is still accurate overall, even if the format changes every so often. Having plenty of stories available and being comfortable with walking the panel through your thought process during hypothetical scenarios is very important.

Many thanks for your guidance and coaching and I wish you continued success in your program. I’ll be sure to recommend your coaching services to others who seek to career paths in Federal law enforcement.

 

Carole,

Thanks to your program and confidence in me I passed the Phase II portion SASP.  I have to admit after I heard about you from one of my former colleague, who is now an FBI special agent, I knew that I would enlist your services when the time came.  From our first conversation, you built my trust in you, which lead me to go for the full package. After our first session and listening to that painful recording, it was apparent that my money was spent well. I learned so mush about behavior interviewing techniques, the SAR response structure, and the importance of adding the human element when interviewing.

Successful FBI Phase II client – Practice stories out loud

FROM A CLIENT WHO JUST PASSED FBI PHASE II

I really appreciate all the effort you put into helping me prepare. I would use your service again and recommend you to others without a second thought.

Here’s a few of the highlights and a bit of advice for your own knowledge and for your future clients.

-The way you summarized my “why FBI” from our first session. This really helped me get a handle on how I wanted to present a combination of my personal feelings and skills, as well as the overall process I took to get myself in the interview room.

-Helping me convert my stories from technical, overly detailed logic/jargon into smooth stories (really just conversations) that highlighted the core competencies. Once I got one or two of them down, my preparation got much, much easier.

-One thing that I felt myself doing during the interview was trying to create images throughout my stories…a trick I took from you after you explained the importance of being able to “see” things. I got great feedback from this.

A bit of advice to any future clients would be to practice the stories out loud. Sometimes when writing the stories down I felt like I was getting a point across but when I spoke it out loud, I realized I wasn’t. This helped me a ton.

Overall, I’d say that my experience appears to fall in line with the majority of your clients that I’ve seen feedback from. The FBI Agents were very professional, and because I felt very prepared I wasn’t nervous, simply told my stories, morphed a few, and went with some off the top of my head.

Thank you again,

 

From one of my “female” clients on FBI interviewing

“One thing I would emphasize – especially to your male clients – is to smile, even when they’re not in the interview. We were all taken into a room with the applicant coordinator and I was the only one smiling and nodding at her. All the other male applicants were trying to “look like FBI agents,” but just looked kind of stiff. The applicant coordinator even pointed one out, said he looked like a “deer in the headlights,” and told him to loosen up – the guy looked even more uncomfortable after that, and I’m sure it didn’t help his confidence in the interview.”