The Apprentice, the ultimate reminder that hustle culture still exists, returned to our screens two weeks ago, and we’ve already been spoilt with power suits, people using their phones as walky-talkies and moments that make you want to slip out of your own skin and vanish into thin air (the virtual pop star task, I’m looking at you). And that’s before the interviewers have even got stuck in. The Apprentice job interviews are so tough you can sweat your own body weight just watching through the safety of your screen.

One of Alan Sugar’s henchmen, sorry… one of his interviewers, is Mike Soutar, a Dundee-born entrepreneur who has gone viral for putting prospective business owners’ claims to the test with sneaky moves like buying up URLs that relate to their company names or forcing aspiring drink makers to consumer their own nasty-tasting recipes in front of him. Mike is one of the toughest interviewers out there, and he also happens to be my old boss. In fact, he’s the boss who hired me for my role at Stylist. Which means I’ve learned a thing or two first-hand about how to ace the toughest of interviewers to get the job of my dreams.

So, if you’re about to have a conversation about a new opportunity, here are my three biggest learnings on keeping your cool in a tough interview.

1. Do your prep. Mike’s desk drawer in The Apprentice has become a star in itself because he’s pulled so many tricks out of it over the years. It’s a great bit of theatre to drag out a T-shirt or protein drink and ask the interviewer to put their claims to the test, but it’s also a serious reminder to do your prep because your interviewer will have done theirs. Make a point of knowing their business (or your business if you’re pitching) as well as you can. Check out its website and socials, try being a customer, look at its employees’ LinkedIn accounts – find everything out that you can. Turning up to an interview without doing this is like showing up in your pyjamas – a sign you’re not committed or prepared to make the effort.

2. Don’t exaggerate. Do you think you can get away with adding an extra zero at the end of your sales history or claiming a qualification you don’t really have? People consider these little white lies to be innocuous ways to ramp up their experience, but an untruth on your CV or in an interview might be the only reason you don’t get hired. Why? Because however amazing or qualified you are, if an interviewer discovers you’ve lied, they won’t believe anything else you’ve said. Plus, no one wants to work with someone they can’t trust.

3. Be excited and upbeat. You want the job, right? Then show it. Enthusiasm for the role, business or opportunity is a no-brainer when trying to stand out from the pack, but you’ll be surprised by how many people fall at the enthusiasm hurdle or think playing hardball makes them desirable. Make a point of sharing why this is a great opportunity for you and use positive language. Remember, enthusiasm is infectious; subconsciously, you’ll be leaving a feeling of positivity around your name when decisions come to made about the best candidate for the role. 

Receiving career coaching can be incredibly valuable, so it’s a shame so few of us have access to it. Even those of us who have been lucky enough to book in a session won’t have 24/7 access to their coach. That’s where a tool like AI can be super handy. AI can’t and shouldn’t replace a real-life coach, but it is a great starting point. Here’s how I use it: head to your preferred AI tool (say, Gemini or ChatGPT) and ask it to ask you some questions. You can be as simple and vague as ‘Can you ask me some career coaching questions?’ or tailor your request to a specific area, such as ‘I’m about to start a new job; what questions should I ask myself?’

You’ll receive a hefty list of questions that all make for excellent thought-starters. Then it’s up to you to use them; carve out some time with a pen and paper to go through and explore your answers to each. It’s amazing how much clarity you can get from pondering questions like ‘If you could design your ideal job, what would it look like?’ and ‘What mistakes have I made, and what can I learn from them?’