Let me share with you an interview "horror" story I've never told before:

It was back when I was 21. I was applying for a retail buyer position with Maisie's, for the fashion department. Now, as you might expect, I'm no expert on fashion. At the time, I didn't even know what a retail buyer was.

As you might expect, I know a lot of managers who lead teams.

Anyway, one of the things I've come to appreciate, from our many conversations over dinner or a beer, is that most managers have a small circle of "go-to" resources they like to keep in their pocket.

These are people they've "collected" over the years -- i.e. colleagues, employees or co-workers from when they worked at a different company, peers who they met at industry events, people to whom they were introduced via email, "hot" LinkedIn contacts, etc.

Here's a common myth many job seekers want to believe:

"I'm good at my job. It should show! Interviewers should see that I'm an asset to their team. I shouldn't have to sell myself with BS interview answers."

I'd love to believe this too. But it's not true.

I heard this story a few weeks ago:

A woman was interviewing for a mid-management position. I can't remember what kind of company, but I remember she had to fly in for the interview.         

They sent a driver to pick her up from the airport. When she walked into the public arrivals area, he was holding a sign with her name on it.

I was walking around my new town of Salem this week, when I saw a cop who looked – even to my mid-thirties eyes – like a “youngster.”

I thought, “This baby-faced whippersnapper carries a badge and a gun?”                    

Well, I guess that proves it…

Ever noticed – when you're thinking about buying a new car, and you have your heart set on a particular model – you start seeing THAT care everywhere?

A few days ago, you were barely even aware that it exists.

Here are three (popular, but misguided) types of interview answers you should avoid at all costs next time you're in the hot seat:

I expect this blog will upset a few people.

But I'm okay with that. Because this is something I've been meaning to talk about for a long time, something that is fundamental to your success.

As I've said before (many times), when it comes to job interviews, resumes, cover letters, salary negotiations, annual reviews, serendipitous encounters with industry "VIPs", etc. accomplishments are the coin of the realm.

That's why I recommend you put together a short list of some of your most impressive accomplishments and add to it as often as you can.

There's one particular interview question -- one that I can almost guarantee will come up in every interview -- and it catches a lot of candidates off-guard.

Do you want to know why?