I am the chief coach and co-founder at Big Interview, the job interview training system that has helped millions ace their interviews and land big job offers. 

Big Interview is also licensed by 700+ schools, universities, government agencies, and other organizations. 

I have been featured as a career expert by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, ABC News, and many other media outlets. 

I am also a coach and trainer who works with both job seekers and hiring teams. I am committed to leveling the playing field for job seekers and helping organizations make the best hiring decisions. 

Specialties: Careers, Career Coaching, Job Interviews, Executive Coaching, Interview Coaching, Career Change, Public Speaking, Hiring, Training, Online Training, Writing

Are you starting a new role in January? Congratulations!!!!

Here’s how to start strong and make 2026 your career year.
1) If this is your first full-time career job…
Remember that the first 90 days are like a job honeymoon — but also very crucial for your future relationships within the company. I don’t want to encourage you to be a “yes man” forever, but try to say yes as many times as you can during this time. Meet people. have lunch, help with random projects, talk to everybody. Learn and make a strong first impression while you’re still new and don’t have a million urgent deadlines yet.

2) If this is a pivot job…
Remember that there will be a learning curve, but your transferable skills are powerful. Don’t compare yourself to others who have been in your new field/industry/role for longer. If the hiring team didn’t think you’d be capable, they wouldn’t have hired you.

3) If you’re returning after a career break…
It will take a little time to get back into the routine. Don’t apologize. You’re hired, it’s a done deal, you just need to get warmed up again. You might feel overwhelmed at times, but you’ve had to learn on the job before and it will all come back to you.

4) If this is a ‘step down’ role…
Don’t let ego get to you. There are times when the best choice is to shift into a less-demanding role for the sake of your quality of career and quality of life (and yes, sometimes it’s about taking the job that’s available so you can pay the bills). Sometimes, the smartest career move is knowing when to stop and recalibrate. Sure, you might have a smaller paycheck now or a less impressive (to who?) title, but focus on your top priorities, not what others perceive as valuable.

5) If you’re coming from a toxic workplace…
Consider this a clean slate. Remember that not everyone is out to get you, not every meeting is a fire alarm, and not every mistake will wreak havoc. These are new people, try to treat them as such. Those toxic coworkers from the past don’t have any power over you anymore.

6) If this is your dream job/company…
Celebrate your accomplishment, get excited about the future. But don’t put too much pressure on yourself to be perfect. You got this far, so clearly you’ve been doing the right things — don’t let imposter syndrome or perfectionism trip you up.

No matter which of these scenarios you relate to, remember that EVERY job will come with a learning curve and its own set of challenges.

So go get ‘em and enjoy having that clean slate and new opportunities in 2026..

Pamela Skillings

Helping people prep for their interview & get more job offers

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