# 163 | 3 Ways to Prove You’re Strategic In Your HR Leadership Job Interview Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/hr-coffee-time-4106816/163-3-ways-to-prove-you-re-strategic-in-your-hr-leadership-job-interview Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/hr-coffee-time-4106816/163-3-ways-to-prove-you-re-strategic-in-your-hr-leadership-job-interview.md Podcast: [HR Coffee Time](https://stenobird.com/podcast/hr-coffee-time-4106816) Published: 2026-01-30T05:00:00+00:00 Episode link: https://www.brightskycareercoaching.co.uk/hr-coffee-time-podcast/163 Audio file: https://op3.dev/e/episodes.captivate.fm/episode/f9a536c9-33d5-42ca-ad66-0e2a8364874f.mp3 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/hr-coffee-time-4106816/episodes/163-3-ways-to-prove-you-re-strategic-in-your-hr-leadership-job-interview Duration seconds: 824 ## Resource Have you ever been told you’re “not strategic enough” after an HR interview – even though you know you are? In this solo episode of HR Coffee Time , Fay Wallis tackles one of the most frustrating pieces of feedback HR professionals receive when applying for Head of HR, HR Director, Head of People or People Director roles. In this episode, Fay breaks down what 'being strategic' means in a practical, accessible way and shares three simple but powerful ways to prove you’re strategic in your next HR interview – without sounding corporate or forced. In this episode, you’ll learn: What “being strategic” actually means in practice – and why it often feels so vague How using one specific word can make interview panels see your thinking more clearly A common mistake HR candidates make when answering interview questions – and how to fix it How to turn everyday HR examples into clear, strategic stories with business impact The types of interview questions that signal strategic thinking straight away Fay also shares practical examples you can adapt for your own interviews, helping you move beyond listing what you’ve done to explaining why it mattered. Whether you’re actively interviewing or simply want to feel more confident talking about your strategic contribution, this episode will help you articulate your value far more effectively. Useful Links Connect with Fay Wallis on LinkedIn Visit Fay’s Bright Sky HR website Learn about The Essential HR Planner Learn about Fay’s Inspiring HR leadership development programme Other relevant HR Coffee Time Episodes 'Operate Strategically' HR Coffee Time Podcast Playlist Enjoyed This Episode? Don’t Miss the Next One! Sign up to the free weekly HR Coffee Time email to be notified each time a new episode is released – and get free career tips,… ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/hr-coffee-time-4106816/episodes/163-3-ways-to-prove-you-re-strategic-in-your-hr-leadership-job-interview/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/hr-coffee-time-4106816/163-3-ways-to-prove-you-re-strategic-in-your-hr-leadership-job-interview.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.