In every job interview, you will be asked situational questions – questions that ask you to describe what you did in a particular circumstance. The interviewer will offer a variation on this theme: “Tell me about a time when…” or “How would you describe a situation where….” The purpose of this line of questioning is to allow the interviewer to see your thought processes and understand how you behaved (typically under pressure). I wanted to share this strategy so that you can create every opportunity for success in the interview. Because I’ve seen this five-step strategy create powerful results, from the college campus to the C-suite, all over the world. In coaching thousands of aspiring leaders, scientists, engineers and executives, I’ve discovered one thing: success starts with your story.
If handled correctly, your interview answers will demonstrate resourcefulness, provide some indication of your willingness to take action, and show how you work with others. In order to reach your goal, in a way that’s concise and clear, you need a simple, five-step story strategy.
Remember, companies of all shapes and sizes really hire just one thing and one thing only: solutions providers. Companies need people who can solve problems: whether that problem is how to get the food from the kitchen to the people who ordered it, or re-coding the navigation system on the space shuttle, companies need people who can overcome obstacles. So, your story strategy shows exactly how you offer your solution. The first step? Start with the situation, and set the scene.
Picture This
Describe where you were and what was going on in your company, for the particular circumstance you wish to describe. Remember that using numbers is a very effective way to share size and scope – especially if you managed a team, P&L, or other budget. Here are some examples:
- “I was leading the customer service team on the West Coast – managing a team of 14 – when the call came in to Lydia’s desk….”
- “The CEO called me in to his office. Since I was in charge of the 25 people in R&D, he needed some answers about why we were late on the Z-7 project…”
- “I had just bombed the midterm in Mechanical Engineering, and I was really concerned that I might not be able to make it back next semester…”
- “Most of our $4 million budget was being spent on trade magazines – kind of old school – but it was working for us. Until the day my three top graphic designers said…”
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