Best Interview Tip Ever

I've been on both sides of the interview table many times and there is just one tip that can change the flow more than anything else.

Learn to tell your story.

This doesn't mean you will get every job for which you interview. What it means is that if you learn to tell your story, you will leave the interview feeling like you accomplished something. Your interviewer(s) will know you and will be able to make a good decision about whether the position will be a good fit. And - even better - if the current position for which you interview isn't a good fit, maybe there is another position within the organization for which you would be PERFECT. Maybe a member of the team will share your name with a completely different potential employer. But only if you can tell your story.

The candidate sat down for the interview. His image was good for the position; he was dressed appropriately for the job, had good body language, and his resume fit the job description well. Then he was asked a question: How would you handle an angry customer? Please give an example of an experience you had with an angry customer.

Um... I explain what happened and try to calm her down.

That's it. That was the answer. Not only did the interviewers have to pull teeth to get more information, his answer was not an example of how he handled an angry customer. After asking follow-up questions, it was clear he would be a competent person for that aspect of the position; he was calm, collected, almost zen-like in his approach. If only he had told his story in a way that was compelling and convincing! Answering the question would have been a good start.

Based on the position description, you can predict the questions that are going to be asked in an interview. If you are applying for an IT help desk position, the technical questions will most likely be minimal; you wouldn't have gotten the interview if your technical skills weren't clear from your resume or application. The questions are going to focus on your customer service skills; can you speak clearly and calmly to walk someone through a problem? Can you remain calm when a customer is upset because he is frustrated that the product isn't working? Are you a problem-solver; do you know your resources?

Plan for the most likely questions and think about specific experiences you've had that you can apply to the answers. If you are a person who gets especially nervous in an interview, try to tell the story as if you're sharing it with your family at the dinner table or with your friends over coffee. Practice telling stories to your dog, your mirror, your friends or partner. The better you are at sharing the details of your story - and if you can find some humor, even better - the more likely it is you will engage with your interviewer(s) and make an impression. The points you must find a way to make in your story are:

• How the story is applicable to the question
• Details about the context of the situation and the people involved
• How you solved a problem
• How the other people in the situation were affected and/or involved in the solution (teamwork, credit where credit is due); and
• How the story ends (the accomplishment, it's affect on you, the customer, and the organization).

I'll refer back to one of my favorite LinkedIn publishers, @LouAdler, and his "most important interview question of all time":

Think about your most significant accomplishment. Now, tell me all about it.

Even if that specific question isn't asked, you must be prepared to answer questions with detailed, appropriate & applicable stories. Be prepared by reviewing the job description, the company's website, and prepare to share stories from your experience that fit with what appears to be the common theme or image for the organization. You will find an opportunity to share your stories. If you do that well, you will leave the interview more satisfied, even if you don't get the job.

Want to connect with me? Please personalize your request with a joke or a story.
Connect with me through LinkedIn to schedule a storytelling workshop or to have me speak at your next conference!

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About me:

I teach people how to find their stories, organize them, and share them across platforms. Learning to tell your story is the key to your success. Learning to understand your audience and make your story effective is the key to storytelling. I love people, which is why I'm devoted to helping people find better ways to connect and improve their lives by improving their storytelling skills. A skilled teacher and entertaining speaker, I offer storytelling and customer service trainings and workshops and one-to-one coaching for job seekers.