Descend Into The Particulars

When I’m asked about interview advice, one suggestion stands far above the rest: be specific.

I want to hear real stories about events that actually happened, not hypothetical situations you might come across in the future. Having a real story to tell that only partly addresses the question is better than a direct answer with no experience to back it up.

Tell me the actions you individually took in the situation, not what the team generally did. A job interview is not the time for false modesty. Be humble and honest about it, of course, but you’re the subject of the interview, not your colleagues.

Explain not just what you did, but how the situation turned out. What were the actual results? If you have metrics or other data you used to measure the outcome, even better, and if you can quote actual numbers, that’s the holy grail.

Finally, what did you learn from the experience, and how would you apply that to future situations? A discussion on learnings is never out of place, no matter the interview question.

Bonus tip: don’t be afraid of negative examples. No one is perfect, and most future successes are predicated on prior failures. As long as you can articulate how the situation changed you for the better, it’s a plus in your column.