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The Ultimate Job Search Hacks
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The Ultimate Job Search Hacks

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How to Ace in Job Interviews

Use this to prepare for the behavioral questions/HR interview questions in your Job/Internship applications.

Job interviews

The next time you have a job interview, walk into the room with a pen, paper and a list of three bullet points.
The three bullets are quick reminders of success stories and ways to let your personality shine. That’s because stories demonstrate in vivid detail why you are right for the job and how you can turn a typical Q&A interview into a dynamic, memorable conversation.
Stories already work great on cover letters and recommendation letters. Now they will help you nail a job interview.
Example: You want a job as a client manager at a tech firm. Let’s up the stakes and say you’re 25, spent the first three years of your career at a nonprofit and don’t have experience in the private sector. It doesn’t matter. Your stories can still carry you.
Before the interview, jot down three great stories from your life that show you know how to lead and solve problems. It can look like the list below.

Three Stories

The fire alarm
The sick day
The camping trip

Then, as the interview goes along, look to weave the three stories into your answers. Many interview questions focus on ability or past work experience so you will have opportunities.
The key is to have storytelling as your go-to strategy from the start.
In the example, I chose two stories from the workplace and one from someone’s personal life. Now, the person may not use all three stories in an interview, but they remain on standby if the conversation allows.

Story #1: The Fire Alarm Incident


Question: Why are you interested in the project manager position at our firm?
Answer: I have spent the past three years at a nonprofit and gained a lot of great skills running different programs and events. I’m ready for a new challenge, and I prefer fast-paced environments like your company where I would need to think quickly. In fact, let me tell you a good story.
About six months ago, our nonprofit hosted its annual fundraising gala. Five hundred people, black tie affair, the whole nine yards. Right as we’re about to announce our record-breaking donation total, the fire alarm goes off and won’t stop blaring. Everyone’s looking around for what to do so I jump on the microphone and calmly ask 500 PEOPLE to exit the banquet hall and go outside.
The fire department came, searched the place and didn’t find anything. Then I herded all 500 people back into the room and kept the night on track. So I have definitely handled stressful situations and stayed calm when everything broke down. And I’ll be poised again when a client has a critical challenge.
Boss thinks: OK, this person can certainly get through a rough day at work. Excellent.

Story #2: The Sick Day


Question: What’s your greatest strength?
Answer: I think my greatest strength is I’m resourceful. Actually, I have a great story about that too. A year ago, half of our team at the nonprofit got sick with the flu. It’s an eight-person team so we were down to four employees for an entire week. We also had a huge program the same weekend - a jump rope for health event with over 250 children.
With only four of us in the office, we had to use our time and energy wisely. I handled online sign-ups and coordinated with the caterer. I directed two of my co-workers to oversee the awards presentation and music. And our fourth co-worker was our intern, Kacie. I quickly taught Kacie how to work the phones and answer questions from parents and the media. We worked hard that week, but the four of us got it done and the jump rope event was a success. So I like to think I can rise to the challenge even with limited resources or staff…and not miss a beat.
Boss thinks: Wow, what a strong manager. Poised and everything.

Story #3: The Camping Trip


Question: What do you like to do outside of work?
Answer: I’m big into the outdoors. Last weekend, my friends and I went camping in Shenandoah National Park. It’s actually kind of a crazy story. We set up our tent in what we thought was a remote part of the mountains. After an hour or so, this huge group of people showed up in Renaissance-era costumes. Apparently a local acting troupe is doing a Shakespeare play and came out to the wilderness to practice its lines. It was weird and also hilarious.
Boss thinks: Great stuff. Didn’t expect to hear a story like that!

The Power of Stories


Do you see the power of stories?
You can’t prove your ability unless you provide on-the-job examples.
Well, hold on a second…
You might think, “What if there’s no natural way to tell a story? Won’t it sound awkward?”
Not so fast. You can answer a lot of common interview questions with a story:

Why should we hire you?
“Well, let me give you a good example of my work performance…”
How do you deal with stressful situations?
“Let me tell you about this one time…”
Is there a moment when you exercised leadership?
“Yes, there was this one week when half of my office got the flu and…”
And finally…
The boss says, “Do you have any questions for me?” That’s when you go with the four questions everyone should ask in a job interview.

4 Questions everyone should ask in a Job Interview


Scenario: you interview to do marketing/communications for a grocery chain.
1. The Background Check
People love to talk about themselves. Period. If you come prepared with a question about the boss’s career (thanks to LinkedIn or a website bio), he will perk up, brag on himself and find you impressive - even though you only asked a question and listened.
Sample interview question
“I noticed you started your career in marketing for Ringling Brothers circus. What was that experience like?”
2. The Office Insight
Every company has a website. So read it before the interview. Check out past and current projects, staff bios and gain a general sense of the office culture. Then, drop a question to prove you did your homework.
Sample interview question
“I read several of your recent press releases and saw you’re making a push to carry more gluten-free products. How big is the demand right now for gluten-free foods?”
⁠
3. The “Wow” Factor
The bio question, the company question…both solid. Now, turn your focus to the industry, in general. Read news about the grocery biz and put the company in context with the latest headlines. That’s next-level stuff, which prompts a “wow” from the boss.
Sample interview question
“I see Acme Corporation bought Little Corporation. The deal seems like a major shake-up in the grocery industry. What does the Acme Corporation takeover say to you?”
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4. The Inception
With the “wow” question, you took the interview from an uncomfortable boss-applicant arrangement to a conversation among peers. Now, plant a seed in the manager’s brain with a cool marketing idea. Make him feel like he needs you on the team right now.
Sample interview question
“I like the way your store offers online deals based on my previous purchases. For me, a twenty-something, it’s a smart strategy. Wouldn’t it be cool to do a targeted campaign to reach people where they spend time online?”
Boss says, “You know, that’s a really good idea.”
⁠
For your next job interview, come with a set of questions no one else will have.
Be smarter.
Be one notch better.
Be different.

Job interviews
Three Stories
Story #1: The Fire Alarm Incident
Story #2: The Sick Day
Story #3: The Camping Trip
The Power of Stories
4 Questions everyone should ask in a Job Interview
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