#CareerAdvice : #InterviewingTips – How To Succeed In Your Next #JobInterview ; The 5 Step Story Strategy.

Note that this approach is not necessarily chronological…the story begins when you are getting ready to do something big! Here’s why: our minds are naturally drawn to action. We seek out change, as part of our primitive (lizard) brains. Are chronological stories captivating? No. They are not. “Once upon a time” works well in nursery school, but taking people through your life history from birth until yesterday is deadly in the job interview. Chronological stories are often filled with unnecessary details – why share words that don’t serve you?

Think about it: in business, and in life, we need to know what’s changing so that we can react and adapt. Start your story with a situation, described in numbers, beginning on the verge of action. Your situation starts at a tipping point, so that you can move to the next section: the obstacle.

What’s Stopping You?

There was something that you had to overcome in your situation. You either did it yourself, or you helped others to do it. What was in your way? Were you a stay at home mom, headed back into the workforce? Did you go back for a graduate degree after being out of school for 13 years? Describe the challenge – that’s the second step. Did you face a horrendous customer? An impossible deadline? A lack of resources? Did you have to inspire your team to achieve what no one thought you could? The obstacle – if described correctly – is big, hairy and scary. The obstacle is the wolf at the door. If there’s a hamster named “Skittles” at the door, who cares? Pick a bold story to show who you really are. Why? Because the bigger the challenge, the greater the victory!

Fortune favors the bold.

There was a strategy you applied – some action that you took – to beat the odds. Remember, you are the hero of this story. So what bold action did you take?

Get Going

The third step is in describing the action that you took to win the day. Use action words, like directed, guided, listened, sourced, discovered, persuaded, and inspired. (These are my choices – what are yours?) Remember, effective storytelling is about choosing the words that help you most. What powerful actions did you take? What did you do to inspire others to see that the deadline wasn’t impossible, the challenges weren’t insurmountable? Were you able to help people get past their mindset, and get going?

What Was the Outcome?

Results are what matter. What was the result, when you took action? That’s the fourth step: Express the result, if possible, in terms of numbers. Did you hire nine new people? Did you cut $735,000 from the budget and save the company from creditors?

The hero’s journey always leads to a destination: what was yours? When discussing the outcome, look in the direction of impact, especially if you are interested in a leadership role. In the example above, it wasn’t just about the money saved – it was about saving the company from being seized by creditors. Wow! That’s a powerful outcome! When you talk about more than just money, you show yourself to have more than one bottom line. Perhaps your outcome demonstrates your compassion. Or your negotiating skills. Or an aspect of integrity that really matters to you. But guess what? You’re not done yet.

There’s one question – one element – that most people forget in the interview process. Do you know what step five is?

The Best Interview Is A Conversation

Can you turn the interview into a dialogue? Well, you should – and here’s why: after you’ve just rolled out this story, of heroic change, obstacles and outcomes – don’t you want to know where you stand? Did your story resonate? Are you a good fit for the organization – or did you just weave a tale that left your interviewer cold and confused? Well, there’s only one way to find out: you have to ask.

The fifth and often forgotten step is a simple question: how does that story fit for your vision of the position? In other words: does my story seem to align with your goals for this role? Does the fact that I’ve effectively managed 14 people, handled a budget of $4 million and saved a previous company $735, 000 resonate with you? Play with the words that feel most natural to you, but don’t leave this question unanswered. You deserve to know where you stand. It’s not pushy, it’s polite: an interview is an exchange of ideas. You are showing your ability to serve, in hopes that your service will be required by this employer. Like a good waiter, who always asks, “How’s everything taste?”, you need to know if your story is delicious – or if it needs to go back into the kitchen.

Don’t assume that you know where you stand. After telling your story, if you are congratulating yourself and listening to imaginary applause in your head, you’ve got to snap out of it. Really get curious: did your story hit home? Is your interviewer looking for a solutions provider like you? Does the solution you provided to others have meaning in this organization? Listen carefully for the feedback, as it will guide you towards your goal.

Situation, Obstacle, Action, Result. How does that fit for your vision for the position?

With the right story, and valuable feedback, you’ve earned the right to take the next step in the interview process. And your five-step job interview strategy has just moved you closer to your next opportunity. If you want to know how to close the interview, that story is coming soon!