If you get an interview question you aren’t sure how to answer, please don’t panic!
I talk to folks all the time about building a bank of stories that highlight your knowledge, skills, and accomplishments so that you will have them top of mind if you get stuck.
I remember being on a committee during one interview that was going really well. Really, really well. Toward the end a committee member asked “is there anything else you think we should know”, and the candidate panicked. I saw it on their face (which is fine, we’re all human and we’ve all been there), but instead of offering a final thought, or a strategic anecdote, or taking a pause, or even a polite “no thank you, we’ve covered everything”, they just blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
They shared something deeply, deeply personal. And it was immediately clear that they were uncomfortable to have shared it with a room full of strangers.
Can you imagine sharing one of your most closely held secrets as your final interview answer?
I’m grateful this was an internal, campus-based interview (not a post-grad job opportunity), and that the interview team was kind in their response to the student. I’m grateful we already had a debrief meeting scheduled where we could reflect on the experience together. I’m grateful this happened in a safe space where this mistake had no bearing on an actual opportunity.
I see a lot of people in my feed arguing over whether the STAR format is awesome or outdated, and whether AI interviewing is saving or breaking the hiring system. I see coaches selling “fool-proof” systems and a lot of noise about hacks.
At the end of the day, becoming a strong interviewer is a specific skill. And like any other skill, you can and will get better with practice.
It might feel uncomfortable to do a mock interview with a friend or a colleague or a coach, but having another person who can give you objective feedback is the best way to understand how your answers are received by others.
As someone who has sat in on hundreds of interviews for jobs, internships, fellowships, and graduate school, I can tell you that those who know how to communicate their interests and unique values immediately rise to the top. There is so little about the current job market that you can control, but putting in the time to craft your story is something you can make sure to have ready for when the moment comes.
