TIL something about job interviews from a coffee shop in Portland

I was at a small coffee shop in Portland called Stumptown yesterday, waiting for a friend. I overheard two people at the next table doing a mock interview. The person being interviewed was really nervous, stumbling over answers. The other person stopped them and said, 'Just tell me a story about a time you fixed a problem. Start with what was broken.' The change was instant. The answers got clearer and more confident. It made me realize I always freeze up on 'tell me about a time' questions because I try to list facts. I'm going to practice turning my answers into short stories before my next interview. Has anyone else tried this method and found it helps?

3 comments

3 Comments

aliceharris10d ago

Yeah, @fisher.jessica, but the trick is starting with the problem, not the story.

fisher.jessica10d ago

Tell me about a time" still makes me sweat, lol.

thomas.eva10d ago

My old boss used to ask that and I'd just blank, like a deer in headlights.