Networking & Career / Acing Job Interviews / Lesson 02

LESSON 02 · ACING JOB INTERVIEWS

Prepare Three Stories

Eighteen easy tips to prepare three stories, so you can answer almost any question calmly.

Stories stick. Three are enough.

25 tipsEasy things to say7-day plan

Start with tip 1

Jump to the 7-day plan

25 tips that really help

These ideas come from Knock ’Em Dead (Martin Yate), Power Questions (Andrew Sobel and Jerold Panas), Never Split the Difference (Chris Voss), and everyday practice. Pick one tip and try it today.

TIP 1

Why stories work

Stories are easy to remember and prove your skills. Three good stories can answer many questions.

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Prepare three.

TIP 2

Choose three real moments

Pick a success, a challenge and a teamwork story. Real moments feel honest.

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Pick three.

TIP 3

Use the SAR shape

Say the situation, the action and the result. It keeps you clear.

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Use SAR.

TIP 4

Start with the situation

Set the scene in one or two lines. Keep details short.

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Set the scene.

TIP 5

Explain your action

Say what you did, not what the team did. Use I with kindness.

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Say what you did.

TIP 6

Share the result with numbers

Use numbers or a clear result. Results make stories strong.

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Add a result.

TIP 7

Practise aloud

Say each story out loud for two minutes. It will feel natural.

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Practise.

TIP 8

Script: situation

In my last job, our team had a long waiting list for customers. Say it clearly.

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Use it.

TIP 9

Script: action

I created a simple guide and trained two new colleagues. Say it steadily.

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Use it.

TIP 10

Script: result

Waiting time dropped by twenty percent in two months. Say it proudly.

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Use it.

TIP 11

Mistake: telling a story with no result

A story needs an end, so share the result.

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Add a result.

TIP 12

Mistake: taking all the credit

Share credit kindly, so thank the team.

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Thank the team.

TIP 13

Mistake: telling a very long story

Long stories lose people, so keep it to two minutes.

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Keep short.

TIP 14

Troubleshoot: when you cannot think of a story

Ask friends or look at old emails. Small stories count.

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Search notes.

TIP 15

Troubleshoot: when a question does not fit your story

Adapt the story or take a pause and choose another. Be flexible.

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Be flexible.

TIP 16

Drill: write three stories today

Write your three stories in SAR shape.

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Write three.

TIP 17

Drill: record one story

Record yourself telling a story and listen once.

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Record it.

TIP 18

Choose stories that show different strengths

One for teamwork, one for problem solving, one for learning. Variety covers many questions.

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Match strengths.

TIP 19

Start with the result for strong effect

Sometimes stating the result first hooks listeners. Try it.

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Try it.

TIP 20

Example: the teamwork story

Our team missed a deadline, so I made a shared checklist. We finished the next project early.

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Write yours.

TIP 21

Example: the customer story

A customer was upset. I listened for five minutes, then solved the issue. She thanked us.

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Write yours.

TIP 22

Troubleshoot: when you lack work stories

Use school, volunteer or home projects. Skills still show.

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Use any setting.

TIP 23

Write your stories in bullet points, not full speech

Bullet points keep your stories natural, because you remember the steps and say them in your own simple words.

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Make bullets.

TIP 24

Pick a story that shows kindness under pressure

Interviewers like people who stay calm and kind when things get hard, so choose one story that shows it.

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Choose one.

TIP 25

Add one real number to each story

A number such as ten customers or two weeks makes your story clear and believable without any bragging.

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Add numbers.

Easy things to say

When you are stuck, pick one of these. They work in many networking and career moments.

SITUATION

“Here is the situation.”

ACTION

“This is what I did.”

RESULT

“This is what happened.”

LESSON

“This is what I learned.”

LINK

“That is why I fit this role.”

CLOSE

“Thank you for asking.”

Your first week

One small action a day. Each day is only a little bigger than the last.

DAY 1
Pick three moments

DAY 2
Write the situation

DAY 3
Write the action

DAY 4
Write the result

DAY 5
Add a lesson

DAY 6
Practise aloud

DAY 7
Adapt to questions

Further reading

• Knock ’Em Dead (Martin Yate)
• Power Questions (Andrew Sobel and Jerold Panas)
• Never Split the Difference (Chris Voss)

The tips above are written in our own words and are general guidance. The books are suggestions for further reading.

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These lessons share general learning and everyday ideas. They are not medical or mental health advice. If you feel very anxious, low or unwell, please talk to a doctor or a qualified professional.