What if you could only communicate 3 things about yourself in an interview?
No stories.
No STAR format.
Three things without explanation.
What three benefits would you indicate you provide?
How would you be selected over all the other candidates in the room?
I believe that preparing for an interview with this in mind provides clarity.
How to Choose 3 Things
Start with the job description and ask yourself, “what do they really need”?
Write down the top 3-5 qualities or qualifications they are looking for.
Next, consider the interviewer, “what do they personally need”?
These may be different than the job description list and will be driven by their role.
What the HR Lead needs is different from what the hiring manager needs.
Considering both lists together, start brainstorming your 3 things.
As the list comes together, ask the question, “is this unique to me”?
If not, dig deeper and find ways to enable your difference to shine through.
3 Things Example
Maybe the job requires a high level of organization.
Everyone might come into the conversation saying, “I’m extremely organized”.
You want to make sure your type of organization stands out.
Here are some alternatives to “extremely organized”:
I excel in curating information.
I’m an expert in planning (and adjusting) project plans.
I create team structures to enable better communication.
I distill insights from large volumes of information.
I ensure visual layouts are structured for maximum impact.
These are 5 different ways that “organization” might show up in someone’s strengths.
Using one of these alternatives will have more impact than just saying “I’m extremely organized”.
Your Turn
Do you see the difference in how to make your strengths stand out?
Could you define your core qualities?
How could you use this technique in your current role (no interview)?