An interview story is a brief, relevant account of what you did, the results you achieved, and why the experience fits the role. Strong stories replace general claims with specific evidence while keeping the focus on your value. section 1.9 section 12.10
Prepare interview stories by:
- Reviewing your resume line by line and connecting each experience to the job description. section 1.9
- Choosing recent examples that relate directly to the role, rather than relying on older or unrelated experience. section 1.20
- Stating the actions you took and the results you obtained in no more than about two minutes. section 1.9
- Removing names, locations, acronyms, and other details that distract from the key message. section 1.9
- Practicing aloud or with another person to check timing, clarity, and impact. section 1.9
Turn a general answer into a targeted story
A general claim such as “I solve problems well” gives the interviewer little evidence. Ask about problems the department has experienced when doing a relevant task, then share a concise story about solving a similar problem, including your actions and the result. This approach makes the answer specific and connects a selling point directly to the position. section 12.4 section 12.10
Interview prep chart
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Competency |
Story including actions and results |
Map each job competency to a story that demonstrates the actions you took and the results you achieved. section 1.9
