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<aside> <img src="/icons/briefcase_pink.svg" alt="/icons/briefcase_pink.svg" width="40px" /> Before you start interviewing, it’s crucial that you identify, outline, and practice 10+ personal success stories (a.k.a. work examples) that you can reference in your interview to demonstrate your value.

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The Importance of Preparing Relevant Work Examples

Preparing for an interview involves more than just rehearsing answers to common questions. One of the most crucial steps is to have relevant work examples ready that demonstrate your skills and experiences. These personal success stories show employers how you have handled various situations in the past, providing concrete evidence of your capabilities. By thoughtfully preparing these examples, you can confidently address behavioral interview questions, showcasing your ability to contribute to the company.

Intro to Behavioral Questions

Behavioral interview questions are designed to assess a candidate's past behavior in professional situations because it's believed that past behavior is the best predictor of future performance. By understanding how you acted in past situations, employers can gauge how you might handle challenges, work within a team, and solve problems in the future.

Behavioral interview questions typically start with phrases like:

• "Tell me about a time when..."
• "Give me an example of..."
• "Describe a situation where..."

These questions require you to reflect on your past experiences and share specific examples that demonstrate your skills, abilities, and how you handle various work-related situations.

Common Behavioral Interview Questions

Instructions

Follow the steps below to prepare meaningful personal success stories for interviews.

1. Learn the C.A.R.L. Technique

The C.A.R.L. technique is a structured method of responding to a behavioral interview question by discussing the specific Context, Action, Result, and Learning of the experience you are describing. It's a way to organize your answer in a clear, concise, and compelling manner. It’s similar to the S.T.A.R. technique, but it also includes sharing what you’ve learned from your experiences.

<aside> <img src="/icons/arrow-right_blue.svg" alt="/icons/arrow-right_blue.svg" width="40px" /> C.A.R.L. Technique:

• Context: Set the scene and give the necessary details of your example.
• Action: Explain exactly what steps you took to address it.
• Result: Share what outcomes your actions achieved.
• Learning: Reflect on what you learned from the experience and how it has influenced your professional development. </aside>

Guidance on Using the C.A.R.L. Technique

1. Be Specific: Choose a specific example that clearly demonstrates your skills and accomplishments.
2. Quantify Your Success: Whenever possible, use numbers to highlight the impact of your actions. For example, "reduced downtime by 20%" or "increased sales by 15%."