The Powerful Formula to Answer the Most Common Interview Questions (Story Toolbox)

Self Made Millennial
15 Feb 201808:57
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRSelf Made Millennial's Madeline Mann emphasizes the power of storytelling in job interviews. She advises using a 'story toolbox' to answer common interview questions effectively, turning them into opportunities to showcase problem-solving skills, communication abilities, and personal growth. By sharing memorable anecdotes, interviewees can stand out and increase their chances of landing a job, as stories are more impactful and memorable than mere facts.

Takeaways
  • 📚 The key to successful interviews is telling compelling stories, not just listing strengths or skills.
  • 🛠️ Build a 'story toolbox' with anecdotes that showcase your abilities and experiences.
  • 🎯 In interviews, use stories to answer common questions in a way that highlights your problem-solving skills and emotional intelligence.
  • 🔍 When answering questions about challenges, provide specific examples of how you overcame them with effective strategies.
  • 💡 Stories are more memorable than facts alone, making them a powerful tool for leaving a lasting impression.
  • 👥 Include stories in your toolbox that demonstrate interpersonal skills, such as communication and teamwork.
  • 🚫 Avoid generic responses; instead, use detailed stories to convey your strengths and accomplishments.
  • 📈 Use your accomplishments as opportunities to tell epic tales that illustrate your contributions and impact.
  • 📖 Keep a record of your stories, either in a journal or a digital document, to be prepared for future interviews.
  • 📚 The 'BAMF Binder' is a physical tool that can help you organize and recall your stories during interviews.
  • 👍 Encourage viewers to like, subscribe, and share the video for more content on interview success strategies.
Q & A

  • What is the main advice given by Self Made Millennial for answering interview questions effectively?

    -The main advice is to use a 'story toolbox' and tell epic stories in interviews to make a memorable impression and increase the chances of getting the job.

  • Why are stories more effective than listing strengths and weaknesses in an interview?

    -Stories are more memorable than facts alone, as per psychologist Jerome Bruner, making interviewees more likely to be remembered and stand out from other candidates.

  • How can you prepare your 'story toolbox' for interviews?

    -You can prepare your 'story toolbox' by writing down stories from your experiences as they happen, or in hindsight, and categorizing them into different themes such as problem-solving, interpersonal relationships, and learning from mistakes.

  • What are the types of stories that should be included in your 'story toolbox'?

    -Your 'story toolbox' should include stories where you were a problem-solving hero, stories about interpersonal relationships, and stories where you made a mistake but then fixed the problem and learned from it.

  • How can you make a mundane interview question more engaging with a story?

    -You can make a mundane question more engaging by relating it to a specific, memorable event from your past where you demonstrated the required skills or qualities, turning the answer into a narrative that highlights your experiences and character.

  • What is the significance of the term 'BAMF Binder' mentioned in the script?

    -The 'BAMF Binder' is a physical binder containing accomplishments, work situations, and notes that the speaker uses to cue up stories and ensure they hit the right notes during interviews.

  • How does the 'BAMF Binder' help in interviews?

    -The 'BAMF Binder' helps in interviews by serving as a visual and organizational tool to remind the interviewee of their relevant stories and accomplishments, allowing them to tell a more coherent and impactful narrative.

  • What is the effect of telling stories in interviews on the interviewer's memory of the candidate?

    -Telling stories in interviews makes the candidate more memorable to the interviewer, as it provides specific, relatable examples of the candidate's skills and experiences, rather than just abstract statements.

  • How does the advice given in the script differ from traditional interview advice?

    -The advice given in the script differs from traditional interview advice by focusing on storytelling rather than simply listing strengths, weaknesses, and qualifications, emphasizing the power of narrative to create a lasting impression.

  • What is the role of emotions in the stories told during interviews?

    -Emotions play a crucial role in the stories told during interviews as they help to create a connection with the interviewer, making the narrative more engaging and memorable.

  • Why is it important to be specific when telling stories in interviews?

    -Being specific in stories allows the interviewer to understand the exact contributions and actions of the candidate, providing a clearer picture of their abilities and making the narrative more convincing and impactful.

Outlines
00:00
📖 Mastering Interview Responses with Storytelling

Madeline Mann, the Self Made Millennial, emphasizes the power of storytelling in interviews. She explains that instead of simply listing attributes, interviewees should craft and share 'epic stories' that demonstrate their skills and experiences. Citing psychologist Jerome Bruner, she underscores how stories are more memorable than facts alone, thus helping candidates stand out and be remembered. Madeline provides examples of common interview questions and contrasts generic responses with story-driven ones, showing how the latter can effectively convey problem-solving abilities, communication skills, and leadership qualities.

05:01
🛠️ Building Your Personal Story Toolbox

The video continues with Madeline guiding viewers on how to build their own 'story toolbox' for interviews. She advises being prepared with authentic stories of mistakes, high-stress situations, and significant accomplishments. Madeline suggests having at least two problem-solving stories, one about interpersonal relationships, and one where a mistake was made and learned from. She shares her personal strategy of using a 'BAMF Binder' to organize and recall these stories during interviews. The video encourages viewers to create their binders and provides a link to a previous video for further guidance on crafting one. Madeline concludes by urging viewers to apply these techniques to enhance their interview performance.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Interviews
Interviews refer to the process of assessing a candidate's suitability for a job by asking questions and evaluating their responses. In the context of the video, interviews are portrayed as opportunities to tell stories that highlight one's skills, experiences, and personality. The speaker emphasizes the importance of storytelling in interviews to make a memorable impression and stand out from other candidates.
💡Story Toolbox
A 'story toolbox' is a metaphorical collection of personal anecdotes and experiences that one can use to effectively communicate their skills and qualities during an interview. The concept is central to the video's message, suggesting that individuals prepare and organize such stories to better articulate their professional journey and competencies.
💡Epic Stories
Epic stories are dramatic and engaging narratives that capture the listener's attention and make them memorable. In the video, the speaker argues that telling epic stories in interviews is a powerful way to showcase one's abilities and experiences, as opposed to dry factual responses.
💡Problem Solving
Problem solving refers to the ability to identify, analyze, and resolve issues or challenges effectively. In the video, the speaker uses the concept of problem solving to illustrate how individuals can demonstrate their capacity to handle difficult situations through storytelling, thereby enhancing their appeal to potential employers.
💡Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence is the capacity to understand, manage, and effectively express one's emotions, as well as the ability to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically. In the context of the video, emotional intelligence is highlighted as a quality that can be conveyed through stories, helping interviewees to demonstrate their ability to navigate complex social dynamics in the workplace.
💡Communication Skills
Communication skills encompass the ability to convey information clearly and effectively, as well as to listen and understand others. The video emphasizes the importance of showcasing strong communication skills through storytelling, as it can make an interviewee more memorable and appealing to employers.
💡Top Performer
A top performer is an individual who consistently excels in their role, often outperforming their peers. In the video, the term is used to describe someone who has demonstrated exceptional skills and achievements, which can be effectively communicated through storytelling during interviews.
💡BAMF Binder
The BAMF Binder is a physical or digital collection of accomplishments, work situations, and stories that an individual can use to prepare for interviews. It serves as a tool to organize and recall specific anecdotes that can be used to answer interview questions effectively. The acronym BAMF stands for 'Badass Motherf***er,' symbolizing confidence and competence.
💡Memorable
Memorable refers to something that is worth remembering and is likely to be retained in one's memory. In the context of the video, being memorable is crucial for interviewees as it helps them stand out and be recalled positively by the interviewers.
💡Authenticity
Authenticity means being genuine, true to oneself, and honest. In the video, the speaker advises interviewees to be authentic when discussing their weaknesses, by sharing real stories of mistakes made and lessons learned, which can humanize them and make their stories more relatable and believable.
💡High Stress Situations
High stress situations are contexts or environments where an individual faces significant pressure or challenges that can potentially cause anxiety or stress. The video encourages interviewees to share stories of handling such situations effectively, as it showcases their ability to cope and perform under pressure.
Highlights

Madeline Mann from Self Made Millennial shares the best way to answer interview questions.

The key to successful interviews is telling epic stories.

People get jobs by telling memorable stories, not just listing skills or qualities.

Stories are up to 22 times more memorable than facts alone, according to psychologist Jerome Bruner.

Interviewees often fail to tell stories, instead opting for generic descriptions of themselves.

The presenter provides examples of how to turn common interview questions into storytelling opportunities.

For questions like 'What major challenges have you faced?', use a specific story to illustrate your problem-solving skills.

When asked about strengths, back up your answer with a story that demonstrates your abilities in action.

Discussing weaknesses should involve a story of a mistake, the lessons learned, and how you fixed it.

Stress and pressure questions should be answered with a story that shows how you handle high-stress situations.

For questions about accomplishments, turn the answer into a narrative that highlights your contributions and efforts.

The presenter suggests creating a 'story toolbox' with anecdotes ready for different interview questions.

Include stories where you were a problem-solving hero, and those about interpersonal relationships.

Also include a story where you made a mistake and how you learned from it.

The presenter uses a 'BAMF Binder' to organize and cue up her stories for interviews.

A BAMF Binder is a physical collection of accomplishments and work situations to reference during interviews.

The presenter has a video on how to craft a BAMF Binder and it has helped many viewers stand out in interviews.

The advice is to be prepared with a story toolbox to excel in interviews and not to be forgotten.

Transcripts

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