Here's how you can navigate questions about your previous job experiences.

When I shortlist a candidate for the interview phase, it's because he/she is skilled and can do the job. What I want to assess before anything else is mainly the attitude. I won't be exaggerating if I say that I lose interest and exclude a candidate when I sense negativity or I hear him/her speak badly about a previous employer. I know for sure that, if we hire this candidate and he leaves us one day, he will be speaking about us the same way he is speaking to me in the interview about a previous employer. Why spend at least 30 seconds to one minute of the interview time sharing info that does not help you get selected in any way? This info does not show your strengths; on the contrary, it shows lack of positivity, adaptability and wisdom.

I have seen many people giving various reasons for quitting their jobs in initial part of their career. Normally we see that beginning of the career, people switch many jobs. And I would like to take this opportunity to tell all those people that it is ok. When we just start our careers, we tend to hop jobs and I believe that makes your resume stronger as you get lot of exposure, learn new things, work with different people make lot of mistakes. But don't just quit job for few more thousands. Join, learn, grow and move. That should be the mantra and that needs no explanation on resume.

When answering questions about your work history, you’ll want to keep the answers positive, brief, and well structured. Remember that interviews have a time limit and you need to make the most of your time. Answer the questions directly. Use the STAR format to demonstrate relative experience. Resist the urge to get lost in your feelings and go off on a tangent. Even if sharing a negative experience (which is sometimes requested during interviews), describe the situation objectively (logic over emotion), and end on a positive note. It takes some practice, but this is doable. ????

? The STAR method is an interview technique that gives you a straightforward format you can use to tell a story by laying out the situation, task, action, and result. ? Situation: Set the scene and give the necessary details of your example. ? Task: Describe what your responsibility was in that situation. ? Action: Explain exactly what steps you took to address it. ? Result: Share what outcomes your actions achieved. ? By being prepared, staying positive, telling stories, highlighting skills, addressing challenges, showing growth, and being honest in your responses, you can effectively navigate questions about your previous job experiences during interviews.

To navigate questions about your previous job experiences: Be Honest: Provide truthful and clear answers. Highlight Achievements: Focus on your accomplishments and contributions. Show Growth: Discuss how your past experiences have helped you develop professionally. Stay Positive: Avoid negative comments about previous employers or colleagues. Relate to the Role: Connect your past experiences to the job you're applying for, showing how they make you a strong candidate

Strategy: Customize your examples to align with the job you’re applying for. Example: If you’re applying for a project management role, highlight instances where you successfully led projects, managed teams, or met tight deadlines in your previous job.

Strategy: Be honest about any employment gaps and focus on the productive activities you engaged in during those times. Example: "During the gap, I took a course to enhance my skills in data analysis, which I believe will be very useful for this role."

Explain your reasons for job changes in a way that emphasizes growth and learning. Example: "I moved from my previous job because I wanted to gain experience in a different industry and expand my skill set."

Focus on your accomplishments and how they benefited your previous employers. Example: "In my last position, I implemented a new filing system that reduced document retrieval time by 30%, significantly improving office efficiency.

One things I find helpful is to be sure you can briefly summarize what value your brought to the company using metrics or social impact.Never badmouth your previous place of work and try to find how this experience enhanced your professional journey