Here's how you can showcase your problem-solving prowess through storytelling in an interview.

Share your failures too! Almost counterintuitively, some of my failure stories have received the most positive feedback. By sharing failure stories and framing them as opportunities that have enhanced your problem solving skills, you’re able to show willingness to learn and bounce back capabilities - hallmarks of every great problem solver. Not a single problem solver has a 100% success rate, so don’t be afraid to share some of those not-so-great tales. Very often, more is learnt in failure than in success, and people (including interviewers) value hearing of those moments.

A simple framework that I swear by is CAR - Context, Action, Result. I will explain it with my example. Context: Set your story's context - I was the basketball captain, and we were playing the annual inter-IIT tournament. There were some internal conflicts after we lost our first match. Action: What action did YOU take? I invited my team to hang out casually after dinner. A team bonding session outside the court allowed people to discuss their concerns openly. Result: What happened after your action? The team resolved issues, and we won our next match with a very collaborative performance.

When telling your story, focus on the impact of your problem-solving efforts. Begin by clearly defining the problem you encountered. Explain why it was significant and the potential consequences if it remained unresolved. Then, describe the actions you took to address the issue and emphasize the positive outcomes. Example: In my previous role, we faced a critical issue with our supply chain that was causing delays and costing the company thousands of dollars per month. I led a cross-functional team to identify the root causes and implemented a streamlined process that reduced delays by 50% and saved the company $200,000 annually.

Personalizing your approach involves sharing stories that are authentic and unique to your experiences. Choose examples that showcase your specific skills and strengths. This not only makes your story more engaging but also helps differentiate you from other candidates. Reflect on times when you successfully solved problems.

Begin your story with a powerful opening that grabs attention. Describe the challenge vividly to create an emotional connection, ensuring the interviewer is fully engaged from the outset. Conclude your story by showcasing the positive outcomes of your actions. Quantify your achievements with data or specific metrics to demonstrate the tangible benefits of your problem-solving efforts, leaving a lasting impression on the interviewer.

Telling an engaging story during an interview is a great way to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Describe your action and conclude with the result. Describe the specific actions you took to resolve the problem. How did you implement your strategies? Have you made any difficult decisions? Did you have to adapt your approach along the way? Conclude your story by explaining what the result of your actions was. Did you solve the problem successfully? Did you learn any important lessons even when you failed? What were the consequences of your actions? Use concrete examples and tangible results to demonstrate your value as a problem solver.

The way you deliver your story is just as important as the content. Practice telling your story until you can deliver it confidently and smoothly. Pay attention to your tone, pacing, and body language. Ensure your story has a clear beginning, middle, and end. Use expressive language to make the narrative vivid and engaging. Practicing in front of a mirror or with a friend can help you refine your delivery and build confidence.

A simple framework that I swear by is CAR - Context, Action, Result. I will explain it with my example. Context: Set your story's context - I was the basketball captain, and we were playing the annual inter-IIT tournament. There were some internal conflicts after we lost our first match. Action: What action did YOU take? I invited my team to hang out casually after dinner. A team bonding session outside the court allowed people to discuss their concerns openly. Result: What happened after your action? The team resolved issues, and we won our next match with a very collaborative performance.

Always take time before speaking whenever someone asks a situational or experience-based question. Spend about 30 seconds to gather your thoughts - think about what story to tell, how to structure and articulate it, what parts to emphasize - and then answer. A simple way to do so is by saying, "It is a great question, and many stories come to mind. Let me collect my thoughts in a few seconds." This ensures structured answers, and the interviewer will appreciate that you put thought into answering the question instead of rambling the answers you crammed up.

End your story by reflecting on what you learned from the experience and how it contributed to your growth. This shows interviewers that you are not only capable of solving problems but also continuously improving and learning from your experiences. Highlight any new skills or insights you gained and how you apply them in your current work. Reflecting on your growth demonstrates your ability to adapt and evolve, which is highly valued in any role.