What is the best way to discuss your IT Strategy and digital transformation experience in an interview?

Showing understanding is critical. I start with What (is the buisness vision and strategy), Why (are those goals important) and finally Where (is the business on that journey to realisation). In my experience this can be a cylical conversation i.e. you come back to What i.e. after the Where you may ask What are the challenges, Why......

In my experience, I have found that showing a direct link between a business benefit with a strategic initiative within IT helps in illustrating a question on digital transformation.

IT Strategy or Digital transformation is very much interlinked with the domain. So understanding of the domain not only provides the context but also helps to quantitatively measure the challenge, opportunity and success. If someone does not understand the domain, he or she should ask first about the business model, key operation areas where IT is being leveraged and then the key objective of the transformation and priorities.

Before talking about your IT Strategy and digital transformation experience in an interview, understand the company's situation. Know their challenges, goals, and priorities. Research and ask questions to tailor your answers to what they need and expect.

Before responding to such a question, its a must to ask/find out the context, drivers and ecosystem of change in Customer's IT strategy/ transformation. This helps give a holistic response and driver the discussion in a mutually fruitful path.

Using a framework in discussing IT strategy and digital transformation in an interview is like having a roadmap. It helps organize your thoughts, show problem-solving skills, and ensures you cover essential points. Think of it as a structured way to share your experience, making it easier for the interviewer to follow and understand your expertise.

In moving through your homework, connect the corporate strategy goals to the problem statement and align with not only with the IT vertical yet also with the business vertical thus strengthening your position to greenlight any initiative.

Employing structured frameworks like STAR or McKinsey's 7S in your responses showcases your methodical approach to problem-solving. This technique helps in articulating complex IT strategies and digital transformation initiatives in a concise, organized manner. It highlights your ability to dissect and address complex situations, showcasing your strategic thinking and planning capabilities, which are crucial in IT leadership roles.

Using any of the frameworks, enables you to put across your points with clarity, communicate with ease and structure your discussions. Use any of the framework you would be comfortable with. However please ensure each of the story (related to strategy / Transformation) is built using the framework. This surely needs some planning in advance. Cannot be done over a fly.

While there are frameworks and templates etc which one can leverage BUT its always better do a whiteboarding and evolve a framework as suited to that Customer's situation and roadmap. Theory and background reading is must before you reach this discussions stage.

Come prepared with examples of the strategies you have delivered. Be very clear on the role you played in each one. Developing a strategy is not an overnight activity so be clear on how long it took, what the major steps were and who the key stakeholders were. Bonus points if you have examples of sticking around to see full execution of the vision.

Examples are imperative to demonstrating your accomplishments but it’s also critical to use ones that are relevant to the person you’re talking to. Find something as close to the problem they’re trying to solve as possible. Then, to communicate best, use the STAR technique, describing the Situation (to level set the background), Task (challenge you were assigned), Actions you took (using “I” not “we” to describe what you personally did in a team effort), and Results (either your success or what learned from failure). Use both subjective and objective measures. In that fashion you’re connecting the dots between your prior experience and ability to solve current problems.

Examples need to be where you work. It needs to describe exact scope of the work and then your role as individual contributor and your role as collaborator. If you were the lead consultant then you should showcase your leadership role as well.

Examples are important, but at the same time one is better pre-preparing and cherry-pick the most impactful ones, rather then "usual suspects", good examples are normally: a/Recent, fresh, and ones that its "you" and not "my manager" or "they", essentially something you led. b/Served a clear outcome, example: the first quick-win in modernising an application and its impact on the decision-makers c/Concise and factual d/Include failures and mitigations, digital modernisation is a journey, failures will happen.

Providing examples is crucial when discussing your IT Strategy and digital transformation experience in an interview. Real-life examples help demonstrate your skills and accomplishments. Prepare stories that highlight different aspects, like implementing strategies, leading projects, overcoming challenges, and delivering measurable outcomes. Use specific data, such as metrics or budgets, to make your examples more impactful and credible.

When discussing your IT strategy and digital transformation experience in an interview, showcase the specific skills needed for the role. Highlight technical, business, and interpersonal skills relevant to the organization. Demonstrate abilities like strategic thinking, analytical skills, communication, collaboration, leadership, and adaptability to emphasize your suitability for the position.

be informed, articulate, careful listener, group-wise, techno-commercial and be aware of services -- it would need to execute your recommendations versus their thoughts. This is your skill which Customer would value so would the Employer.

Discussing your skills, particularly those marrying technical know-how with business acumen, sets the stage for showcasing your comprehensive understanding of IT Strategy. Highlighting skills like strategic thinking, analytical capabilities, and leadership, alongside your adaptability and resilience in the face of change, underlines your readiness for roles that demand both technological and business leadership.

Relate your skill to the outcome you achieved, it sets the stage in your zone, implying the further questions would be in the area of your expertise i.e. making the discussions more comfortable and easy for you.

From a personal/emotional perspective, asking questions shows interest and that you are engaged / genuinely interested in the job instead of just a way of collecting a paycheck ??

In an interview, asking questions is key. It shows you're interested in the IT strategy and digital transformation of the company. Ask about their current situation, challenges, vision, and best practices. Also, inquire about the organization's culture and values to assess if it aligns with your goals.

Questions are important but could serve as a "double edge sword", I am a big fan of follow-up questions and not just questions for the sake of questions which are counter-productive. Good (follow-up) questions would relate to the interviewer context, for example as the interviewer shows you a secured architecture you could ask: "Did the security architecture started with the architect team or organisational policy first (as it should) ?" and then start with more "low-altitude" questions such as "did you consider to lift and shift this part of the architecture vs re-factoring, what was the driver for factoring?", "did you consider to run the 2 systems in parallel till the cut over?"

Throwing out questions is a slick move to prove you're all in for the job and the company. Go for ones that dive into IT strategy and digital transformation – things like where they're at now, what they're aiming for, the hurdles they're facing, or the tricks up their sleeve. Toss in some queries about the vibe – their values, goals, expectations, or the lowdown on their culture. It's like a sneak peek to see if you're a match made in career heaven.

Inquiring about the organization's current IT strategies, digital transformation journey, and challenges exhibits your genuine interest and proactive mindset. It's an opportunity to demonstrate not just your knowledge but also your capacity for strategic thinking and your ability to contribute valuable insights into their ongoing and future initiatives.

During digital transformation you usually intend to break the process, even if you automating certain aspects you still pretty much changing the process. Key point for successful digital transformation is to measure the outcomes and properly prepare and onboard your team on the new process. As well what really helps to explain background and direct benefits you are bringing to the team by applying digital transformation and strategy.

While it is important to talk about what you have done and accomplished, remember to stay humble and talk in “we” form instead of “I” form. A good interviewer will anyway ask more questions to understand your individual contributions. In addition, highlight *why* you chose to apply at this company: show enthusiasm for the opportunities you believe exist.

There's been a wealth of valuable information shared so far. As someone who previously held the position of CIO and has extensive experience with interviews on stage and in media, I can confidently say that telling compelling stories that resonate with the interviewer's target audience is crucial. It's also important to connect the solution to a common pain point that many can relate to and to share a win in a way that doesn't divulge any organizational secrets. For instance, discussing a 14% reduction in IT operating costs doesn't reveal any sense of scale, as each listener will interpret that story through their own lens of experience.

Before an IT strategy interview, research the company's needs and tailor your responses accordingly. Highlight your relevant experience in digital transformation, using the STAR method to structure your responses. Discuss your approach to IT strategy, including alignment with business goals, change management, and success measurement. Demonstrate your understanding of current trends and how they could apply to the company. Highlight your soft skills, such as leadership and collaboration. Ask insightful questions about the company's IT strategy to show your interest and understanding. The goal is to show how your skills can help the company achieve its IT goals.

Understanding the organizational culture is pivotal in shaping the digital strategy. It influences decision-making, risk tolerance, and the acceptance of change within the company. Aligning the digital strategy with the existing culture helps navigate challenges and ensures smoother integration. Additionally, a clear and concise communication strategy is essential. It articulates the vision and goals of the transformation, fostering buy-in across all levels of the organization. Effective communication creates a shared understanding, rallying stakeholders behind the digital initiatives and fostering a culture conducive to successful transformation.