You’re applying for a job and need to tailor your interview answers. What are some effective ways to do this?

As a public speaker, you know the routine of knowing your audience. As a public speaker, I also have done several successful TV interviews. In such situations you need to know the audience that the interviewer is seeking to satisfy. Then, as the job interview starts, assume the role of being on a TV interview and give to-the-point but interesting answers to each question. And include a story or two that demonstrates your expertise and successes. They may even hire you as a PR Agent. :-)

I know there are hundreds of do's and don't associated with interviews. The only advice I ever give is just "be yourself." Your best self perhaps, but just be genuine. If you get the job, you are going to have be yourself eventually. You may as well show them from the get go.

1.Research the company: Understand the company’s mission, values, culture, and recent projects. 2.Review the job description: Identify the key skills, qualifications, and responsibilities required for the position. 3.Use specific examples: Provide concrete examples from your past experiences that demonstrate how you have successfully handled and achieved results. 4.Focus on highlighting accomplishments and experiences that directly relate to the job you’re applying for. 5.Make sure your resume and cover letter reflect the specific requirements and qualifications outlined in the job description. 6.Prepare for common interview questions and show enthusiasm and interest for the opportunity and the company.

To tailor your interview answers effectively, focus on these key points: Research: Understand the company and the specific role. Align your skills: Highlight examples and skills relevant to their needs, using the job description as your guide. Focus on impact: Quantify your achievements and emphasize the positive outcomes you delivered in previous roles. Show genuine interest: Ask thoughtful questions demonstrating your enthusiasm and understanding of the company's work. By tailoring your answers, you showcase your understanding of the role and your unique value proposition to the company.

Understand what the company does, why they do it and how they do it. Understand their history as well as how they fit into the market in which they compete. Lastly, find out the social compass of the company (. ie do they encourage volunteerism?)

I tell my candidates to outline their answers with the STAR method -- but tell it slightly differently: Think of the Situation and Task/Obstacle as CONFLICT. Open the story with the issue that needed to be addressed -- and what was at stake. Then, go right to RESULT. (That's what your listener cares about.) Now that they have a reason to listen to your story, and know where it's going, the ACTION you took to get there will be more interesting. And it will keep you from getting bogged down in the "I did this, then that" weeds. Finally, remember to make the link between your story and the company's current situation/need.

I am a strong believer in this model and I always tell my clients, use STAR model for articulate your success stories, your achievements in an interview. I call it guilt free promotion as it is fact base and short. Very important not extend the model either, be brief and come to the result and also mention what was your specific task in that situation, so using the "I" instead of always mentioning the team.

For behavioral interview questions, the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is an effective strategy to structure responses clearly and concisely. Tailor your answers to align with the job's requirements and company culture. For roles emphasizing teamwork, select an example where collaboration led to success. If customer service is key, share a scenario where you enhanced client satisfaction. This method not only demonstrates your relevant experience but also showcases your problem-solving skills and ability to contribute positively to the company's goals.

Research the STAR method. Read some of the simulated questions and their responses. Talk with an individual who has participated in the STAR method questions and responses. Practice with an individual who is willing to assist in the preparation in the STAR method.

Una técnica común para responder preguntas de comportamiento es el método STAR, que significa Situación, Tarea, Acción y Resultado. Esto te ayuda a estructurar tus respuestas de una manera clara y concisa, al tiempo que muestra cómo manejaste un escenario relevante en el pasado. Para adaptar tus respuestas, asegúrate de elegir una situación que coincida con los requisitos del trabajo y la cultura de la empresa. Por ejemplo, si el trabajo implica trabajo en equipo y colaboración, puedes elegir una situación en la que hayas trabajado con otros para lograr un resultado positivo. Si la empresa valora el servicio al cliente y la satisfacción, puede elegir una situación en la que haya resuelto un problema o haya superado las expectativas.

My advice to everyone I've helped l prepare for an interview is that there are no questions asked just to fill an empty space or to kill time. Understand what the question is meant to find out about you, your approach to a certain situation, or your knowledge, skills, competence & experience. Answering the question in a way that makes them realise you know why they asked this particular question really makes you likeable and hireable. Remember, they chose to ask this question of all the possible questions they could have asked. Show your intelligence and let them also see your emotional intelligence when you answer.

One of the biggest challenges I've faced is getting rid of the kind of humility that holds you back. If you're raised in a family or society that believes pride is a sin, that people should be humble and modest, or that compliments are something to deflect, you're going to have a hard time emphasizing your value when you go into an interview. So remember this: this is your chance to sing your own praises. You aren't going into the interview to make a good showing, you are there to win. You're an Olympic athlete going for gold. You're a boxer looking to knock your competition out cold. You are there to win. Let them know that everything you've done in the past contributes directly to their success.

When emphasizing your value, the importance of relevance cannot be overstated! Taken together with knowing your audience by doing research on company values, goals, objectives, and mission provides context. You essentially paint a picture of the team/org with you in it for the prospective employer. Painting yourself into the company portrait, so to speak, demonstrates your ability to learn, understand, align, and promote their agenda over your own. Providing this context shows initiative and collaboration and makes the job of determining fit much easier. Effectively showing how you can make work life better is the most important of values to emphasize!

One thing I found helpful was to look at the challenges with my background experience and still found challenging and need to face it. In a new environment one of the wisest thing to do is listen and learn from everyone. In diferente environments experience sounds and taste different. Listen, watch and learn. Always.

This method goes hand-in-hand with being authentic. It is important to highlight both positive and negative experiences (in a non-emotional way) and the lessons you learn from both! Remember your path and experience is unique to you, and is what is going to get you hired to the right company.

Authenticity is so refreshing to see during an interview. It demonstrates confidence and shows that you are comfortable in your own skin. It is often your authentic qualities that are the deciding factor during the selection process. So, be yourself. Your authentic self. And answer the questions directly and truthfully.

Before the interview, ask yourself what stories from your life might relate to the job position or the company. Then tell those stories with passion. These stories will help the interviewer remember you better and they will connect stories from your life with their company's mission, vision, and values. This, in turn, will connect your authenticity with the company.

In a day and age where lots of folks competing for roles may have similar skill sets, I always advise candidates to tie their answers to their own personal experiences. Most folks with ChatGPT can provide a qualified answer to a question, but a great candidate sets themselves apart with narratives about how that question has applied to or resonates with them. Being your authentic self doesn't have to be quirky, like wearing baseball caps around the office, it can be taking appropriate opportunities to be light-hearted. Ultimately if you portray yourself in a way that isn't authentic, how happy will you truly be presenting yourself that way if you are hired?

With over 20 years of experience as a consultant for executive teams, I faced a significant challenge: I appeared too young by conventional standards. In an attempt to compensate, I chose to act and pretend to be older. However, all I achieved was projecting a cold and overly strict image. That's when I decided to be honest, both with my audience and myself. One day, I told them, as I told myself: 'I know you might think I look very young, but if you focus on learning from the tools I have to offer, you can make a better judgment about their usefulness.' From that moment on, I realized that part of the problem was mine. Authenticity is closely tied to how you talk to yourself and face challenges. Breaking self-imposed barriers is key.

Authenticity is paramount when meeting a new opportunity. Highlight Strengths with Examples - Identify and emphasize key strengths, using a specific example to show how these abilities have led to successful outcomes in work or personal projects. Acknowledge Weaknesses Transparently: I demonstrate awareness of my weaknesses, but do so strategically, indicating that you understand these areas and are working on them. This honesty demonstrates self-awareness and a willingness to grow. Frame Weaknesses as Opportunities for Growth - Present your weaknesses as areas where you see potential for improvement. I then discuss specific strategies I have been employing to address these weaknesses, thereby turning them into growth opportunities.

Job interviews are more about nonverbal communication than verbal. There are five impressions you want to convey with nonverbals: composure (no fidgeting, no interrupting, positive facial expression, alert but relaxed posture), responsiveness (eye contact, positive nonverbals and backchannels to their remarks), enthusiasm (animated voice and gesture, moderately close distance, moderately rapid speech), assertiveness (strong voice, firm handshake, upright posture, full gestures), and motivation (proper business attire, punctuality, fluent speech and fully developed remarks). If you get to the interview, then probably the content on your résumé fit what they need, which means now they want to see your chemistry with them and the organization.

Practice with chat GPT. Use the prompt “I am preparing for an interview for role X in industry Y. Here is the question. Here is the answer I am thinking. Can you rewrite my answer to suit the role? I want to project that I am good at skill X (eg handling conflicts)

Have a story or two that you can use during the interview that you can lean into to help convey the point/value you bring. Keep your responses brief and concise and no more than two minutes!

The one thing that hasn't been mentioned is using the job description and person specification to generate possible questions. You can do this using AI. Also, if there are any industry specific issues in the news, you need to be aware of them so you can use them as examples in your answers.

Listen. Don't be so focused on telling about yourself that you don't ask them about themselves. What's everyone's favorite topic? Themselves. Ask about the interviewer. Why did they take the job, what was their career path, why do they stay, what advice would they give a new person coming in? If you want to really shine, let them shine brighter.