How do you demonstrate your passion and enthusiasm through your stories in an interview?

The STAR framework can be process-focused, which may not be appropriate for all situations. In some cases, the interviewer may be more interested in your thought process or decision-making skills than in the specific steps you took to achieve a result. Overusing the STAR framework can also make your answers feel formulaic and rehearsed. While it's helpful to have a framework to guide your responses, it's essential to tailor your answers to the specific question and avoid sounding like you're just reciting a memorized answer.

I am a fan of using the STAR method for prep work, but you still want it to flow like a story. The STAR method was designed to help someone focus on the goal, task, and achievements. I always recommend answering a question in less than 2 minutes, so keep your stories clear and concise to keep the listener engaged.

Always have a list of relevant stories ready based on the role you’re applying for then based on the situation and the interviewer, choose one that fits the circumstance. Always think about how is this story adding value - if you can say yes it’s adding value then that’s a good story to tell.

A great story is only a great story if it is relevant to the topic at hand. You can even use the same STAR story, but approach it from a different angle. This helps connect past work to what you are currently interviewing for. I like to use a connecting phrase like, "circling back to the example I gave earlier, another component of that project was xyz."

When you speak from the heart, others will listen. As Maya Angelou said, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

Share your stories genuinely and naturally. Don't try to force enthusiasm or passion that you don't genuinely feel. People can often detect insincerity, so it's best to be honest and true to yourself.

Vocal variety and inflection is important. It is also important to not over prepare. Emotion cannot be rehearsed, so when you are preparing to speak on a specific topic, outline the goal of the conversation, practice going through the story once or twice on video, and then let it breathe until your interview.

Relatability is key. You want to bond with the people you're interviewing with. Learn as much as you can about your interviewer. Look at LinkedIn. See what their interests are. Look around their offices. Do they have any interesting knick knacks on their desks? If you're doing a video interview, can you see any interesting art work in the back ground or photos of loved ones? You're not doing a stand up routine. If you feel like you're doing a spiel, you are. Even if you say the right things, if it doesn't feel authentic, you won't get the job.

Some stories may have to be improvised. It is impossible to prepare to think on your feet, and you can't predict every interview question. This is where it is important to be the expert on what you do. Know your business. Know your numbers, systems, key stakeholders, and critical tasks. Take time to reflect over past projects and review your job as a " day in the life of" story.

Having the requisite skills and being a cultural fit are two distinct components of getting an offer, and accepting an offer. Assuming that you're excited about the work that you'll be doing, the cultural fit is likely to be the dispositive factor in whether or not you'll accept an offer. In my 34 years of working as a legal recruiter, I have found that 80% of offers are based on interpersonal chemistry. By the time you're sitting in front of the interviewer, you have made the initial cut based on your resume. The remaining 20% is how your skills compare to other candidates the employer is considering, as well how your skills compare to their current employees.

I love the SAR (Situation, Action, Reflection) framework which is similar to STAR, but it includes a reflection component. After describing the situation and action you took, you reflect on what you learned from the experience. This can be useful for questions that ask you to describe how you have grown or developed in your career. The reflection component is especially important because it demonstrates your ability to learn from your experiences and grow as a professional. By reflecting on what you learned, you can demonstrate to the interviewer that you're a self-aware, reflective person who is always looking to improve.

I use CAR & CARL method specifically for challenging questions to self-reflect. Questions like a conflict with the boss, constructive feedback, and weakness requires lessons learned. What would you do differently if this happens in the role? Study shows past behavior predicts the future. This is why employers look for examples. C-Challenge/context A-Action you took R-Result/Reinforcement/Reward L-Lessons And present state (optional) Here are sample scripts as I don't have space. Go save this framework which has videos too. ?? https://www.teachndo.com/post/what-is-your-weakness-samples-answers-with-the-carl-formula