What are some effective problem-solving strategies for common job interview questions?

Don't be afraid to ask clarifying questions in an interview. Asking the right questions is a demonstration of your ability to do the same when faced with a real problem solving scenario. The truth is, many times a creative solution will work ONLY if it's based in a careful assessment of what the situation is. Coming up with the most out-of-the-box solution is not as important as finding a solution that will work in the context.

Why it matters -- and more specifically why it matters to them? Ask yourself: What's the question behind the question? Sadly, I see many clients and candidates in the marketplace answering questions route. What's the real needle that needs to be moved? What transformation is at risk? How long has this issue been an issue? What has been at risk? If it doesn't get addressed, what other consequences might be at stake? Where are the roadblocks in getting to the solution? These will help you as the interviewee diagnose the problem and allow you to better and more specifically provide an answer that is anything BUT generic!

When faced with those classic interview questions that seem to stump us, the first step is to dig into the core of the issue. Take the infamous "Tell me about a challenge you've overcome." Reflect on your experiences, dissect the situation, and pinpoint the specific challenge. This precision not only shows analytical prowess but also your ability to navigate complexity – a quality all employers appreciate.

Possible solutions may offer solutions for the key stakeholders in the interviews (for panels), or possible solutions based on the key problems the role is there to address. Sharing research findings from industry white papers helps support broader expertise and credibility. Problem solving with scrappy with grassroots solutions offers resourcefulness and creativity And, understanding how to optimize functionality with existing systems or software points to agility with your tech chops. A cross section of problem solving overarchingly demonstrates that whether the problems are pre-existing or new you'll find a way to solve them.

Make sure you truly understand the need and why and how the problem needs to be solved (constraints.) Getting information about what an ideal outcome would be can help you generate a solution that achieves that without causing other problems or compromising.

In a situation like this during an interview, you might say something like, "I would survey the customers, and assuming the outcome was X, I would do Y." You can't always come up with a solution that truly makes sense because you have imperfect information, but if you fill in the blanks of that information, even with assumed information, it shows that you understand that gathering that info is important. Your interviewers should appreciate that you understand that, even if the information is unknowable at this point.

Show them how you anticipate your solution could fail. Making a good decision involves anticipating failure points and planning for them or being able to pivot. Show them what you expect could happen (the outcome you want,) but also that there are other outcomes but that you can recover from them.

Here's where your strategic prowess shines. Share how you put your chosen solution into action. Explain the steps you took, the resources you marshaled, and the obstacles you navigated. For remote job seekers, emphasize your ability to work autonomously and stay organized amidst distractions. It's about showing that you don't just theorize solutions, you execute them with precision.

Always come prepared with 2-3 examples or stories you can pull from if you're asked a thought-provoking question such as: - Tell us about a time you overcame a challenge, or stepped up - Explain how you turned around a difficult client relationship - When have you felt most creative in your role? These are the kinds of questions candidates slip up on easily and lose the conversation thread. Being prepared allows you to pause, think about your response, and not get tripped up in a way that will negatively impact your performance.

A great story is like a magical spell that captures attention and leaves a lasting impact. Incorporating real-life examples into your answers is the secret sauce. Whether it's a project you aced, a challenge you turned into an opportunity, or a situation where you went above and beyond, weave them into your responses. These stories will paint a vivid picture of your abilities and make you stand out from the crowd.

Let's answer below question with STAR method: "Tell me when you reached a goal that you felt was out of reach at the beginning." Situation "My company aims to rapidly expand its customer base in a saturated market." Task "As the sales director for my segment, my goal was to increase our new customers in just one quarter by at least 30%." Action "I led a door-to-door campaign, utilized social media, and expanded our product offerings with on-site training to meet customer needs." Result "Due to an effective marketing campaign and the introduction of new products, we raised the number of new customers significantly within three months. Our actual achievement was 10% higher than our targets."

One thing hung I’ve found helpful in supporting career changers or people who have been out of the workforce for a while is to consider educational, training, and volunteer experiences for STAR stories. Using work-specific examples is best, but these are options to maintain your confidence to prepare for interviews.

Where many candidates fall the short is in preparing winning questions. 100 Level ?s = General Stay away from these. "What is a day in the life at X company like? 200 = More specific Name, I read in your latest annual report that (X company) committed to launching 5 products in 2023. At this yr's mid point, how have these performed & impacted the company at large? 300 = Super specific (only that person can answer) Congrats on the launch of X! What were the biggest challenges your team overcame with the tech layoffs? How did this launch compare to those in the past with other less favorable market conditions. If you have done this much prep/practice without working for them (yet) imagine what value you will bring once hired!

Other ways is to also ask questions to the hiring team, even though that might catch them off guard. Success stories are a positive and you can also have recommendation letters from employers that you worked hand in hand and were successful. Be ready for unexpected questions to demonstrate that you would be an asset to their organization and future endeavors.