5 Tips for a Value Story Interview

I received a call from a close friend recently (an honest-to-God phone call) nervously sharing that she had an upcoming interview and hadn't had one in over 10 years. Was there any wisdom I could give her in my years of being an Interviewer as well as an Interviewee?

Here's the advice I emailed her later that evening...

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Tip #1: Your First Job is to Make Them Want You

You are going to have all sorts of doubts about yourself, your experience, and your capacity for this role. Put any self-depreciating things aside and sell yourself. Think of this as a first date of a dream guy you've been pining over for the last 10 years. Don't tell him any of the weird habits you have -- make him want to ask you out on that second date!

Tip #2: Lead with Value 

It complements Tip #1 in that everything you say should have the mental underpinning of "this is what I can do for your company." It's not that they don't value you as a person, but your real sell here is to tell them all the ways that you have succeeded (actual examples) and your plan to do to make their company even greater.  Question to Consider: How would you answer if they asked you about your ideas to make their program/the industry better? (Dream big! Change the world!)

Tip #3: Be Clear about Brand You(TM)

At the end of every interview, I ask candidates this question: "If you had to describe yourself in 3 words or phrases, what would you choose?"  This gives the person the chance to really hit home 3 solid brand phrases to leave me with at the end. If they're superb candidates, they will have actually front-loaded these words or phrases as part of their intro "Tell me a little bit about yourself." See Tip# 4.

Tip #4: Tell Me About Yourself

Write out a 2-3 minute pitch for the aforementioned question in #3. Memorize this. It can be the anchor throughout your interview and will make you come across as clear & cohesive.

I was working with a woman in her late '20s who was a physical therapist assistant interviewing for a job as a police officer in a very competitive area. Her mind was all over the place because she was struggling to tell the story of how working as a physical therapy assistant could translate to being a cop.

After some brainstorming, we came up with her story which I have included below. See the bolded words in her essay application...those key brand phrases are weaved throughout. She used this branding in her in-person interview as well.

"I believe police officers are a foundational part of the community. They need to meet the needs of a diverse set of residents, act fairly to protect citizens and be role models representing the police force well. I am a person who can contribute to this mission.

Although I have always had dreamed of someday joining the police force, it was going on a number of ride alongs in the past 2 years that made me start pursuing this career. I was able to see many intriguing events including drug confiscations, arrests, domestic assaults, and a heroin overdose. I really appreciated how much exposure the ride along gave me, not only with the general public but also within the police department itself. I was able to witness the camaraderie and fraternity of police.

My work experience in physical therapy has made me highly qualified for the position and would bring a unique perspective. The role of physical therapist and public servant have many transferable skills including:

-Building relationships

-Leading people with care and trust

-Daily physical demands

-Administration

One of the most important parts of being a physical therapist and police officer is the ability to work with the public. I remember a time when I encountered a tough patient named Chris who was not interested in his needed treatments and seemed even less confident that I had the skills to help him. I learned to develop tough skin and ignore his insults, instead focusing on the best way to approach and de-escalate the situation. By the end of his treatment cycles this patient saw results and even brought me a small note of thanks afterward. Stories like this show how you can turn a bad situation into an opportunity to build relationships if you act decisively, thinking on your feet by leading with care and trust.

Another area similar to police and physical therapy duties is the daily physical demands of the job. I am able to tolerate being on my feet for shifts which may be 12 hours long. I am consistently standing, walking, lifting, and demonstrating exercises with patients. Also, I have obtained the skills to handle emergency situations, having worked in hospital settings with critical patients. I am certified in CPR/basic life support and able to maintain calm in stressful and high intensity situations. In my personal life, I also enjoy physical fitness. I lift weights and participate in OrangeTheory HIIT classes which have improved my endurance and stamina greatly. I have experience with kickboxing and basic techniques of self defense.

Similar to the police officer role, physical therapy requires detailed, correct, & timely charting and documentation for coworkers and the clinic operation to run efficiently. Doing this requires that I am very observant of my surroundings. The history of these events are documented for reference after the fact by both our organization and the patient, so administration is a necessary and valuable part of the role as it is with the police force.

It is my hope that this essay shows the connection between my work background with being a police officer and how I could bridge that experience to build upon it in this new role. Beyond my qualifications, I would be a good character fit with the team as my friends have told me I am funny, friendly, and fair. I would consider it an honor to wear the badge and look forward to hearing from you."

Ps. The young woman got the cop job!

Tip #5: Take A Trip Down Memory Lane

Be prepared to answer behavioral interview questions, which are examples of what you have actually done in the past under certain conditions. I've listed a few below, but I recommend you write out as many examples of stand-out events in your career that could be called upon to answer these questions. Make a quick "SBO Chart" of at least 10 of these in terms of the Situation, the Behaviors you displayed, and the Outcomes (why it mattered, even quantify if possible). This will serve as a menu of your choosing when you get asked a tough question where you cannot immediately recall an answer.

Here are 2 SBOs which are total figments of my imagination:

Question #1: Tell me about a time when you had a conflict with someone for whom you were in a position of authority.

• Situation: Leading an orchestra and one of the members was causing dissension in the group.
• Behavior: Pulled the person aside after practice and discussed the situation. I learned there were some things going on at home and offered to meet a few more times. This led to an ongoing friendship.
• Outcome: This person ended up being the anchor to the group, empathetic to others who were having issues & helping to build trust. She's an orchestra maestro herself now at the Symphony of America.

Question #2: Tell me about a time you embraced change when encountering difficulties or challenges.

• Situation: I accepted an offer to sing in a newly composed opera. It was 2 weeks until the opening and the music & staging kept having major tweaks.
• Behavior: I controlled what I could, and tried to influence the rest to come to a compromise. I learned that this was new territory for many of my younger colleagues so used this as an opportunity to learn as well as provide peer coaching.
• Outcome: It didn't look the same as we had originally envisioned because of all the changes…it was probably even better because of all the contributions of the group. The show had rave reviews and ended up with net profits 235% over projections!

You've got this. Break a leg, friend.

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About Ruthie, as it relates to Interviewing:

I have interviewed over 150 people in my short career which both seems like a lot and at the same time not very many at all. I am not an expert and admit to some cringeworthy interviews. Even so, sitting on both sides of the interview table has taught me quite a bit about myself and has shaped the way I think about the world and relationships. Even if you don't get the job, you will learn something. And isn't that really what life is all about?