How to turn this classic job-interview query into your winning moment

You're in the midst of a job interview. You've taken your seat; you've said hello to the hiring manager, and the standard back-and-forth is about to begin. If the person across the desk says: "Tell me about a time you showed initiative," what's your reply?

With a little practice, you can develop a strong answer -- and perhaps even a great one -- to this classic question. Here at LinkedIn, I'd like to help. On Oct. 26, I announced the start of #AceThatInterview -- an exercise that invites college students and anyone else starting a career to post a short, 60-second video on your profile, with your answer to the "initiative" question. Full details about how to enter are here.

That initial announcement has attracted lots of interest, including nearly 2,000 likes, 158 reshares and 33 comments. Campuses ranging from the University of Central Florida to San Diego State are engaged and eager to show what they can do. But I'm also hearing from students who would welcome some extra pointers about how to make the most of the opportunity. With that in mind . . .

• If you're wondering how to come across on your video, this two-minute clip from YouTube does a great job of showing how to find a business-appropriate tone that still feels like you. We've all been at Stage 1! It's not that hard to get to Stage 3 or 4.
• If you're not sure what to talk about, page two of this tip sheet from San Diego State does a great job of summarizing the STAR method -- Situation, Task, Action, Results. With a little practice, you'll find that you can glide through all four stages, analyzing a personal success in a way that's authentic, specific and persuasive. Do make sure that you connect your story to the types of strengths that matter in business. (Setting goals, working with others, delivering results, etc.)
• Short on actual paid-work experience? Don't stress. These guidelines from Amherst College show (on pages 7 and 8) how to talk about campus clubs or volunteer work, to good effect. Even an argument with one of your professors can become your "initiative" story, as this spirited example shows.

Remember, you don’t need Hollywood-level production values to do well; just use your phone or computer. Make use of LinkedIn's native video tools, and concentrate on delivering the same energy and clarity that you’d bring to a good class discussion. For best results, record yourself in business-casual clothes, with a neutral background.

Once your post is live – as long as it carries the hashtag #AceThatInterview — you’re part of the initiative. Set your post’s distribution to “Public” so we can find it. If you would like visible feedback from others, enable comments; if not, it’s fine to disable comments. Please don’t forget the hashtag; we can’t find you otherwise.

Each entry has three ways of becoming a "win" for you. The strongest entries will be reviewed by expert judges from the employer community. They will post articles on LinkedIn, publicly hailing the top five entrants. Meanwhile, I will provide 1:1 feedback to as many entrants as possible, saluting the best aspects of your entry and offering suggestions for improvement. You can apply that feedback to future interviews, or you can upload a new, improved version of your video post -- strengthening your profile and making it easier for employers to get to know you.

The targeted deadline for this project is Friday, Nov. 10, and that's still the ideal time to submit your entry. (This would be 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, for everyone who tends to meet deadlines at the last possible moment. I've been there, too.) If you're only now getting word of this project, however, a separate panel of judges will be able to look at late entries arriving next week. Those will still get full consideration, as long as they arrive before the end of the East Coast day on Friday, Nov. 17.

This initiative isn’t designed to win you a job by itself. But we hope it will bring you one step closer. Remember, you’ve got allies.

#AceThatInterview