Job Interview Tips: Stop Telling Employers You're a Problem Solver. Prove It.

“I'm a great problem solver.”

“I work well under pressure.”

“I'm a strong team player.”

Sound familiar?

These are things job candidates say in interviews every day. And they're almost meaningless. Not because they're unimportant. But because anyone can say them.

Employers don't just want to hear what you're good at. They want evidence that you can solve their problems.

Show Them What You Mean

Instead of saying you're a problem solver, tell a short story about a problem you actually solved.

For example: 

“Our customer complaints had doubled, and nobody could figure out why. I reviewed the data, identified a problem in our order-processing system, and worked with our operations team to fix it. Complaints dropped 40% over the next two months.”

Now the interviewer really knows something important about you.

You've demonstrated initiative, analytical ability, teamwork, and results. Without having to claim any of them.

The Bottom Line

Before your next job interview, prepare three or four stories about challenges you've faced, what you did, and what happened as a result.

Interview coaches call it the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, Result. You don’t need the acronym. You just need the stories. They don't need to be dramatic. They just need to be real.

Don't just tell employers what you can do. Show them what you've already done.

Ready to get strategic about your career? Let's talk.