Behavioral Interview Advice

🌱 UX Storytelling. We can’t build empathy with facts alone. Practical guidelines on how to present a strong case, get a buy-in and make a lasting impact. ✅ User stories build empathy by putting audience in users’ shoes. 🚫 Poor stories are predictable, unrealistic and hard to relate to. ✅ Good stories are unexpected, sincere and memorable. ✅ Powerful stories leave enough room for interpretation. ✅ Nothing is more powerful than a story that elevates emotions. ✅ An engaging story is a conversation, not a one-way broadcast.   ✅ First, set the context, state the problem and show the impact. ✅ Then suggest steps to take and a strategy to resolve the problem. ✅ If you seek a broad exploration of ideas, reveal fewer details. ✅ If you want a focus on a specific problem, reveal a lot of detail. ✅ Explain the context: time, project, team, background, goals, scope. ✅ State the problem: users, quotes, videos, photos, insights, findings. ✅ Show a resolution: activities, timeframe, people, recommendations. 🚫 Nothing breaks the story more than lack of meaningful resolution. ✅ To have impact, make your audience want your characters to win. Stories don’t have to be long and intricate to be impactful. When presenting, I always start by setting the right expectations first. I explain the problem we’re solving. Show current experience and why we are changing it. Showing customers and explain how they use the product. Whenever possible, I include video clips and direct quotes from usability testing. Then I walk through the entire process of what we’ve been working on. The design decisions made. Their impact on business. Decisions rejected. Revised. Tested. Revisited. Explain how we’ll measure if we are successful or not. And finally wrap-up with a suggestion for short-term and long-term strategy, and actionable next steps. Leave fewer questions to be asked, and answer questions before they happen. When no questions are left, and all concerns are addressed, the easiest thing to do is to agree and approve. Show the path there, and it will be taken more often than not. Useful resources: A Guide To Effective UX Storytelling, by Mayya Azarova, Ph.D. https://lnkd.in/efNm-7gV How to Use Storytelling in UX Research, by Allison Grayce Marshall https://lnkd.in/eZ2aGwkU Strategic Storytelling for Designers, by Saielle DaSilva https://lnkd.in/e3Bb9X7C Storytelling Framework: Pillars of Story (free PDF), by Peter von Stackelberg https://lnkd.in/epRvCuNQ Storytelling Design Principles (book), by Anna Dahlström https://lnkd.in/e43sWs-b Storytelling for UX (book), by Whitney Quesenbery, Kevin Brooks https://lnkd.in/ez_AXz2G Happy storytelling, everyone! 🎉🥳

After reviewing thousands of interview feedback forms throughout my career, I've noticed a pattern: candidates who clearly articulate why they want the specific role and why they're an ideal fit before leaving the interview consistently receive higher ratings.   Many qualified professionals mistakenly assume: • Their enthusiasm for the role is self-evident • Their qualifications clearly align with the job requirements • The interviewer has connected all the dots between their experience and the position   However, leaving this crucial connection unstated can significantly impact hiring decisions.   The closing moments of an interview create a lasting impression.   Using this time to clearly summarize your interest and fit provides the interviewer with clarity that helps them advocate for you in subsequent hiring discussions.   Before concluding any interview, take a moment to explicitly state: • Your specific interest in this role and organization • How your experience directly addresses their key needs • Your enthusiasm for the opportunity to contribute   This simple practice ensures nothing is left to interpretation about your interest or suitability - exactly what hiring managers need when comparing candidates.   What interview closing technique have you found most effective?   Check out my newsletter for more insights here: https://lnkd.in/ei_uQjju    #executiverecruiter #eliterecruiter #jobmarket2025 #profoliosai #resume #jobstrategy #professionalcommunication #interviewstrategies #hiringprocess

3-step formula to understand yourself and ace interviews. See, one major red flag as a candidate is a lack of self-awareness. Imagine the interviewer asks, "What’s your greatest strength or weakness?" You answer with something generic (like a 5y/o) like, "I’m a perfectionist", or "I work too hard," or “I’m not really sure about this” Now, if you aren’t fully aware of yourself, how do you expect to convince the interviewer that you’re the right fit? As an interview coach, I see this mistake all the time. To fix this, I give my candidates this 3-step formula to help them give impactful answers: 1/ Look back at your experiences. What went well? What didn’t? Being clear on both will help you know where you shine and where you need work. 2/ Pick a real weakness, but show what you’re doing to improve. Example: “I struggled with time management, but I started using tools like Asana, and it’s made me more organised.” 3/ Talk about how your strengths directly benefit the job. For example, if you’re great at problem-solving, explain how it’s helped you find solutions that impact the team. Here are some sample answers you can use: ✅ Strength: "I’m an adaptable learner. In my last role, I had to quickly learn a new software system that no one on my team was familiar with. I took the initiative to master it and then trained my colleagues, which improved our efficiency by 30%." ✅ Weakness: "I used to struggle with public speaking. I’d get nervous presenting in meetings, so I started practicing with smaller groups and taking online courses. Now, I feel much more confident leading discussions." Ultimately, the more you know yourself, the better you'll show up in any interview. #interviewcoach #interviewtips #interviewquestions #interviewpreparation

Body language can make or break your interview success. Here are 6 game-changing tips I use daily (and teach): 1. Eye Contact - Keep it natural - 70% of the time is perfect - Don't stare, but don't avoid - Switch between eyes and note-taking 2. Posture - Sit straight, shoulders back - Lean slightly forward (shows interest) - Keep feet planted firmly on ground 3. Hand Gestures - Use open palm movements - Keep gestures between chest and waist - Avoid crossing arms or pointing 4. Nodding - Nod occasionally to show active listening - Don't overdo it - 3-4 nods max per response - Mix with verbal affirmations 5. Facial Expressions - Smile genuinely when appropriate - Stay engaged, but relaxed - Avoid nervous habits (lip biting, frowning) 6. Mirroring - Match interviewer's energy level - Adopt similar speaking pace - Don't copy exact movements I've coached 100+ professionals on these techniques. The results? - 65% got positive feedback on presence - 78% reported feeling more confident - 89% landed their target role Remember: These aren't "tricks" - they're tools for authentic communication. Practice them before your next interview. Start with one, master it, then move to the next. 📌 Quick tip: Record yourself in mock interviews to spot areas for improvement. What's your biggest interview body language challenge? Drop it below. P.S. Want more interview tips? Let me know. #bodylanguage #interview #employees #jobseekers

𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼! Let's face it, we can craft and tell coherent stories that bring the audience through an emotional roller-coaster on social media, or when we're giving a rehearsed speech. However, how can we tell impactful stories when we're caught off guard? For example, during a Q & A, a panel discussion, or a podcast interview. Or a job interview (there're questions you can anticipate and prepare for, but that's a topic for another day). How can you quickly gather your thoughts and share a short story without rambling on and on? Here's a quick and simple framework I share in my "Speaking Under Fire" workshops: • 𝗦ituation you Faced - Quickly share what's the context of the situation you faced - What challenges confronted you? What was at stake for you? Where was it? Who was involved? • 𝗧houghts and Feelings - How did that make you feel? 𝘉𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘷𝘶𝘭𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 give others a glimpse into your inner world - values, thought processes, etc • 𝗢bservable Actions - This is the "meat" of the story.What did you do about the situation? Be as specific as possible, and as relevant as possible. • 𝗥esult of your Actions - What happened in the end. It could be a positive outcome, but it doesn't have to be the case. That's where vulnerability comes in, e.g. the business ultimately failed, the relationship faded, etc. • 𝗬our Takeaway - 1 or 2 quick reflections of what you've learnt - about the subject matter, about yourself. Avoid the cliché "the moral of the story is _____" because people switch off. Just a quick, "I've learnt that ____" suffices. 𝘌𝘹𝘵𝘳𝘢 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦: 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘶𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭-𝘰𝘯 "𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘥𝘦" Of course, this is not an invitation to "spin" untrue stories. Authenticity is key because people can detect inauthenticity from a mile! It's important to be curious about the world, go on "mini-adventures" and take some calculated risks. Reflect on your experiences and keep a "story-bank" so you will have meaningful anecdotes to pull out when the situations call for it. Try it! I invite you to share your stories in the comments below and I will reply to every one of them! ❤️ 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭? 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦. ✋ 𝘍𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘛𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘐𝘯𝘧𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭! 🤝 𝘎𝘦𝘵 𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘈𝘵𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘉𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘖𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘈-𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘴! 👉 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘰𝘯 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘤𝘰𝘯 🔔 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. #WholeHearted #MagneticStorytelling  

I stare at the video screen in frustration. "Anna, you have a habit of telling two things in your stories. To tell an impactful story, you need to focus on one point. One story, one point," my storytelling coach, Matt, says. Matt is one of the best storytellers in the US. "Look at it this way: You can use the same story but craft it differently to make another point," he says. "That’s the beauty of storytelling." When I started my adventure in storytelling, I wanted my stories to convey multiple points. But I've learned that to tell my story with impact, I had to choose one message. We all have stories to tell, but finding the core message can sometimes feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. If you've ever struggled with pinpointing the main theme of your narrative, you're not alone. Here are three techniques to help you uncover the heart of your story: 1. Begin with the End in Mind. Think about the impact you want your story to have on your audience. What do you want them to take away from it? By envisioning the result, you can work backwards to identify the key message to drive your story forward. Example: if you want your audience to feel inspired by your resilience, your core message might revolve around overcoming adversity. 2. Identify the Turning Points. Look for pivotal moments in your story where a significant change or realization occurred. These turning points often highlight the essence of your narrative and can help you zero in on the core message. Example: If a turning point in your career was realizing your passion for storytelling, your core message might be about the power of following your true calling. 3. Ask Yourself 'Why?' Repeatedly. Continuously asking "why" about different aspects of your story can peel back the layers and reveal the underlying message. This technique, often called the "Five Whys," helps you dig deeper into the reasons behind your experiences and actions. Example: Why did you start your own business? To have more control over your work. Why did you want more control? To pursue your creative ideas freely. Why is pursuing creativity important to you? Because it leads to innovation and fulfilment. Hence, your core message might be about the importance of creative freedom in achieving personal and professional satisfaction. Finding the core message in your story is about understanding the impact you want to create, identifying pivotal moments, and continuously questioning your motives. These techniques will help you craft a compelling narrative that resonates with your audience. P.S. What's the core message of your latest story? Share below, I'd love to hear it. - Hi, I’m Anna Ong. I am the creator and host of What's Your Story Slam, an event similar to stand-up comedy, but instead of jokes, people tell stories. Our events provide a platform for people to connect and inspire each other through storytelling. Keen to learn more? DM me, and let's chat!

Adaptability is not just about adjusting plans, it’s about how you lead when plans change. It's the ability to respond thoughtfully and quickly when circumstances shift , without losing sight of people or purpose. 👩🏭 It's the plant manager who adjusts production schedules in response to supply chain issues without blaming the team, and involving them in finding solutions. 👨🏭 It's the site foreman who calmly adjusts plans when weather delays hit, reassigning tasks to keep the crew productive instead of standing still. 👩💼 It's the store manager who rotates staff across departments during a sudden staffing shortage, while keeping morale high and communicating clearly. I've worked with people in all of these positions, and more. And every single person who showed real adaptability had a few things in common: 📌 They stayed steady 📌 They stayed human 📌 They brought people with them 📌 They kept things moving. And underneath that... 📌 They were curious 📌 They were willing to unlearn 📌 They paused to reflect 📌 They shared their ideas 📌 They didn't try to have it all figured out Are we developing these competencies in ourselves and others? How can we improve our approach? Leave your comments below 🙏

Interview Conversation Role: RTE in #SAFe framework Topic: Conflict Management 👴 Interviewer: "Imagine the Product Manager and System Architect disagree over feature priorities, with the PM focusing on customer needs and the Architect concerned about tech debt. As the RTE, how would you handle this?" 🧑 Candidate: "I’d remind them to focus on the PI objectives and find a middle ground." 👴 Interviewer: "Say this disagreement is slowing decision-making, impacting team alignment, and morale is dipping. What specific actions would you take to mediate?" 🧑 Candidate: "I’d encourage both of them to think about the project’s overall goals." What a skilled Release Train Engineer should say: ------------------------------------------------------ In cases like this, it’s crucial to foster open, constructive discussions without losing sight of both customer value and technical stability. 🌟 I’d start by facilitating a conversation with the PM and Architect to unpack their priorities and establish a shared understanding. 📅 In a similar situation, I scheduled a conflict-resolution workshop with both roles, focusing on ‘value vs. sustainability’ using the Economic Framework. 🏹 We assessed the impact of each priority on the PI objectives, assigning weights based on business and architectural needs. The workshop helped clarify the ROI of tech improvements and immediate features, allowing them to make informed trade-offs. 🛠 To make it concrete, we identified one high-priority feature to advance and a critical refactor for the next PI. By reaching a balanced decision, we addressed urgent customer needs while setting a feasible path for addressing tech debt. 🚩 Impact: This approach helped restore team alignment, fostered trust between the PM and Architect, and improved the ART’s overall efficiency. ✍ As an RTE, my role is to mediate these discussions by grounding decisions in shared values and structured prioritization, ensuring both immediate and long-term value are achieved.

I've seen candidates rejected by clients for job opportunities because they talked too much, and others rejected for replying with one-liners. Here are some top communication etiquette tips during interviews. Don't Boil the Ocean 🌊 Focus on key points relevant to the discussion rather than overwhelming the interviewer with excessive details. Listen First, Talk Later 👋🏼 Prioritise listening to the interviewer's questions and concerns before responding. Don’t jump the gun and assume things because you will be shooting yourself in the foot before hearing from the interviewer what skills and attributes they are looking for in the role. Avoid Fluff and High-Level Concepts 💡 Share specific achievements using the STAR method to provide context and showcase your abilities effectively. Ask Relevant Questions at the Right Time 🕰️ Inquire about the role, company, and culture at the beginning of the interview process to demonstrate interest and gather insights. Save questions about benefits and work type for the end of the interview process. Show Adaptability and Problem-Solving Skills 🧠 This is especially important when interviewing for a role in a company of different sizes (i.e., from corporate to startup) to show the interviewer you are adaptable. Highlight instances where you've adapted to challenges and provided solutions, showcasing your ability to navigate various situations effectively. Avoid One Liner Answers 😶 Offer detailed responses that thoroughly address the question, showcasing your expertise and communication abilities effectively. Utilise Local Slangs Thoughtfully 💭 Start with clear and universal language to ensure understanding among diverse audiences, maintaining professionalism in interviews. However, if the interviewer incorporates local slang, consider adopting some to align with their communication style to build rapport. As simple as they may sound, I've seen too many candidates of different seniority make these mistakes. I hope some of these tips will help you avoid some of the unconscious habits during interviews. ☄️ If you are looking to improve your interview skills, consider role-playing with your friends and having them rate you on all the above points. 🍀

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 A tight deadline. A demanding client. A last-minute change that turns your work upside down. We’ve all been there. Stressful situations at work are unavoidable. But how you handle them? That’s where real professionalism shines. I’ve seen two types of responses: 🚩 Person A: Panics, gets defensive, blames external factors. ✅ Person B: Stays composed, finds solutions, keeps communication clear. Guess who earns more trust, credibility, and respect? Here’s what I’ve learned about maintaining professionalism under stress: 🔹 1. Pause Before Reacting When things go wrong, our first instinct is to react instantly. Instead, take 10 seconds to process the situation before responding. Your tone, body language, and words matter more than you think. 🔹 2. Control What You CAN You can’t control last-minute client demands or an overflowing inbox, but you can control: ✔ Your response time ✔ The way you communicate ✔ Your ability to prioritize and delegate 🔹 3. Keep Your Emotions in Check (Even When Others Don’t) If a colleague or client is frustrated, demanding, or even rude, don’t mirror their energy. Stay calm. Stay professional. Nothing diffuses tension like a composed response. 🔹 4. Focus on Solutions, Not the Problem Instead of saying: 🚫 “This isn’t possible. We don’t have enough time.” Try: ✅ “Given the deadline, here’s what we CAN do and how we can adjust.” 🔹 5. Your Reputation = How You Handle Tough Moments People don’t just remember your work—they remember how you made them feel in stressful moments. A calm, professional attitude builds trust and opens doors to bigger opportunities. At the end of the day, professionalism isn’t just about doing great work—it’s about how you handle the tough parts too. #Professionalism #CareerGrowth #Leadership