Doing This (Almost) GUARANTEES You Get Hired In A Job Interview!

The key to a successful job interview is PREPARATION!!

Say it with me... PREPARATION.

Job interviews are probably one of the most important environments where your communication skills will either make or break your chances of success.

Because you could have all the qualifications and technical ability, but if you can't communicate your value well, how will the interviewer truly be able to see the value you have to offer?

I believe one of the most powerful things you could prepare that will give you an edge, is preparing an origin story.

This is a short 2-3 minute story that when crafted well and linked to the job you're applying for well, can change how the interviewer perceives you.

Remember storytelling is one of the most influential forms of communication. Don't be that person that just describes themselves with adjectives, be that person that differentiates themselves from the 100s of applicants by sharing a powerful story.

Let me know what you think of this approach. Is it powerful or powerful?

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[Jules-hnun]

This is why jobs go to the over confident bullshizzer, and not the person who’s actually best suited for the role. Interviewers let themselves be swayed like this and suddenly it’s not about competence anymore.

[chiepah]

Simon Sinek said it best, "You don't rise to the occasion, you fall to your highest level of preparation."

[LASTCXNTURY]

I had my job interview yesterday and it 100% worked! The interviewer actually experienced the same story as I did and we immediately connected! Thanks Vinh!

[richb]

Went on a few interviews and watched lots of u tube videos about interviews to get ready for 1 interview for a job I really wanted.
I practiced with friends and went in to this interview confident and prepared.
Nailed the interview and got the job offer 2 weeks later.

[tjmarx]

As someone who has been hiring people in Australia for 28 years, let me say. No. When most interviewers ask you to tell them about you they aren't interested in you as a person. We don't want your childhood stories, anecdotes or interests.

What we want to know about is your PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE. That's it. Everything outside of that space should not be talked about in answer to that question.

Now, if you want to tell me a story about how you came to this point in your career and the things you learned along the way. Sure, that will be fine.

But if you answer that question like in this video I'm not going to be impressed and will actively be looking for reasons not to hire you. Because by telling me a story about your childhood or your personal situation, what you are actually telling me is that you aren't prepared, that you don't understand the question that I've asked/the etiquette surrounding interviews in Australia and thus that you lack the experience necessary for the role.

Additionally, what I got from that story was

1. Absolutely nothing funny
2. Zero professionalism
3. A lack of understanding of the role
4. A whole lot of cringe
5. Empty buzzwords

It came off like a used car salesman. That might be fine if that's the role you're applying for. Otherwise, probably not.

The story told is like applying for a job at Ferrari and telling them you've always had their posters on your wall and aspire to own one, one day. That's consumer mentality. Not entrepreneur mentality let alone corporate mentality. Crikey.

Here's what will get you the job. Make me imagine working with you every day and think positively about that. That's the whole thing. Your cover letter was your elevator pitch. You got my interest. Now is the time to sell yourself.

[gyohngpersonal]

As an occasional interviewer, I learned that social skills do not always represent professional skills, so if a person presents me with a social layer that I have to peel off - I'm looking for inconsistencies and signs of bullsh*tting harder than I would've otherwise. I especially don't like childhood stories. My ideal candidate would just come, sit down, look at me and confidently inquire: 'what do you want to know? ask me anything' - and then proceed with a competent professional discussion with as few redundant displays of personality as possible. I like the format 'this is what I can do, this is how I would accomplish it'. Even with sufficient prefiltering, it's rare that I get to talk to really competent people, so I usually let HR prescreen the candidate for basic parameters and, during the interview, leave all the personal stuff until the end. Another reason is that I don't want to feel attached to the candidate more than necessary before I check them professionally. I don't like when this protocol is being messed with, I can feel it when the candidate tries to socially engineer their way, and it's not a positive sign for me.

[TonySantanaATX]

Absolutely agree. Every interview I've had over the past 5 years I've used this approach and each interview I was only asked one-two, maybe three questions max. The majority is a high-energy friendly conversation sharing success stories and experiences. Even when they say they have a hard stop, they still give me an additional 5 or 10 minutes because they're curious and truly enjoying our conversation.

Great advice!

[tumultuoustenets]

This explains why I struggle with interviews. If THIS is what people expect of me, then I'm way out of my depth, and I'm lucky to have a job at all.

[edthecoach]

As an HR professional, the "tell me about yourself" can actually answer some questions ahead of time depending on what the candidate says. Not 100% of the time but very often this works, again it just depends on the candidates response. It's meant to be an ice breaker. To Vinh's point, ultimately, Be Prepared for the interview, do your homework and research ahead of time. An interview is not the time to be super shy, remember the person doing the interview already has a job, you as the candidate, are trying to sell that person or persons on why they should hire you versus the other candidates. This is the time to sell yourself.

[paulmarkbevey]

When I started prepping for interviews by using stories to answer questions is when I started getting more job offers than I knew what to do with.

[checreates]

Brand Strategist and Communicator here. I LOVE the charisma and passion you have. I was truly hooked by it. What it failed to communicate to me as an interviewer, however, is what job-related (not just personal) skills this could translate to. Unless you are hoping to just make a personal connection out the gate and answer the more job-related ones after? I like telling a story like this, but more spanning my career. Still not 100% which is better but maybe it depends on the interviewer!

[michaelriga]

Having held numerous positions and conducted countless interviews, I must say the anecdote you shared, though I comprehend its fictitious nature, came across as rather insincere. When faced with that common interview question, it's crucial to respond truthfully without delving into a far-fetched narrative that holds no relevance for the recruiter or hiring manager. Seeking to impress through fabricated tales is not the way to go.

For those aspiring to a Director of Innovation role, the focus should not be on recounting sales experiences from early years but rather on highlighting patents, trademarks, and innovative contributions made in previous roles. Authenticity is key; fabrications are easily discerned by the other party.

[pierrev]

I had an interview earlier today and saw this video yesterday, I really prepared and used the story telling method, I don't think I ever had such a successful interview, thanks a lot!

[saneauto]

I was driving the car while my wife was being interviewed by a headhunter for a different company that pays about 20% more than her current employer. Thats exactly how she responded to the interviewer. She told her origin story about how she got involved in insurance and had them relaxed and open before they proceeded. Yes it was a (first round) phone interview

[amegninounsougan]

My values are integrity, honesty, punctuality. I do things very well 😂😂😂

Thank you Vinh for this eye-opening tip❤

[CH-ypby]

OMG you sound like someone who has never had to to do numerous interviews in a competitive industry, I can see why you have your current day job.

[TheTedbear]

I'm pretty sure my family is born storytellers. It's what we do when we're excited, upset, nervous, etc. Maybe that's why I have gotten jobs relatively easily since I was a teenager. Now, if I could figure out the resume that grabs attention

[michaelobregon]

He made that look so fucking easy, now I’m in crippling depression because of how good that sounded

[andymenendez]

I have a job interview tomorrow, so I could not have watched this video at a better time! Thank you so much for sharing this!

[theredbaron]

this is EXCELLENT advice. I've done dozens of interviews and the ones that worked out best were the ones that started with a personal story and applied it to the job or related to the interviewer. Love your content.