6 types of stories you should have on hand in job interviews

1. WHEN YOU SOLVED A PROBLEM

You’ve likely seen the term “problem solver” listed as a desired skill in almost every job description you’ve read. But, anybody can simply slap that key phrase on his or her resume. The proof is in the pudding, so you need to be prepared to explain a time when you actually exercised this skill.

Did you once resolve a conflict between two team members you worked closely with? Was there a time when you managed to find a last-minute conference speaker after the original one backed out in the eleventh hour?

Dig back through your history to find an example that shows you’re a creative, resourceful, and self-motivated problem solver who’s always there in a pinch. No, your interviewer likely won’t be impressed by the fact that you moved closer to the office simply so you could sleep later. Is that a solution to your problem? Sure. But, you’re probably better off keeping that tidbit to yourself.

2. WHEN YOU OVERCAME A CHALLENGE

The workplace can be full of obstacles. Whether you need to navigate a tricky relationship with your manager or you get stuck with an overwhelmingly difficult project, it’s important to show that you aren’t quick to back down from a challenge.

There are so many inspiring stories out there that it can be tempting to rack your brain until you come up with a tear-jerking example of how you overcame adversity. But, you don’t need to lie about how you climbed Mount Kilimanjaro or pulled yourself out of homelessness. Interviewers aren’t looking for a movie plot.

Instead, come up with a real-life instance of when something stood in your way and you did everything you could to get around it. For example, maybe you worked two part-time jobs in order to pay for your college tuition. Or maybe you turned around a huge work project on an impossibly tight deadline. Those are great stories to share about how you took initiative in order to climb over roadblocks.

3. WHEN YOU MADE A MISTAKE

We’ve all heard it before—nobody’s perfect. People make mistakes, and interviewers know that you’re no exception. But, what’s important to them is how you react to your slip-ups. Do you sweep them under the rug, or do you address them head on?

Mistakes are common, so you probably won’t have a tough time thinking of a wide array of blunders to choose from. But, you want to be somewhat selective about the one you choose to share. After all, you definitely don’t want to tell the interviewer about the time you accidentally sent a scathing email about your boss to the entire company.

Instead, think of a more minor mistake that you made in the workplace (e.g., not something like leaking internal documents to the press). Briefly explain the situation, and then talk about everything you did to remedy the issue. Remember that the emphasis of this story shouldn’t be on the actual mistake you made—it should be on the steps you immediately took to fix it, and then what you learned from it.

4. WHEN YOU WORKED AS A LEADER

“Leadership” is another one of those job interview buzzwords. And, if you’re applying for amanagement position, you want to be sure to have at least a few solid examples of your leadership skills in your back pocket.

Perhaps you previously led your team to achieve the highest sales numbers on record. Maybe you coordinated a wildly successful company-wide event. Or, perhaps you chaperoned and directed your niece’s Girl Scout troupe on a three-day camping trip.

If you can come up with a time when you successfully took charge and saw positive results, you’ll be prepared to wow your interviewer with your incredible leadership know-how.

5. WHEN YOU WORKED WITH A TEAM

You know the saying — teamwork makes the dream work. And, as you know by now, collaborating with others in the workplace is pretty much inevitable. So, you need to demonstrate that you know how to play nice in the sandbox.

What sorts of examples can you bring up? Pretty much any time that you effectively teamed up with people will fit the bill! You can talk about a huge project that you were a part of or explain your volunteer position as one of the board members of a local nonprofit. As long as your example shows that you understand not just how to collaborate, but why it’s so valuable (all the heads are better than one)—you’ll be in good shape.

So, pick a time when you worked with others—more importantly, when you worked well with others—and give your interviewer the details.

6. WHEN YOU DID SOMETHING INTERESTING

Yes, interviews place most of the emphasis on your job-related qualifications and competencies. But, if the hiring manager has a decent handle on your background and thinks you’re a potential good fit, he or she might be interested in finding out more about you personally—not just professionally.

You definitely don’t want to meet the person with a blank stare when he or she concludes the interview with, “So, tell me something about what you like to do outside of work.”

Whether you’re currently training for your first marathon or you’re in the process of doing a DIY renovation on your kitchen, you should be armed and ready with a few noteworthy tidbits. Not only will you answer the interviewer’s question, but you’ll also leave the hiring manager with something memorable to associate with your name!

Those tricky behavioral interview questions are enough to immediately make your palms clammy. But, they’re also a perfect opportunity to demonstrate that you’re a great fit for the position. Have these six stories at the ready, and you’re sure to ace your next interview!

13 ways to make a good first impression at job interview

1. Dress for the Job You Want

Dress in professional attire as if you were making an important presentation, meeting with a key client, or having lunch with the senior vice president or CEO.

Make sure your clothes are not too tight, too revealing, or too baggy. If you have a question about whether your attire is inappropriate, don't ask a friend to confirm your choice. Just change your outfit. Also avoid wearing too much jewelry, perfume, or aftershave lotion.

Determining the exact clothing to wear can be tricky as dress codes vary. In many office settings, a suit is the recommended attire. For others, the dress depends on the targeted position, so research (e.g., contact HR, ask a friend who works at the company, and peruse LinkedIn profiles) to decide what to wear, leaning toward classic rather than trendy colors and patterns.

2. Arrive on Time, but Not Too Early

Ideally, you should arrive about 10-15 minutes before your interview.

Being late for an interview sends the signal that you are unreliable and inattentive to details. Showing up too early makes you seem over-eager and stalker-like. If you arrive 30 minutes or more before your scheduled session, then the hiring manager may feel rushed to greet you or uncomfortable with the prospect of having you hang out in a reception area.

Demonstrate promptness without seeming like you have nothing better to do than wait around for a prospective employer. To get the timing right, visit the interview location and determine the appropriate travel time before your meeting day.

3. Enter a Room Confidently

Your entrance is a key to making a positive impression, according to career and professional development advisor Elizabeth Dexter-Wilson. She recommends keeping your head up, acknowledging those in the room or reception area, smiling, and saying hello.

4. Offer a Firm Handshake

Shake hands with a firm grip. A firm handshake, not too tight and not at all limp, demonstrates confidence.

Extend your hand in greeting to human resource representatives, hiring managers, senior-level managers, and potential colleagues. And, if you are not already standing, stand up when someone enters the room prior to shaking hands.

5. Be Kind to Everyone

Show kindness to everyone you meet. You want to make a good first impression in all encounters, not only for kindness' sake but also because those on the front lines may share their perceptions about you with hiring decision-makers.

Be gracious to each and every person including parking lot attendants, security officers, receptionists, executive assistants, human resources team members, potential co-workers, and hiring managers.

6. Act Interested

Behave like you are excited about the job, even if you are secretly wondering if the position is a good fit for your talents.

Acting interested can help you engage the interviewers. Then, you can learn more about the organization and its needs, and determine whether you should pursue the position.

7. Don't Open a Conversation With Careless Remarks

Though most interviewees wouldn't intend to be insulting or insensitive, you might accidentally say something you regret. Avoid conversation starters using too-casual or off-color slang or make comments about personal appearances, politics, religion, or controversial topics.

Plan your opening remarks and be gracious if someone makes an unkind comment to you.

8. Be Prepared to Talk About the Company and Yourself

Be ready for conversation with knowledge about the company, responses to common interview question, and questions of your own.

Don't act like you know everything or you will seem arrogant. But certainly read the organization's website and relevant news so you can talk intelligently about the company.

Practice your responses to typical questions and prepare stories about your recent accomplishments, particularly ones that illustrate how you make you a great fit for the organization. Finally, put together a list of questions to pose when the interviewer asks if you have questions.

9. Do a Pre-Interview Body Check

Take stock of yourself quickly, beyond your make-up and appearance. Career-services professional Barbara Safani recommends three simple actions to prevent distraction and embarrassment:

1. remove loose change from your pockets;
2. turn off your cell phone;
3. toss your cup of coffee or bottle of water.

10. Check Your Smile

Make sure your smile is nice.

Deal with major issues by visiting a dentist or dental hygienist before you begin the job-search process. On the day of your interview, brush your teeth and floss, and avoid eating right before your meeting.

During the interview, remember to smile.

11. Carry a Portfolio

You'll want to bring hard copies of your resume, references, and other job-search materials to the interview. Carry these in a portfolio for a polished look.

12. Know the Answer to "Why Are You Here?"

To start your interview well, prepare your response to the question, "Why are you here?"

Note that the response should be more substantial and insightful than "to interview for a job." Tell the interviewer why you are excited about the prospect of joining this particular organization. Briefly explain how your expertise could contribute to the company's success.

Top 10 Tips to Be a Good Team Player

Top 10 Tips to Be a Good Team Player

Teamwork really does make the dream work! Here, we’re sharing our tips for being the best team player—whether it’s for your family, group of friends or colleagues:

1. Do your homework. “A big part of being a great teammate for me is doing my ‘homework.’ It’s so important for each of us to do our part. Coming in to work every day being prepared for the new day is so vital to the rehearsal process. We’re all working towards the same goal of a spectacular performance, so taking care of yourself and continuing to work on the routines makes for a great teammate.” —Rockette Megan K.

2. Be each others cheerleaders. “I like to say I have my pom poms in my back pockets cheering on my fellow Rockettes at all times during the Christmas and non-Christmas season. One year I even made my own Rockette #1 foam finger and brought it into work.” —Rockette Rachel B.

3. Make the environment fun. “I love decorating the dressing room for the season. It usually takes a couple of days to put up all of the decorations, but it’s always a team effort. I love that we all come together with fun ideas about where we should hang the lights or string the garland. I get so excited to see the finished product knowing we all worked together to make our home away from home even more festive!” —Rockette Brittany S.

4. Make each other laugh. “During the Christmas season, we always keep each other laughing and it’s so powerful. Laughter can change your entire day. Plus, laughing is the best ab workout!” —Rockette Aly M.

5. Be there for one another. “Some girls don’t live in NYC full-time which usually means that they don’t get to spend the holidays with family; and that can be hard. I always open up my home for them and invite them over to holiday gatherings.” —Rockette Christine S.

6. Lift each other up. “When we know someone is going through a hard time or just having a rough day, we try and do whatever we can to support them and give them what they need in order to be able to get through the shows. Whether that means sleep, some good jams to pull them out of a funk, a good laugh, a good meal and glass of wine, a group hang or just a hug and a cry.” —Rockette Sagan R.

1. It’s Not What You Say, but How You Say It

This is a simple, but important one. Consider your word choice when interacting with your colleagues. Choosing to say “we” instead of “I” is a small gesture, but it’s a gesture that can go a long way in recognizing the contributions of others.

At my company, City Wide Franchise, we have all become accustomed to referring to the whole group, rather than to certain individuals. Communicating in this way strengthens our bonds and gives us greater purpose.

2. Keep All Lines of Communication Open

Whether you communicate with your team through email, weekly webinars, team meetings, or one-on-one meetings, it’s important that you use some method to foster ongoing, clear, and consistent communication. Doing so ensures that nothing gets lost in translation and that everyone is held accountable to deadlines.

At City Wide Franchise, we use a tool called Asana, which is designed to help teams collaborate more efficiently. Instead of using email, we create projects, assign tasks to team members, and track progress through an online dashboard.

3. Have an Open Mindset

Nothing ever goes exactly as planned. This is especially true when it comes to working in a group environment. One team member can present a new approach that changes the direction of an entire project.

Rather than challenging or contradicting opposing viewpoints, an effective team player will demonstrate flexibility, embrace change, and show a willingness to try something new and different.

4 Don’t Forget to Celebrate

Great team players celebrate the successes of their teammates.

One way to recognize fellow teammates is to include a “shoutouts” section in the company newsletter, where team members and team leaders can acknowledge their colleagues great work. Another effective recognition tool is to set aside some time during team meetings for team members to stand up and acknowledge their coworkers’ efforts.

It is incredibly important to celebrate team victories. At City Wide Franchise, we hold a monthly scorecard meeting that we use to measure and share group and company-wide successes. We also host off-site celebrations to show our appreciation for groups that exceed expectations.

It’s not hard to be a team player, and learning to become one will help you advance your career to new heights. Really, it’s all about refocusing your mindset: stop thinking about yourself as an individual at work, and start thinking about yourself as an important part of an overall team. Do this, and you’ll make a name for yourself as a real asset to your company.