To prepare success stories aligned with employer requirements, review the job posting to identify the top competencies/skills required for the job then construct a script that addresses each one with an example in the form of a PAR success story. (Attached is a copy of the job posting you shared, highlighting the transferable skills I suggest you focus your efforts towards as well as an introduction to the PAR formula.)

Many candidates make the mistake of describing past or current job duties without validating claims of experience with quantified examples. Many employers use the behavioral interview method to explore real examples of how well you perform in your area of expertise. The behavioral interview method is applied because research studies suggest past behavior predicts future behavior and success on the job. Therefore, the successful candidate will creates informative PAR success story examples that validate how they've previously performed a specific task.

Craft your response using the following formula:
P stands for the problem with which you were faced as well as the inherent challenges,
A stands for the action you took to solve the problem, and
R stands for the result you yielded.

This approach applies regardless of the question you are posed. Naturally, this approach applies when responding to behavioral questions that present themselves something like "Tell me about a time when...", but when you are asked a question as general as "Tell me about yourself" or "What are your strengths/weaknesses", you still should respond with the employer requirements and job duties in mind (see the attachment entitled "Professional Value Proposition" ). For instance, when responding with your strengths, emphasize those that are aligned with the employer need OR when sharing a weakness be sure to identify something not relevant to the position and while doing so talk through how you have adapted to improve in this area.

Remember, every interview response should directly or indirectly emphasize your ability to quickly hit the ground running by offering examples of how you've successfully performed the work in the past. If you reserve time to write and rehearse your answers, your interview responses will be strategically tailored to the core areas of the role.

For more support in preparing for an upcoming interview or performance review, please schedule a complementary discovery session with one of our certified career development practitioners or transition specialists. You may also visit the Help Center, call 866.827.7302, email us, or use the "Feedback & Support" link located on bottom right side of the page. We also invite you to continue the conversation by sharing your suggestions for advancing in the selection process by adding a comment below.

Below are a few tips to support your efforts to strategically prepare for your next interview:

¨  Research the company, the job, the industry, and any other pertinent intel to clarify pain points and response strategy.
¨  Practice value statements (developed using the PAR framework) offering specific examples of past accomplishments that relevant
position requirements, organizational culture, and team objectives.
¨  Prepare interview portfolio to include a pad folio with notepad and pen, networking business cards, and copies of updated resume.
¨  Approach the interview like a consultant, offering solutions to pain points.
¨  Prepare closing questions and if appropriate, 30-60-90 day plan.
¨ Send follow up note after the interview.

Our team organizes video and audio conferences to conduct mock interviews and interview strategy sessions. To learn more about this service, please schedule a complementary discovery session with one of our certified career development practitioners or transition specialists. You may also visit the Help Center, call 866.827.7302, email us, or use the "Feedback & Support" link located on bottom right side of the page. We also invite you to continue the conversation by sharing your suggestions for advancing in the selection process by adding a comment below.

Before the interview, do your homework! Review the company’s website and learn more about the key personnel, the work they do, their clients, and potential areas where you might be an asset. Google the company. Look for recent news articles about the company. Review the company’s social media profiles (if they exist). Check out the company on Glassdoor.com (www.glassdoor.com) and see what current and former employees have to say. Ask your network for help learning more about the targeted company. If you know your interviewer’s name, Google that too. Check out his or her LinkedIn profile and social media accounts. And prepare a list of targeted questions to ask in the interview — 3-5 questions that demonstrate you’ve done your homework and that, when answered, will give you additional insight into the company.

In the interview, listen carefully. Your interviewer is assessing your fit with the company, but you should be doing the same. You want to make sure that this job is right for you, too! Be prepared to give a “closing statement.” If you’re given the opportunity in the interview, be ready to summarize (in 90 seconds or less) why you think you’d be a good fit for the position. If possible, incorporate in the additional information you’ve learned in the interview itself! Prepare the key points of this closing statement in advance, but practice it until it sounds natural, not canned or rehearsed. And before the interview ends, ask if the interviewer needs anything else from you to help with the decision — a list of references, work samples, a 30-60-90 day plan for what you’d do in the first three months on the job, etc.

And don’t forget that it’s okay to specifically express your interest in working for the company! At the end of the interview, ask what the next step is. You want to know if there is another round of interviews, and when it will begin, or when the hiring decision will be made. Ask if it’s okay to follow-up — and if they’d prefer phone or email?

Immediately after the interview, send a follow-up/thank you note. Handwritten notes are always appreciated, especially if you can mail it the same day (and the hiring timeline allows sufficient time for it to be sent and received). Otherwise, an email follow-up is fine. Express your appreciation for the opportunity to meet, reiterate your specific interest in the job and the company, and confirm the “next step” — whether that’s information you’ve promised to provide, or what you’re expecting from the interviewer.

If you don’t hear back from the interviewer in the time you expected to hear from him or her, it’s okay to follow-up. Just remember that hiring often takes much longer than expected, so don’t be a pest. Be respectful in your follow-up efforts. (“You had mentioned that you thought the second round of interviews would start this week, and I just wanted to make sure that you had everything you needed from me to assist in your decision-making.”)

If you don’t end up getting another interview — or the job offer — try to follow-up with the interviewer to get feedback — specifically, why another candidate was a better fit. You may not be able to obtain this information (busy hiring managers may not take the time to respond), but if you can get this type of feedback, it can be helpful in your overall job search. If you can’t reach the hiring manager, watch who is ultimately hired, and assess that person’s professional profile and see if there was something that might indicate a key qualification (perhaps a certification, or a past employer) that might have set them apart. Sometimes you just won’t be able to tell, however, and you must simply move forward to the next opportunity.

Get in the habit of rewarding yourself for effort, regardless of your results. If you put in the effort, eventually the results will follow. To further clarify recommendations we offer to clients, please schedule a complementary discovery session with one of our certified career development practitioners or transition specialists. You may also visit the Help Center, call 866.827.7302, email us, or use the "Feedback & Support" link located on bottom right side of the page. We also invite you to continue the conversation by sharing your suggestions for advancing in the selection process by adding a comment below.