You’re answering interview questions all wrong. And you probably don’t even realise.

My friend was interviewing for her ‘dream job’. 

And she wanted my advice on whether she answered the questions well or not. 

One question my friend was asked was ‘tell me about a challenging situation you have encountered and how you overcame it?’. A fairly standard interview question.

‘How did you answer?’, I asked.

The answer she gave was related to missing out on an internal role at her current company and how she worked to secure the job the following year.

The answer was a correct answer. 

But it wasn't the best answer she could have put forward. 

She answered the questions correctly. But not strategically. 

Correct versus Strategic

So, what do I mean by correct versus strategic?

Answering a question correctly is literally as it sounds. You gave a good answer and it was factually correct.

A strategic answer has gone through a strategic filter. And that strategic filter is the filter of ‘does this answer show how I can add value for this company in this role?’. 

You ONLY give answers that can pass through the filter.

Every question you answer in an interview is an opportunity to show them you are the right candidate for the role. 

But every time you answer a question correctly, instead of strategically, it is an opportunity missed. And you don’t get a ton of chances in an interview.

Why my friends answer didn't work

I knew the role my friend had applied for. And I knew one of the biggest tasks of the role was to work with the sales team. I would say 60% of the role, and its success, would come down to her ability to work with sales.

So I asked her, ‘why didn't you give them an answer that reflected your sales management experience?’

She looked at me blankly while I explained… ‘if 60% of the job is working with sales, wouldn't a better answer have been to talk about a challenging time working with sales and how you overcame it?’

Her face sank. 

‘Yes’, she said. ‘That would have been a much better answer!'.

The answer she gave was fine. It was correct. But she missed the chance to really hammer home the vast experience she has had working with sales.

ALWAYS use the filter

In order to answer interview questions strategically, you must first design the filter for the questions. 

You design the filter by going through the job description and working out what are the 3-5 key areas of this role - what are the most important parts. 

You could also speak to people who work there or ask HR in the initial interview.

Whatever you do, you want to make sure you know EXACTLY what is going to be in your filter.

Then you want to go through your career and refresh yourself on examples that match the filter you have created. You ONLY want to share examples that relate to the 3-5 key areas you have identified.

Apply the filter in the interview

You always want to make sure you are applying your filter in the interview. 

For every question you are asked, you want to pass the answer through the filter and ask ‘How does this answer show that I can add value for the company in this role?’

If it doesn't show how you can add value, then you might be answering correctly, but you are missing the chance to answer strategically. 

Remember, you always want to be answering strategically, using your pre-determined filter.

This tactic comes straight from my Creative Career Level UP programme.

If you would like to learn more tactics like this, the Creative Career Level Up might be the right solution for you.