Nail These 6 Interview Questions to Get Hired 🔴 Live Office Hours with Andrew LaCivita

Key Concepts

• Interview Anatomy: Introduction, Power Story, Branch Questions, Questions to Ask
• CAR Technique: Context, Approach, Acts, Result
• Problem-Solving Formula: Assessment, Reviewing Past Solutions, Environmental Variables, Economical Short-Term Solution, Long-Term Plan
• Disagreement Resolution: Listening, Searching for Combination Solutions, Sharing Viewpoint/Persuading
• Influence Strategy: Thinking from Their Perspective, Identifying Concerns, Highlighting Benefits, Providing Necessary Information, Offering a Juxtaposition
• Service Methodology: Empathetic Mindset, Identifying Needs/Wants, Immediate Fix, Long-Term Solution, Incremental Improvement, Extra Step
• Leadership Philosophy: Understanding Team Goals, Providing Processes/Tools, Highlighting Individual Fit, Recognizing Contributions, Supporting Aspirations, Leading by Example, Offering Real-Time Support
• Passion Definition: Meaning and Purpose, Contribution and Value, Serving Others, Learning and Growing

Interview Coaching: A Bulletproof Formula

This session focuses on providing a formula to answer challenging interview questions related to problem-solving, disagreements, influence, service, leadership, and passion. The core idea is to present a structured approach or philosophy before diving into specific examples.

Anatomy of an Interview

Andy outlines the typical structure of an interview:

1. Introduction: "Tell me about yourself," "Walk me through your resume."
2. Power Story: A concise narrative showcasing a past achievement that directly aligns with the job requirements. It should demonstrate relevant skills and highlight how the candidate can solve similar problems for the new employer.
3. Branch Questions: Follow-up questions that delve deeper into specific aspects of the power story, such as challenges faced, disagreements encountered, or influence exerted.
4. Questions to Ask: The candidate's opportunity to ask questions.

The session primarily focuses on tackling the "branch questions" effectively.

General Strategy: Numbers and Questions First

When faced with questions about problem-solving, disagreements, influence, service, leadership, or passion, Andy emphasizes the following:

1. Numbers First: Begin by outlining the number of steps or components in your approach. This provides a clear roadmap for the interviewer.
2. Questions: Frame your approach as a series of questions you ask yourself to ensure effectiveness.

The goal is to showcase your thought process and methodology rather than just recounting a story.

Story Selection: Relevance is Key

It's crucial to select stories that are relevant to the employer's needs and challenges. A "cool" story that doesn't translate to their environment won't be effective.

The CAR Technique and its Adaptation

Andy references his CAR (Context, Approach, Acts, Result) technique, emphasizing the importance of presenting information in lists. He adapts it by focusing on the "Approach" component first, outlining the steps or philosophy before detailing the specific "Context" and "Acts."

Specific Formulas for Common Interview Questions

1. Problem-Solving

• Formula: "I approach any problem with these steps..."
  1. Assessment to understand the situation.
  2. Reviewing past solutions to see if routines were abandoned.
  3. Analyzing environmental variables that may have changed.
  4. Seeking an economical short-term solution.
  5. Considering long-term impacts and implementing a sustainable plan.
• Example: "We had this problem, and I solved it the same way I approach any problem. First, I did an assessment..."

2. Disagreements

• Formula: "I handle any disagreement at work with these steps..."
  1. Listening to understand all perspectives.
  2. Searching for a combination solution that incorporates different viewpoints.
  3. Sharing your viewpoint and persuading if necessary.
• Example: "My colleague and I had a disagreement, and I handled it like I handle any disagreement at work. First, I listened..."

3. Influence

• Formula: "When I need to influence someone, I take these steps..."
  1. Thinking from their perspective.
  2. Identifying their concerns.
  3. Highlighting how they will benefit (personally and professionally).
  4. Providing necessary information.
  5. Offering a juxtaposition or fresh perspective.
• Example: "I needed to influence the team, and I approached it like I influence anyone. First, I think about how they think..."

4. Service

• Formula: "When I'm in service mode, I consciously go through these steps..."
  1. Adopting an empathetic mindset.
  2. Identifying their needs/wants.
  3. Fixing the immediate issue.
  4. Implementing a long-term solution.
  5. Seeking incremental improvements.
  6. Taking an extra step to exceed expectations.
• Example: "When serving a customer, I always start with an empathetic mindset..."

5. Leadership

• Formula: "When leading a team, I focus on..."
  1. Ensuring everyone understands the team's goal.
  2. Providing the necessary processes and tools.
  3. Highlighting how each individual fits into the overall mission.
  4. Recognizing their contributions.
  5. Supporting their aspirations.
  6. Leading by example.
  7. Offering real-time support.
• Example: "When leading a team, the first thing I do is make sure everyone understands the team's goal..."

6. Passion

• Formula: Explain why you're passionate, focusing on:
  1. Meaning and purpose.
  2. Contribution and value.
  3. Serving others.
  4. Learning and growing.
• Example: "I'm passionate about helping people improve their lives because it gives me a sense of meaning and purpose..."

Passion: A Deeper Dive

Andy emphasizes that passion should be meaningful, purposeful, and focused on serving others. The joy should be in the service provided, not just the act of doing. He provides a personal anecdote about his passion for teaching and how it's fueled by the impact he has on his audience.

Recap and Key Takeaways

• When answering behavioral interview questions, always start by outlining your methodology or philosophy.
• Frame your approach as a series of questions you ask yourself.
• Select stories that are relevant to the employer's needs.
• Focus on the transformation you can bring to the company, not just your skills.

Additional Resources and Offers

• The Zebra Code: A book offering career advice.
• Interview Intervention: Another book focused on interview skills.
• Milewalk Academy Calendar of Events: A free calendar to track Andy's live sessions.
• Andy AI: A digital twin that provides personalized career advice (available to boot camp members or as a paid subscription).

Q&A Highlights

• Pre-preparing for questions: Andy recommends preparing a "power story" and then adapting the formulas to address specific questions within that context.
• Conveying trust: Trust is built through clear communication, confidence, and demonstrating the ability to deliver results.
• Keeping stories fresh: Focus on the needs of the interviewer and tailor your responses to their specific situation.
• Handling difficult questions: Andy believes no question is inherently difficult; the key is to provide the information the interviewer needs to make a good hiring decision.
• Adapting for recruiter vs. hiring manager: The same formulas can be used for both, but recruiters may focus more on basic qualifications and communication skills.
• Handling a different role suggestion: Express interest in the company and willingness to work where you can contribute the most value.

Conclusion

The session provides a comprehensive framework for tackling challenging interview questions by focusing on structured approaches, relevant examples, and a transformation-oriented mindset. Andy's emphasis on serving others and tailoring communication to the audience underscores the importance of empathy and genuine connection in the interview process.