I have conducted dozens of interviews over the course of my career. From interviewing candidates to assemble my current team, to interviewing VP Eng candidates for a role that I would report into, to contributing to the hiring efforts of cross-functional teams – I have seen it all.

I have been involved in a ton of great interviews and conversely, a handful awkward conversations. The common thread that linked each great interview together was the ability of the candidate to construct and tell a great story.

Their story could have been about their career, a project they were involved with or an experience they had with a teammate. But it was their ability to tell it coherently and demonstrate lessons learned, that painted a picture about who they were, what they valued, and how they thought.

Caveats

Now, the ability to tell an enticing story isn’t necessarily a strong indicator that a candidate is a great fit for a role. However, the ability to tell a great story and relate it to the position at hand leaves a positive and memorable impression.

And it was always a bonus if they were able to craft a story in response to a behavioral based question that came up during our conversation.

Sharpen Your Storytelling Skills

When preparing to interview, especially for a role in which soft skills + teamwork are valued, take time to reflect on your experience and it’s relevance to the role. Think about how you would be able to construct a great story that seamlessly connects the two.

And remember, if you are conducting interviews for a req that your team has open, understand that candidates are interviewing you just as much as you are interviewing them. You need to be able to broadcast the story of your team and your company to everyone who comes in the door!

For tips on crafting stories that matter, take a look at this wonderful video series by Keith Yamashita.