Show Don’t Tell: Interview Advice for Students

Despite the snow and ice from the Siberian Express, technically its spring and college students are in full interview mode. Some are looking for summer internships while those ready for graduation are seeking full-time employment.

Because of this my phone and email are buzzing constantly with students seeking interview advice.

Biggest question I’ve gotten so far involves responding to the inevitable, “Tell me about yourself.”

So simple, yet complex at the same time, and something that so many stumble on.

The solution? We practice as if I was the interviewer. I ask the students to show me what they’ve got.

Responses include a variety of descriptive words that, in the students’ mind, give the interviewer a good picture of who they are.   I call them “fluffy” words. 

Fluffy words include “Determined”, “dedicated”, “detail-oriented”, “leader”, “passionate”, “risk-taker”, and “driven”.  The list is endless.

While these words may actually be true about the candidate, they don’t really help.  The interview needs to see the concept in action, not just hear the words.

What the interviewer needs is a good old-fashioned grade-school style “show and tell”.

I’m sure you remember show-and-tell.  It was fun to hear about Billy’s vacation to SeaWorld and that he was chosen to feed the dolphins.  But it became more impressive when he pulled out the framed photo of him standing on a platform with the trainer in front of the entire crowd with the dolphin in mid-air grabbing the fish from his hand.

The conviction or proof of your words is in the story that surrounds them. 

My favorite uncle was a real character (doesn’t everyone have such a relative?) who was the ultimate salesman.  He could sell ice to an Eskimo living in an igloo.

He was also a charmer who never met a stranger.  He would tell people that he was the Lone Ranger; it was his opening line.  Once he had their attention, he would prove his identity by pulling a silver bullet out of his pocket.  That was the Lone Ranger’s calling card; he always carried a silver bullet.

Just to be clear, my uncle was not the “real” Lone Ranger, despite carrying a silver bullet in his pocket.  In the world of sales, where building an honest relationship is important, this was his way of proving that he could be trusted.  “I told you I could prove I was the Lone Ranger with a silver bullet and I did”.

My advice to the students is to show the interviewer what they are capable of through short stories about their work.

Show how they are leaders: “As president of the engineering society, I managed an annual budget of $10,000 and led the direction of the student-run board, including decisions on fund raising, social activities, and hiring speakers.”

Sounds much better than “I am a proven leader on campus”.

The interviewer needs to understand what we’ve done; they want to see our fun vacation photos or see the proof that we’re the Lone Ranger.

Remember to show your experience to the interview. Don’t just tell it with fluffy words.