4 simple things you should include in every answer you give - Deepstash
4 simple things you should include in every answer you give

4 simple things you should include in every answer you give

Curated from: fastcompany.com

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Begin with a grabber

Begin with a grabber

The grabber is a bridge from the question. For example, if you are asked, “Tell me about yourself,” you might respond “I’d be happy to.” If the question is “How is Project X coming along?” you might reply, “It’s on track.” If you are asked for quarterly results, the grabber would be that number.

Note that these grabbers respond to the question but do not provide a full answer. They bridge from the query and do so in a confident way.

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Present your message

Every question deserves a clear, focused answer, and the second component of your response should be your message. It captures in one sentence the point you want to make.

In a job interview question above—”Tell me about yourself”—the message could be: “I thrive on creative projects.” If you’re answering the question “How is Project X coming along?” and your grabber is “It’s on track,” your message might be: “We have already found ways to reduce costs by 40%.”

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Add proof points

You have to support your message with proof points.

If your message in a job interview is “I thrive on creative projects", when you give the reasons you can say that: 

  • "In university, I studied graphic design at a top school."
  • "I love nothing better than working on campaigns that include a strong design element."
  • "My portfolio is full of examples that have earned me and my firm design awards.”

To organize your thoughts, it’s best to introduce these points with “First,” “Second,” “Third,” etc.

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End with a call to action

Every answer must have a purpose—it should result in action. A call to action shows that you as a leader not only have a message, but you are delivering a message that is actionable.

In a job interview, your call to action could be: “Is there anything more you need from me to bring me on board?” or, “I look forward to hearing from you about the next steps.” The call to action in a job interview shows your confidence as a candidate. It makes clear you assume there is a next step as you move toward being hired.

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