The Simple Formula for Answering Any Interview Question

Q = A + 1: Your equation for job interview success -- according to a recent CareerJournal article. “Q is the question; A is the answer; + is the bridge to the message you want to deliver; and 1 is the point you want to make,” the article explains.

Using this formula, you can steer the discussion and focus on what you want the interviewer to know about you, while ensuring that you sufficiently answer each of the interviewer’s questions. Naturally, you should be prepared with the different + 1’s you want to communicate. Be armed with anecdotes, ways to explain how you’ve learned from mistakes, and plenty of research and questions about the job you are vying for.

I would add that you shouldn’t twist things around or avoid questions. In other words, Q doesn’t equal +1. That formula will make you sound like a bad politician. Be sure to answer the questions, no matter how hard they may be, and then segue to your additional information the interviewer may have not thought to ask you about.

For more on how to effectively answer interview questions, check out our series: “How to Handle Common Interview Questions.”

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