The short answer is no, you can’t use the same story twice in one interview.
The longer answer is that sometimes you may need to reuse an example if you don’t have very many stories or if you don’t have one that fits the new question.
Is repeating my answers in an interview okay?
Repeating answers is okay if you don’t have a different story, but if you can avoid repeating that’s a better choice.
If you get asked a question, and you can’t think of a different example, first pause to give yourself some time.
If that doesn’t help and you do have a story you can use, but you’ve already used it, you can use it again. Don’t just repeat the story word for word though. You’ll have to tailor it to the new question. I’ll give you some tips on how to tailor a story below.
Can I answer different interview questions with the same example?
Yes, you can use the same story twice, but not more than twice. There are two reasons for this:
They will be taking notes. If you keep repeating, they will notice and think you don’t have enough experience.
The stories should be selling your skills. If you tell 2 stories instead of 4, they will just see proof of half the skills you could have talked about.
So I said you can use a story twice, and you might need to, but it’s better to give a new story for each question.
How many different examples will I need for one interview?
You will usually get asked between 2 and 6 behavioral questions in a one-hour interview.
Because you can’t know exactly how many you’ll get asked, you should prepare for as many as possible. Also, even if you get asked only one, you don’t know which one it will be. You need to prepare more answers than just one in order to make sure you have one that will work for that particular question.
Fifteen to thirty is a good number of stories
I recommend having between fifteen and thirty good stories. If you have fewer than fifteen you could be in trouble, but if you have more than thirty, it’s hard to remember them all.
Create a pool of stories and then tailor each one to fit the question
Create a pool of stories – between fifteen and thirty – and then tailor your stories for different questions depending on which ones they ask you.
Tailor each story
What do I mean by tailoring a story for whatever question you get asked?
What if you have two stories you’ve planned to use for ownership questions but you also have two customer-related stories. You use your two ownership stories, but then you get asked a third ownership question. What do you do? You could not answer the question, or you could take one of your customer stories and use it to answer the ownership question, if you change the wording a little. The latter is obviously the best choice because it’s best if you answer all of the questions.
Altering, or tailoring, an answer quickly isn’t easy and can take some practice. What you want to do is create a group of stories, and then spend your prep time practicing tailoring a story to work for different questions. If you practice tailoring stories, you will get good enough so you can adapt them quickly, after you hear what question you need to answer.
You can take a basic story and alter it to fit whatever question you get asked. If you get asked a customer question, you’ll focus your answer on talking about the customer. If you get asked an ownership question, you’ll focus your answer on how you took charge. If you get asked a successful project question, you’ll focus your answer on the successful outcome. And so on.
But really, how many stories will I need?
I said to prepare fifteen to thirty stories, but how many will you actually need?
I don’t know how many behavioral questions they’ll ask you. Each interview is different. If you have seven interviewers, and they each ask you five behavioral questions, that’s thirty-five questions. What if you have five interviewers and they each ask you three behavioral questions? That’s fifteen questions.
I’ve had clients tell me they’ve gotten one behavioral question and clients tell me they’ve gotten six in a one hour interview. I’ve also had clients tell me they’ve gotten more than six.
That’s why my answer is fifteen to thirty stories.
I know it’s a lot of stories, but it’s better to have more than you need than not enough.
Related topics:
How to answer the “Why do you want this job?” interview question
What follow up questions will I get after I answer the question?
How to talk about your strengths
Jennifer Scupi
Jennifer Scupi is the founder of Interview Genie, where she’s worked with thousands of clients preparing for job interviews. They appreciate her honest feedback and say it’s obvious she used to be a teacher because she’s good at explaining the best way to prepare answers. Her clients have landed roles at FAANG companies like Amazon, Fortune 500 companies, startups, and more. Recruiters who work at Amazon routinely refer her clients to increase their chances at success.
For advice about Amazon interviews, visit the Amazon resources page or read her book about Amazon behavioral interviews.
If you need to prepare for your interview, let’s get started.
https://interviewgenie.com
As an expert in interview preparation and communication strategies, I bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the table. Having worked with thousands of clients through my platform, Interview Genie, I've garnered a deep understanding of the nuances involved in effective job interviews. My clients have successfully landed positions at prestigious companies, including FAANG giants like Amazon, Fortune 500 corporations, startups, and more. Recruiters at Amazon routinely refer my clients, underscoring the effectiveness of the techniques and insights I provide.
Now, let's delve into the concepts covered in the article you provided. The piece primarily focuses on interview strategies, specifically addressing the question of whether it's acceptable to reuse the same story in multiple interview responses. Here's a breakdown of the key concepts discussed:
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Repeating Answers in an Interview:
- The article acknowledges that sometimes it's necessary to reuse an example if you have a limited pool of stories or none that fit the new question.
- Recommends avoiding word-for-word repetition and emphasizes the importance of tailoring the story to the new question.
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Using the Same Story Twice:
- Allows for using the same story twice but advises against doing it more than twice due to potential negative perceptions.
- Highlights that interviewers may be taking notes and repeating stories may suggest a lack of diverse experience or skills.
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Number of Examples Needed:
- Suggests that candidates usually get asked between 2 and 6 behavioral questions in a one-hour interview.
- Recommends preparing between fifteen and thirty stories to ensure readiness for different questions.
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Tailoring Stories for Different Questions:
- Encourages creating a pool of stories and tailoring each one to fit different types of questions.
- Emphasizes the importance of practicing how to quickly adapt and tailor stories based on the specific question asked.
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Adapting Stories:
- Provides examples of how to adapt a basic story to fit different question types, such as ownership, customer-related, or successful project questions.
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Recommended Approach:
- Advocates for preparing more stories than might be needed, as the number of behavioral questions in an interview can vary.
- Stresses the importance of having a diverse range of stories to showcase different skills and experiences.
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About the Expert (Jennifer Scupi):
- Introduces Jennifer Scupi as the founder of Interview Genie, highlighting her experience working with clients and her teaching background.
- Mentions her book on Amazon behavioral interviews and her expertise in helping clients prepare for job interviews.
In summary, the article provides valuable insights into effective interview preparation, stressing the importance of story diversity, adaptability, and tailored responses to showcase a wide range of skills and experiences. The advice comes from an expert, Jennifer Scupi, with a track record of success in helping individuals navigate the challenging landscape of job interviews.
