Interview Tip #5: Be VITAL for executive interviews
In my last post on interview tips, I discussed ways to go beyond CAR and STAR to make those methods work better for you. If you’re interviewing for senior or executive positions, consider skipping STAR altogether in favor of the VITAL framework.
The VITAL framework pushes you to provide detail about your leadership vision and learning. Here it is:
Vision: What gap or opportunity did you identify? What future state did you envision?
Initiative: What strategic action did you take? What resources did you mobilize to address the gap or opportunity you identified?
Transformation: What changed within the organization as a result of your vision and initiative? What obstacles did you overcome? How did you foster talent development and growth among your people?
Achievement: What measurable results did you deliver? What was the enterprise-wide impact?
Learning: How did you evaluate that impact and use it to shape or inform future strategy?
The VITAL method differs from CAR and STAR in that it demonstrates executive vision and decision-making up front. It shows how you identify and prioritize challenges and opportunities. It also adds learning as an important final element that goes beyond CAR and STAR.
Perhaps you championed the rollout of a successful pilot program across the organization. Maybe you made the hard decision to scrap a failing program and put mechanisms in place to nurture success the next time around.
Sharing how you used results to foster enterprise-wide impact sets executives apart from mid-level managers. And it just may help you stand out the next time you step into an interview.