How To Show Adaptability In Interviews

She couldn’t understand why she wasn’t landing offers. ↳ She had the skills ↳ She made it to final rounds ↳ She kept hearing, “You’re a great candidate, but…” Funny thing is, I saw the issue in 𝟭𝟬 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀. Every time she talked about her ability to step into a new role, she said… ↳ “I’m a fast learner” ↳ “I pick things up quickly” ↳ “I can adapt to anything” But here’s the reality— Hiring managers aren't typically hiring for 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹. They hire 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳. So I gave her a challenge for her next interview: ↳ Stop telling them you can learn fast ↳ Start showing them how you’ve done it before ↳ Make them 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲 your capability, not assume it And guess what? February 24th—𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲. Because at the end of the day, 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Have you ever said something like this in an interview? "I learn quickly, and if you give me the opportunity to take this on, I promise to deliver." It's the classic "shoot your shot" approach. Now, I'm not saying that a company wouldn't take a chance on someone who asks for an opportunity - we've heard the success stories where this has happened. But in today’s job market, the odds are much lower, and here’s why: While you say, "I can learn quickly," someone else is interviewing before or after you and saying, "That’s a problem I have already solved in my current or previous role." The probability of this happening in a remote role you're interviewing for is even higher due to the greater number of talent available. So, here's my takeaway if you're interviewing for roles where you find yourself pitching the above statement: Try this Instead of saying, "I can learn quickly," try something like: "In my previous role, I took on a new responsibility I hadn’t handled before (describe the task), learned the process by (explain how you gained knowledge or took action), and successfully delivered (highlight the outcome). This approach demonstrates your ability to adapt while also showcasing tangible results—something hiring managers are much more likely to respond to in today’s competitive job market. You’ve got the potential - just make sure to frame it in a way that stands out. ___________________ Hope this helps someone today approach that crossroad in an interview differently. Have a blessed day! Follow my page for: 📝 Behind the Resume – Weekly Job Seeker Highlights for Tech 💡 Recruiting Tips & Advice 🎙️ Live Events to Attend

When asked a behavioral question during my Amazon loop, I surprised one interviewer by discussing my house flipping business instead of using an example from my PhD life. Most science PhDs underestimate behavioral questions in tech interviews. They meticulously prepare for technical assessments while treating behavioral questions as an afterthought. What I discovered after joining Amazon and conducting interviews myself: behavioral skills are evaluated in every single interview round, not just as a final filter. The pattern is predictable. When asked behavioral questions, 95% of PhD candidates pull examples exclusively from: • Research methodology challenges • Advisor disagreements • Lab experiments gone wrong These examples work—many candidates get hired using them—but my personal recommendation is to consider examples beyond academia that showcase your unique perspective. From my experience as an interviewer, I am not just looking for technical examples in behavioral questions. I am trying to understand how you think and collaborate. I recommend using the STAR-L framework: • Situation: Set the context • Task: Define your responsibility • Action: Explain your approach • Result: Share the outcome • Learning: Reveal what you gained (the most overlooked component) Do not avoid examples where you made mistakes and pivoted. Those often reveal more about your adaptability than perfect success stories. Look beyond your academic life. Your experiences with community projects, side businesses, or even resolving conflicts with roommates might help you stand out from other technically qualified candidates. What unexpected experience from your background might actually make your strongest interview example? More PhD insights coming next Thursday! Hit follow + 🔔 to join the journey! #PhDHindsight