Here's how you can demonstrate creativity and innovation in an interview.

As humans, we relate to stories at any age because they deeply influence us. This is why storytelling is such an effective technique. I work with all my clients to help them craft compelling stories about their careers that align with the job profile they are targeting. This approach has consistently proven successful, with clients leaving interviews having secured job offers.

Storytelling transforms your interview from a dry recitation of qualifications into a dynamic, compelling narrative that highlights your strengths and potential contributions. By sharing real-life scenarios, you make it easier for the interviewer to see how your skills, experiences would apply in their organization. It allows them to visualize you in the role, solving problems and driving success. For example, instead of listing achievements, say: "In my last role, repetitive tasks hurt our productivity. I introduced automation tools, reducing a two-day report generation process to two hours. This boosted our efficiency by 30%." This story illustrates your proactive approach and knack for finding innovative solutions to improve operations.

Asking questions is a great way to engage with people. Asking the right questions is the best way to create an impact in any interaction, requiring active listening, thorough research on the company, people, products, the job role, and clarity on your own goals. However, this can only be achieved when you have spent enough time reading, thinking, and planning these questions. It can't be done at the last minute when you are already facing the interviewer.

I agree with this statement but I would add please only pose questions if you are genuinely interested in the answer. In case if you just would like to showcase your competence in a specific field or would like to ask a question just because it is mandatory that can be very controversial in my experience as an interviewer.

I would also add demonstrate growth mindset is critical, for instance if you showcase something which can be done even better and now you are aware of that, it is highly recommended to add that as a lessons learned part.

Face it, some of us are quicker thinkers than others. But this needn't be a worry, because even us "thoughtful" people who like to consider all sides of a coin (and then some) can show that we can demonstrate our flexibility. So when faced with a problem-solving question during an interview, I invite clients to practice. First, bring it back to your own lived experience. Think of a time when you needed to solve something quickly. What skills did you use? What was the process? Did you lead with asking questions, or did you dive right into possible solutions? This is called "transfer of skills". Study yourself and have a framework from which to work; this will help relax you in any situation where you need to "think on your feet".

In an interview, when you're faced with a flexibility test, showing off your creativity and innovation can truly make you shine. Think of a time when you saw potential roadblocks ahead and didn’t just sit back. Instead, you rolled up your sleeves and created backup plans that turned out to be game-changers. Maybe you brought in a new technology that your team was hesitant about at first, but through your encouragement and training, they embraced it wholeheartedly. That kind of initiative not only highlights your innovative spirit but also showcases your ability to inspire others to adapt and thrive in a changing environment.

In an interview, you can grab attention by sharing your ideas for contributing creatively to the company’s future. For example, you could say, “I see great opportunities in using new technologies to make our work easier and generate fresh ideas. I would love to hold regular brainstorming sessions where everyone shares their thoughts—this could spark creativity and help us stay ahead of the competition. I’m excited about creating a culture that embraces change and drives our success.” This shows you’re ready to help the company grow and innovate.

In many ways companies are hiring more for your attitude and skill set rather than just work experience. Be aware of that and use it to your advantage to demonstrate your skills and also do not be afraid to state when you have no experience in certain jobs.

I would also add voluntary work as personal projects where you can train multiple skills which might be useful for future positions.