Who Is CARL and Why Do I Love

Who is CARL and why do I love “him?
C.A.R.L is the technique I use to prep clients to answer behavioural interview questions such as
these:
“Tell me about a time when you had to challenge a management decision.”
“Tell me about a time when you made a major decision that turned out to be the wrong one.”
“Tell me about a time when you led a

team.”
C.A.R.L. = Context, Action, Result, Learning.

How?
Like this…..
1. Context: what role were you in; what

was the task/problem/situation?
2. Action: what did you do and how did you do it?
3. Result: what was the outcome of

your actions? Quantify if possible.
4. Learning: what did you learn from the

experience?
These questions are asked by Amazon, UN, Big 4, Apple, Microsoft, FB and many other companies,
because in psychology we believe that the best predictor of future behaviour, is past behaviour.
Prep for questions such as these, based on YOUR own experience.
I can’t give you generic answers; but I have given you the formula!
SHOWCASE your amazing skills and experience in your responses.

But don’t ramble.
Keep it precise and concise!
What questions do YOU ask in INTERVIEWS?
Why is this important?

Because by asking questions you demonstrate interest, curiosity, passion, EQ, etc.
Here are some GENERIC suggestions:
1. “Why do you enjoy working for this company?”

-People love talking about themselves and you should get insight into workplace culture
2. “What is your Management style?”

-Your preference might be servant or consultative etc.
3. “What can you tell me about the team that I will be working with?”
-Know with whom you will be spending 40 hours+ per week of your life.
4. “What immediate challenges is the department facing?”

-Good way to probe about company weaknesses.
5. “How do you effectively provide feedback to your employees?”

-Find out how well management communicates.
6. “What is your expectation of me in the first 6 months in this role.”

-This will be an indication of pressure you may face.
7. “What are the top 3 values of this company?”

-A good integrity check.
You should also ask questions about the technical and operational side of the role that you are
interviewing for, based on the job description.
Please respect the cultural norms of your region.
Remember that interviews are two-way conversations.

So be yourself and breathe!
10 things YOU need to know before an INTERVIEW:

1. Why did you apply for the role?
Whatever the reason, know your “why” and be ready to enunciate it.
2. Why do you want to work for the company in question?

Don’t tell them who and what they are; they already know that. Tell them what makes the
company appealing to YOU.
3. What is your understanding of the role?

This is your interpretation of the job description.
4. How will you add value to the company?

Talk about your strengths and what makes YOU the best candidate.
5. Know your own resume inside out.

You may be asked to talk them through it.
6. Know your expectation of salary, benefits, bonus and commissions.

Try to find out what fair market value is, or ask your recruiter.
7. Know what your current employment notice period is and what your start date can be.
8. Know how to answer behavioural questions using C.A.R.L.

(Context, Action, Result, Learning)
9. Know something about the workplace culture in advance.

Connect with current and former employees and review Glassdoor.
10. Know the background of your interviewer(s).

Review LinkedIn and Google.
Most importantly, know that if YOU are prepared and are simply yourself, YOU have just as much
chance as anybody else!
12 ways to OPTIMISE your TIME:

1. Decide what your “why” (passion,
purpose) is in life and prioritise
accordingly.
2. Try to work to live; not live to work.
3. Plan ahead but be open to

spontaneity.
4. Avoid procrastination; break larger

tasks into smaller, manageable ones.
5. Set a time limit for each task.
6. Remember that “good” is good

enough; perfection is a myth.
7. Learn to delegate.
8. Clear your mind between tasks and

meetings to be more efficient.
9. Don’t multitask; it’s often counter-

productive. Focus singularly.
10. Don’t waste time waiting for things

to happen; be proactive or move on.
11. Learn to say “no;” you can’t be all

things to everyone.
12. Do less to often achieve more.
Most importantly, value the quality of your time over the quantity.
Life is far too short to waste valuable seconds!
Got a SKYPE/VIDEO interview coming up?

Prepare like this….
1. Test audio and camera.

2. Elevate your laptop to avoid staring
down into the camera.
3. Dress professionally.
4. Position yourself at a desk or table,
against a plain, neutral background.
5. Check the lighting in the room.
6. Close all other applications on your
laptop.
7. Silence your cell phone, and disable
vibration alert.
8. Have a copy of your resume at
hand.
9. Attach post-its around the laptop
screen with prompts, and the
questions you wish to ask the
interviewer.
10. Ban kids, pets and others from the
room for the duration of the
interview.
11. Have pen and paper at hand.
12. Have a glass of water next to you.
13. Have the phone number of the
interviewer at hand, in case video
connection is lost.
You will have fully researched the company in depth.

You will know who your interviewer is.
You will have practiced behavioural questions using C.A.R.L (Context, Action, Result, Learning).
And you will send a “thank you” email within 6-8 hours of the interview.
You have great skills and experience, so demonstrate them by speaking into the camera, NOT into
the screen, with a nice smile!
“How can I get noticed by RECRUITERS on LinkedIn?”

This is what I “prescribe:”
1. Make sure your headline is an actual

job title.
2. Make sure you have a Summary/ “About”
section.
3. Make sure you write your summary in the first
person, “I” (but NOT in resumes).
4. Make sure you have relevant
keywords in your “About” section.
5. Make sure you have All-Star status.
6. Make sure your photo is professional.
7. Make sure you have some endorsed skills.
8. Make sure you have some recommendations.
9. Make sure your other social media is “clean.”
But most importantly….
10. Make sure you are actively

ENGAGING on the platform.
The algorithm rewards engagement by raising your profile in searches.
But be discerning.
Don’t just like/comment for the sake of it.
Engage meaningfully and with POSITIVE intention!
*All Star status is achieved by completing all LinkedIn Profile fields and by adding skills.*
A client of mine just aced a PHONE interview.

Why?
Because he did the following:
1. Get dressed as if going to an in-person interview.

Why? It creates professional
attitude and mindset.
2. Don’t slouch on the couch. Chair and table/desk, or stand and/or pace. Standing
promotes voice projection.
3. Quiet room; no interruptions.
4. Wear earphones or pods to eliminate background noise.
5. Silence all other notifications on phone and laptop (if open).
6. Laptop, pen and paper, and a copy of your CV/Resume.
7. Have written prompts ready especially for the questions that you wish to ask.
8. Have a glass of water at hand.
9. Don’t eat, smoke or chew gum.
10. Answer the phone correctly.

eg. “Good morning/afternoon. This is
FULL NAME speaking.”
11. If it’s a phone panel interview, you need to attach voice to name very quickly, and use them
when you address each interviewer.
12. Thank the interviewer(s) for their time at the end of the call.
Send a follow-up “Thank you” email within 6-8 hours.
Smiles can be seen but also “heard!”
All other usual interview protocol applies.
Remember that interviews are a 2-way conversation.

Employers need to convince you too!
Why did YOU leave your last job?

Always asked in interviews!
For the purpose of this post, this question assumes that you voluntarily left your last job, were
made redundant, OR are currently in employment and looking to switch jobs.
Possible reasons that will project POSITIVITY:
1. I am looking for a new career challenge.

2. I am looking for more responsibility.
3. I would like a career change.
4. I would like to relocate.
5. I would like to learn new skills, or perfect a current skill.
6. I need to improve my work/life equilibrium.
7. More convenient location.
8. Better salary.
Etc etc.
Be as TRUTHFUL as possible!
Never speak badly about an organization or senior individuals, as it does not speak well to your
professionalism.
If you need to contrast the good vs. the bad, simply emphasize the benefits of joining the new
company.
Be FORWARD thinking.
Like anything in Life, you can’t undo the past. You can, however, positively influence the future.
PREPARE to answer this question.

I want you to sound confident in your response!

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Who is CARL and why do I love “him?

“Tell me about a time when you had to challenge a management decision.”

“Tell me about a time when you led a

C.A.R.L. = Context, Action, Result, Learning.

1. Context: what role were you in; what

2. Action: what did you do and how did you do it?

3. Result: what was the outcome of

4. Learning: what did you learn from the

SHOWCASE your amazing skills and experience in your responses.

Why is this important?

Here are some GENERIC suggestions:

1. “Why do you enjoy working for this company?”

2. “What is your Management style?”

4. “What immediate challenges is the department facing?”

5. “How do you effectively provide feedback to your employees?”

6. “What is your expectation of me in the first 6 months in this role.”

7. “What are the top 3 values of this company?”

Remember that interviews are two-way conversations.

10 things YOU need to know before an INTERVIEW:

2. Why do you want to work for the company in question?

3. What is your understanding of the role?

4. How will you add value to the company?

5. Know your own resume inside out.

6. Know your expectation of salary, benefits, bonus and commissions.

8. Know how to answer behavioural questions using C.A.R.L.

9. Know something about the workplace culture in advance.

10. Know the background of your interviewer(s).

12 ways to OPTIMISE your TIME:

2. Try to work to live; not live to work.

3. Plan ahead but be open to

4. Avoid procrastination; break larger

5. Set a time limit for each task.

6. Remember that “good” is good

8. Clear your mind between tasks and

9. Don’t multitask; it’s often counter-

10. Don’t waste time waiting for things

11. Learn to say “no;” you can’t be all

12. Do less to often achieve more.

Life is far too short to waste valuable seconds!

Got a SKYPE/VIDEO interview coming up?

1. Test audio and camera.

You will have fully researched the company in depth.

“How can I get noticed by RECRUITERS on LinkedIn?”

1. Make sure your headline is an actual

But most importantly….

10. Make sure you are actively

The algorithm rewards engagement by raising your profile in searches.

A client of mine just aced a PHONE interview.

Because he did the following:

1. Get dressed as if going to an in-person interview.

3. Quiet room; no interruptions.

4. Wear earphones or pods to eliminate background noise.

5. Silence all other notifications on phone and laptop (if open).

6. Laptop, pen and paper, and a copy of your CV/Resume.

8. Have a glass of water at hand.

9. Don’t eat, smoke or chew gum.

10. Answer the phone correctly.

Smiles can be seen but also “heard!”