Wes Kao · 5 min read · Productivity
In job interviews, keep your backstory short
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The piece argues that in interviews you should keep the backstory short, especially the STAR Situation, to avoid scope creep and keep focus on the real impact. By keeping the setup to 2-3 sentences (10-15 seconds) and highlighting the problem, actions, and results, you stay engaging and efficient. The idea extends beyond interviews: being selective about context and choosing what to share makes you a more effective communicator.
Key Takeaways
- Keep the STAR Situation brief: 2-3 sentences (10-15 seconds), then move on to Task, Action, and Results.
- Focus on the juicy parts—what the problem was, why it mattered, what you did, and the outcomes; avoid backstory creep.
- Be selective about context with a clear point of view—practice choosing 'this, not that' rather than sharing everything.
- Treat behavioral interviews as proxies and use conciseness to become a more interesting and effective communicator in broader conversations.
Excerpt
👋 Hey, it’s Wes. Welcome to my bi-weekly newsletter on managing up, leading teams, and standing out as a high performer. To level up faster, check out my intensive course on Executive Communication & Influence . UPDATE: The July cohort is 95% sold out, but a new September cohort is now open. This will be the second to last cohort of the year. Read time : 4 minutes Subscribe to read future posts (it’s free): I remember one of the last interviews I did before starting my own company. The interviewer asked, “Could you tell me about a time when…