Ex-Microsoft HR executive's tip to job seekers before interview: Don’t say ‘I work hard’

The former Microsoft executive now runs her own career consulting firm. (File photo)

A career coach who has worked with Microsoft in the US for 15 years, including as a senior director of human resources, has recently shared a few tips for professionals who are gearing up for a job interview. The top among them is when asked to elaborate on your strengths, don't say "I’m smart, I work hard and I get things done."

Sabina Nawaz says vague answers like this are a turn-off. “I cannot tell you the number of people who simply don’t get the basics right,” she told CNBC Make It.

Instead, she recommends breaking up your anecdotes into two parts: the problem and the solution. “Spend about 50 percent of your time outlining the problem and 50 perecent of the time outlining your strength,” Nawaz said. She also suggested starting with what your strength is and then explaining in detail what the problem was, how you solved it, and how it contributed to your success.

The former Microsoft executive, who runs her own consulting firm, said that when working with her clients, she curates a library of stories so that professionals have dozens of anecdotes at their disposal.

“You can plug and play these stories” during interviews depending upon what's most relevant and shows you off in the best way, Nawaz said. She also advised job seekers to get some of the basics right. For example, show up on time, have the camera positioned correctly if you’re doing a virtual interview, and remember to follow up with a “thank you” message, she said.

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