Learn how to avoid sounding rehearsed in interviews and show your skills, personality, and potential with these six tips.

Be yourself, use your own language / words, not words from a text book. Never say "if I were in that situation I would". This shows you have no experience and are about to quote from a text book.

How can you answer interview questions without sounding rehearsed?

Interviews can be nerve-wracking, especially when you want to impress the hiring manager with your skills, experience, and personality. But how can you avoid sounding like a robot who has memorized a script of perfect answers? How can you show your genuine interest, creativity, and adaptability in a dynamic conversation? Here are some tips on how to answer interview questions without sounding rehearsed.

1 Prepare but don't over-prepare

The first step to avoid sounding rehearsed is to prepare well for the interview, but not to the point of over-preparing. You should research the company, the role, and the industry, and have a clear idea of your value proposition and your career goals. You should also anticipate some common interview questions and practice your responses, but not memorize them word for word. Instead, focus on the main points, the examples, and the outcomes that you want to highlight, and leave some room for flexibility and spontaneity.

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Eoin Kelly

Technical Installer at Keaney Medical Ltd
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Understand the Context: Before the interview, thoroughly research the company, its culture, and the role you're applying for. Tailor your responses to align with the company's values and the specific requirements of the position. Practice, Don't Memorize: While it's helpful to practice common interview questions, avoid memorizing scripted answers. Instead, focus on understanding key points and expressing them naturally. This allows you to respond in a way that feels genuine and unscripted. Highlight Relevant Experiences: Draw from your past experiences and accomplishments that are relevant to the position. Share specific examples that demonstrate your skills and abilities. This helps make your responses more personalized and authentic.

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2 Listen and engage

The second step to avoid sounding rehearsed is to listen actively and engage with the interviewer. Don't just wait for your turn to speak, but pay attention to the tone, the context, and the purpose of each question. Try to understand what the interviewer is looking for and how you can best address their needs and expectations. Show your interest and enthusiasm by asking clarifying questions, making eye contact, and nodding. Don't be afraid to pause, reflect, and rephrase the question before answering, as this shows your thoughtfulness and confidence.

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3 Be yourself and tell stories

The third step to avoid sounding rehearsed is to be yourself and tell stories. Don't try to be someone you're not or say what you think the interviewer wants to hear. Instead, be authentic and honest, and show your personality and passion. Use stories and anecdotes to illustrate your skills, achievements, and challenges, and make them relevant and specific to the role and the company. Stories are more memorable and engaging than generic statements, and they help you demonstrate your values, your motivations, and your potential.

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Vivian Daniel (anipr, nuj, idan)

200% HR Enthusiast | Broadcast Journalist | PR and Communication Strategist | LeadershipSuccess Columnist | Writer | Voice-over Artiste | Storyteller | Host of TownhallwithVivian on YouTube | Entrepreneur
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Truthfully, interview sessions differ and I have been on one that I was simply asked to sing for them because they saw singing as part of my hobbies. They only asked about the years and periods I worked with some organizations as captured in my CV, and that was it, I got the job. At another time, as I went in the board room, I greeted the panellists with a 'professional smile' and I remained standing while waiting for them to ask me to sit down. They unanimously told me that I got the job because of that. While I agree with being oneself and being ready to tell stories to corroborate your answers, there is a need to tell "good and authentic" stories. Again, confidence and the way you comport yourself during interviews matter a whole lot.

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Peter McLean

Senior Human Resource Professional
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Always, always and always give examples from your experience whether it be work or personal experience always use examples, so that the interviewer knows you have experience.

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4 Use the STAR method

The fourth step to avoid sounding rehearsed is to use the STAR method to structure your answers. The STAR method stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result, and it helps you organize your thoughts and deliver clear and concise answers. For each question, describe the situation or problem that you faced, the task or goal that you had, the action or steps that you took, and the result or outcome that you achieved. This way, you can showcase your problem-solving, decision-making, and communication skills, and quantify your impact and value.

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5 Follow up and ask questions

The fifth step to avoid sounding rehearsed is to follow up and ask questions at the end of the interview. Don't just say thank you and leave, but summarize your main points, restate your interest, and ask for feedback. This shows your professionalism and your eagerness to learn and improve. You should also prepare some insightful questions to ask the interviewer, such as their expectations, their challenges, their culture, or their vision. This shows your curiosity and your alignment with the company's goals and values.

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Laura Fink

Vision Executor | Lover of Flow Charts | Team Builder | Data Nerd | Iced Coffee Enthusiast | SpaceX Supply Chain | GE OMLP Alum
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It is good to reiterate the challenges of the role, or challenges the company is facing, as you understand them from the interview. Highlight specific things an interviewer has mentioned, and explain how you are specifically equipped to help them solve the problem.

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6 Practice and improve

The sixth and final step to avoid sounding rehearsed is to practice and improve your interview skills. You can practice with a friend, a mentor, or a coach, and ask for honest and constructive feedback. You can also record yourself and watch your performance, and identify your strengths and weaknesses. You can then work on improving your areas of improvement, such as your body language, your tone, your clarity, or your confidence. The more you practice, the more comfortable and natural you will become in interviews.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Peter McLean

Senior Human Resource Professional
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Be yourself, use your own language / words, not words from a text book. Never say "if I were in that situation I would". This shows you have no experience and are about to quote from a text book.

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Dale Saluap

Human Resource Officer at Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research
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It is always best and wise to be honest & upfront with interview questions . Listen attentively to questions being asked and take a minute or two to answer. Don't rush when replying and if you do not understand the question , politely ask the interviewer to repeat or rephrased the question again and always maintain posture , eye contact with people in the room who are asking the questions .

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How can you answer interview questions without sounding rehearsed?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Prepare but don't over-prepare

2 Listen and engage

3 Be yourself and tell stories

4 Use the STAR method

5 Follow up and ask questions

6 Practice and improve

7 Here’s what else to consider

Business Innovation

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How can you answer interview questions without sounding rehearsed?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Prepare but don't over-prepare

2 Listen and engage

3 Be yourself and tell stories

4 Use the STAR method

5 Follow up and ask questions

6 Practice and improve

7 Here’s what else to consider

Business Innovation

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