Interview Preparation—How to Tell Your Story with Impact: Why the SHARP Method Works

If you search for how to prepare for an interview, you’ll find no shortage of advice pointing to the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result. While it can be a helpful starting point, it often falls short of one critical element: what you learned.

Incorporating this reflection into your response not only sets you apart from the competition, it also helps you avoid the dreaded follow-up question: “If faced with this situation again, would you do anything differently?”

As a recruiter with 30 years behind the hiring desk, I asked that question when something in the candidate’s answer raised a red flag. Most of the time, it was because their actions didn’t align with the expectations of the organization, or they overlooked a crucial step that impacted the outcome.

So how do you reduce the risk of that happening?

That’s where the SHARP method comes in.

What is SHARP?

SHARP stands for Situation, Hindrance, Action, Result, and Perspective. It brings a more thoughtful and complete structure to your responses, encouraging you to reflect not just on what happened, but what you learned, and how it shaped your future approach.

The final element—Perspective—is often what differentiates a technically capable candidate from one who demonstrates self-awareness, continuous improvement, and leadership strength.

Here’s what SHARP looks like in practice.

The Interview Question:

"Tell me about a time when you had to persuade someone to take action, even though you had no formal authority. How did you approach the situation, and what was the result?"

Situation—While at EY, I was leading the recruitment for a managing director role. We had an outstanding, diverse candidate named John who had accepted our offer and was just a couple of weeks from his start date. We were making steady progress with his onboarding, and everything was moving forward smoothly.

Hindrance—As part of my onboarding protocol, I had placed a reminder on the hiring manager’s calendar to check in with John. During that conversation, John shared that he had changed his mind and was rescinding his acceptance. The manager didn’t gather further context beyond John’s decision to stay with his current firm.

After confirming that the hiring manager still wanted to move forward, I stepped in to see if there was a way to turn things around.

Action—I immediately picked up the phone. John and I had developed strong rapport throughout the recruiting process, and I leaned on that trust to reopen the conversation.

I gave John the space to talk through what was on his mind, listening carefully, and asking insightful questions. It turned out that he was deeply conflicted, not about the role, but about leaving his current team. His decision was rooted in loyalty, not a lack of interest in the opportunity.

We revisited why he had pursued the opportunity at EY in the first place. I helped him reconnect to the goals he had shared and the future he had envisioned. It was never about persuading him. It was about helping him gain clarity.

Result—A few days later, John called me back. He reaffirmed his decision to join and started with the firm shortly after. He’s still there and continues to thrive in the role.

Perspective—This experience reminded me how important it is to stay closely connected with candidates between their offer acceptance and start date. It also reinforced that onboarding is not just logistical—it’s emotional. I made it a habit to increase touchpoints during that stage and ask not only about task-based progress but also how they were feeling about the transition. It was a simple shift, but one that strengthened the overall experience and helped prevent future acceptance reversals.

Why SHARP Works

The SHARP method helps you communicate what mattered most, how you handled it, and what you learned. It adds the kind of reflection and clarity that elevates a response from good, to genuinely memorable.

As a career coach, I help clients craft responses that move beyond surface-level storytelling and reflect real insight, growth, and alignment with their goals.

Whether you're navigating a career pivot or preparing for your next leadership move, the ability to demonstrate readiness, strategic awareness, and refined storytelling is a skill worth investing in.

If you're ready to build confident, thoughtful responses that leave a lasting impression, click below to schedule a conversation.

👉 Book time with Jennifer Roberts: Career Transition Consultation

Jennifer Roberts, ICF-ACC Certified Career Coach, leverages nearly 30 years of experience to guide professionals through career transitions with strategic insight and personalized coaching. As founder of JP Roberts Career Strategies, she specializes in helping clients gain clarity and prepare for their next career move with confidence.