What is the CareerSI Method?

The way to answer any interview question from CareerSI, Career Strategy & Insight, for any line of work: two shapes, FEAT and GUT, one rule for choosing between them, and every answer ends on Tie it to this job.

When do I use FEAT, and when GUT?

About the past? FEAT. Anything else, or your mind goes blank? GUT. FEAT is for stories about the past, such as "Tell me about a time". GUT is for everything else: who you are and why this job, what you would do, explaining something, and the hard questions. GUT is also the fail-safe when your mind goes blank.

How is FEAT different from STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result)?

FEAT cuts the set-up to one line and adds one step. STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) ends on the result; FEAT never does. It ends on Tie it to this job: what the result proves for this job, said for the interviewer, because they will not connect it themselves.

This summary is free to read. Practicing on your own stories starts on the free plan, with just your email and no card.

CareerSI· Career Strategy & Insight Sign in

The CareerSI Method

Two shapes and one rule, so you know how to answer any interview question before you say a word. Every answer ends on the job.

From CareerSI, Career Strategy & Insight. It works in any industry and at any stage.

FEAT: stories about the past

They ask what you did: an achievement, a conflict, a mistake told as a story, leading, a change.

F, Friction: one line: what stood in the way, what was at stake, and a hint of how it ended
E, Effort: what you did, and why; name your role. Most of the time goes here
A, Achievement: the result: a number or a concrete change, with honest credit for what else helped
T, Tie it to this job: what it proves for this job. Then stop

“Tell me about a time something went wrong at the worst moment.”

F, Friction: The Saturday before a holiday, the card machines in our store went down at opening, with a line already at the door.
E, Effort: I was the shift supervisor. I moved two people onto the spare tablet for card payments, put one at the door to explain the wait, and called the payments provider myself while the manager ran the floor.
A, Achievement: Payments were back within the hour and nobody in that line left without being served. The team on the tills did the hard part; my part was a plan in the first five minutes.
T, Tie it to this job: Your posting asks for someone who stays calm on the busiest days. That Saturday is what it looks like.

An invented example, to show the shape. Build yours from your own record.

GUT: everything else, and when you freeze

Every question that isn't about the past: who you are and why here, what you would do, explain or show, and the hard ones.

G, Give your answer: first, in one line
U, Use one true example: one example or fact from your own record
T, Tie it to this job: back to what they need. Then stop

“What would you do if a key delivery is late on the day a new site opens?”

G, Give your answer: My first move is to tell the people who depend on it, with a new plan rather than just the problem.
U, Use one true example: When I ran a warehouse team, a supplier missed a morning delivery. By ten I had called every customer affected, offered a split shipment, and moved the team onto the orders we could fill.
T, Tie it to this job: You are opening a new site this spring; day one is exactly where that matters.

An invented example, to show the shape. Build yours from your own record.

How to choose

About the past? FEAT. Anything else, or your mind goes blank? GUT.

Freeze? Trust your GUT: give your answer, use one true example, tie it to this job. Then stop.

No method can promise an offer.

Inside, once you sign up

Four short lessons, with worked examples for every kind of question, and a practice plan for the job you are working on.
Your own stories, built from your record into FEAT. Each one stays Unverified until you confirm the facts, then Verified; only Verified stories go into your interview preparation.
Feedback on your answers: 3 a month on the free plan, more on paid plans. Spoken rehearsals start on Guide.

Practice it on your own stories — free

Your email is all it takes. No card, no password.

Common questions

What is the CareerSI Method?: The way to answer any interview question from CareerSI, Career Strategy & Insight, for any line of work: two shapes, FEAT and GUT, one rule for choosing between them, and every answer ends on Tie it to this job.
When do I use FEAT, and when GUT?: About the past? FEAT. Anything else, or your mind goes blank? GUT. FEAT is for stories about the past, such as "Tell me about a time". GUT is for everything else: who you are and why this job, what you would do, explaining something, and the hard questions. GUT is also the fail-safe when your mind goes blank.
How is FEAT different from STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result)?: FEAT cuts the set-up to one line and adds one step. STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) ends on the result; FEAT never does. It ends on Tie it to this job: what the result proves for this job, said for the interviewer, because they will not connect it themselves.
Is it free?: This summary is free to read. Practicing on your own stories starts on the free plan, with just your email and no card.