A leadership expert explains why everyone should do the 'friends test' before heading into a job interview

pulse

July 17, 2017 6:56 PM

Leadership expert and bestselling author Simon Sinek recommends asking your pals, "Why are we friends?" and applying their answers in your next job interview.

It's weird, but useful.

I've fumbled the "tell me about yourself" part of at least one job interview — it's harder than it sounds, guys!

So I was intrigued by the idea that there's an easy way to prepare a thoughtful, genuine to answer to the question.

It's called the "friends test," and it comes from Simon Sinek, who is a leadership expert and the bestselling author of multiple books including, most recently, "Leaders Eat Last." Sinek has made a career largely out of helping people and companies find their "why," or their purpose.

When he visited the Business Insider office in July for a Facebook Live interview, Sinek explained how the "friends test" can help you find your "why" — and how you can use that knowledge to sell yourself at the beginning of a job interview.

Here's how it works.

Step 1: Pick a friend who you love and who loves you. You can't choose a family member or a spouse.

Step 2: Ask that person, "Why are we friends?"

Sinek said that person will probably be weirded out at first because you're asking them to put complicated feelings into words. So change up the wording: "What is it about me that I know you would be there for me no matter what?"

Then your friend will probably start describing the qualities of any friend: "You're funny" or "You're loyal." So you'll have to push them to describe you specifically.

"Eventually," Sinek said, "they'll give up and they'll stop describing you and they'll start describing themselves" — how you make them feel and the value you add to their lives.

For example, Sinek said his friend told him: "I can sit in a room with you and feel inspired; I don't even have to talk to you."

Ideally, you'll do this exercise with multiple friends, so you can synthesize their responses into one compelling answer.

As for Sinek, he would tell the interviewer:

Watch the full interview:

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