Bad numbers at a messy startup do not have to tank your next interview. Own it. Reframe what you learned, show overlap with their ICP, prove adaptability, and bring the chip on your shoulder as an edge. Use clear, specific language that signals you can create motion and add value fast.

Interviewing for a new business AE role at an early-stage startup. Bring one sharp story that proves you can create pipeline and close without brand or machine. Frame it like a founder pitch: clear, scrappy, specific. Use scene, hunt, process, product reality, results, and adaptability.

Storyselling in interviews helps you prove fit, not just list achievements. Use three sharp stories, structure them with CERO, avoid clichés, and tailor your narrative to the company’s motion. This guide shows how to demonstrate process, reveal how you think, and signal coachability so hiring teams see clear evidence you can win in their environment.