Unlock the power of storytelling to land your dream job. Discover how weaving compelling narratives can captivate interviewers, highlight your skills, and set you apart from the competition. Let's delve into the art of professional storytelling.
Tell a good story on your resume, cover letter, and interview
Recruiters may think they make decisions based purely on logic, but their feelings play just as large of a role
- With the right narrative, you can make anyone you want feel great about you
- Organize your ideas into a story that elicits positive emotions
Context
Storytelling experts call context the “why” that drives the plot of a narrative. It gives your audience a reason to listen through to the end and arrive happily at your resolution.
- Setting: The place where the event of your story occurs
- Characters: The people involved in and impacted by the inciting incident
- Conflict: The inciting incident that causes you and the other characters in your story to take action
Be the Hero
End your story with a clear stated resolution
- You’ve hopefully given your prospective colleague or manager a reason to care about the outcome of your story.
- Now, tell them how you resolved the conflict you set up
- In the end, the resolution you are suggesting is to hire you
Begin with your audience in mind
Recruiters are looking for more than a list of skills and experiences
- They want to hire a candidate who possesses both the technical skills the position requires and soft skills
- Authenticity
- Strong communication
- Inclusivity
- Bringing new perspectives to a team
Storytelling is innate in all of us
You are already a master storyteller
- Every time a family member asks you how you are and you respond genuinely, you are telling a story – about your life, your job, your mental health, etc.
- Now apply your special skill to your job applications and see what happens
Have a theme
During your job hunt, your theme should encapsulate precisely what you will bring to an organization and be woven into all of your written and verbal communications.
- Your theme is not just there to help you take control of your narrative – it is a tool you can use to influence the memory a recruiter associates with you.
