Today’s workforce is hyper-competitive. It’s hard to stand out, and if you’re looking for a job, you need to incorporate strategies to appear more authentic and memorable than your peers.
Storytelling is a great tool during job interviews, where first impressions often make or break one’s candidacy. Beyond the long list of qualifications and accomplishments lies a secret method for leaving a lasting impression: narrating your success through storytelling.
As recruiters, we review hundreds of resumes and LinkedIn profiles each week, so being a great storyteller is an important skill candidates can leverage to stand out during the interview process.
Storytelling is also a powerful tool when it comes to influence and persuasion. According to science, voicing our opinions is often more controversial than persuasive, and statistics often just don’t stick. However, when you mix persuasive storytelling with hard facts, you can change minds.
At its core, storytelling is a fundamental aspect of human nature. It’s engaging emotions and creating connections.
“Storytelling is critical for a candidate to be able to highlight their experiences and interests while relating them back to the position. Examples should be concise while still getting the point across and demonstrating how that scenario or situation prepared you to be successful in this role.” – Jacey Martin, NA Sales Recruiter at Gartner.
Enough about why it’s important, let’s look at five tips to help you stand out and climb the career ladder.
Crafting Compelling Narratives
Choose the Right Stories:
Selecting the appropriate stories is crucial for making a strong impression on your interviewers. Consider the specific skills, experiences, and qualities that the job requires, and choose a narrative from your professional background that best showcases your alignment with those criteria.
Whether it’s overcoming a major challenge, leading a successful project, or demonstrating adaptability, choose stories that align with the job requirements. For example, if the job requires strong leadership skills, you might share a story about a time when you successfully led a team through a challenging project.
Structure Your Story:
A well-structured story helps to engage your interviewers and convey your message effectively.
Every good story has a beginning, middle, and end. Start by providing context for your story, setting the scene and establishing the background information necessary for understanding the situation. Throughout the application process, you’ll have to tell many stories about yourself and your experiences, and like all great stories, the experiences you talk about will need clear context to resonate with your listeners.
Then, move into the heart of the narrative by describing the challenges or obstacles you encountered. Make sure to highlight the actions you took to address these challenges, including any creative problem-solving or leadership initiatives.
With all of this context, you’ve hopefully given your prospective colleague or manager a reason to care about the outcome of your story. And, if you’ve researched your audience well, you’re highlighting experiences that will feel relevant to their world.
Finally, conclude your story by describing the outcomes of your actions and the lessons you learned from the experience.
Be Authentic:
Authenticity is key to building trust and credibility with your interviewers. Being authentic also allows you to connect with your interviewers on a more personal level, creating a sense of rapport.
Avoid exaggeration or fabrication, as it can undermine your credibility. Instead, focus on sharing genuine stories that accurately reflect your skills, values, and character.
Showcase Skills and Attributes:
Use your stories as opportunities to showcase the specific skills and attributes that make you a strong candidate for the job. Whether it’s your problem-solving abilities, communication skills, or resilience in the face of adversity, tie your experiences back to the qualities that the employer is seeking.
Provide concrete examples and evidence to support your claims, demonstrating how your past experiences have prepared you for success in the role. For example, you could highlight your leadership skills by describing how you organised a project team, delegated tasks according to each team member’s strengths and established clear goals and timelines.
Engage Your Audience:
Captivate your interviewers by using vivid language, descriptive details, and compelling situations. Paint a picture with your words, allowing your interviewers to visualise the situation and empathise with your experiences.
Use storytelling techniques such as suspense, humour, or emotion to keep your audience engaged and interested in your narrative. The goal is not just to convey information, but to create a memorable and impactful impression that sets you apart from other candidates.
Remember, every interview is an opportunity to showcase your unique qualities and demonstrate your value. Start practising your storytelling skills and unlock the potential to leave a lasting impression that lands you the job of your dreams.
