Posted under Interviewing, Job Search on July 2nd, 2008
Two careers industry professionals blogged last week about the fine art of storytelling in job search.
Abby Locke of Premier Writing Solutions talked about using stories incorporating the STARS approach (Situation — Task — Action — Result) to nail a behavioral-style interview.
“Hiring managers do not want hypothetical answers, they want the facts – supporting evidence, clear examples, proof of performance”.
Kathy Hansen, over at A Storied Career, explained why using storytelling to marketing oneself in job search works the way companies use stories to market their products.
“Just as customers are inclined to participate when they can see themselves in marketing stories, employers are inclined to participate (by hiring the candidate) when they see themselves in the job-seeker’s story”.
Storytelling is one of those common sense job search tools. When a job seeker presents a few career success stories in their resume and the interview process, hiring decision makers can see their company in the job seeker’s story. The stories offer tangible proof of that candidate’s potential value to the company – just what she is capable of and how she will make things happen.
Posted by Meg Guiseppi
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Sherlock on 03 Jul 2008 at 8:52 am #
I can testify to the success of this method. Giving examples of successes you’ve been responsible for and involved in shows a pride in your work and a confidence in your own ability. These are very appealing attributes in a candidate.
In most interviews these days you’ll be required to answer some competency based questions so make sure you’re prepared.
Everyone has been responsible for something successful at work no matter how small or seemingly insignificant.
MGuiseppi on 03 Jul 2008 at 10:38 am #
Hi Sherlock,
Thanks for your thoughtful comments.
It’s so important for job seekers to realize, as you say, that “Everyone has been responsible for something successful at work no matter how small or seemingly insignificant”.
Developing stories using the S-T-A-R or C-A-R framework really helps you get there and get to the core of what your key attributes are, and thus, what differentiates you.
I’m glad it worked for you.
Regards,
Meg
Rick on 03 Jul 2008 at 12:29 pm #
More “show” and less “tell.” That’s the bottom line here. You can say all you want that you have a particular skill, or that you can manage projects in spite of obstacles to successful conclusions. But you need to go one step further by adding concrete examples to support your assertions.
One suggestion: Keep a running “career diary” or journal in which you document the situation or task, along with the action you took and the result. Time tends to erode one’s memory of a particularly notable situation, so keeping a diary allows you to refer back to it when it’s time to look for that next career opportunity.
And since it’s up to everyone to manager his or her own career today, that simple exercise can help pay big dividends down the road.
MGuiseppi on 03 Jul 2008 at 12:54 pm #
Thanks for commenting, Rick.
And thanks for sharing your “career diary” tip. What a great idea to keep track of the specifics as they happen so the job of updating your resume and prepping for your next job search is that much easier.
Regards,
Meg