We all have a story to tell. In competitive industries, the ability to tell a well-crafted story can make or break your opportunity to land that new job you have been so excited about. Employers are looking for not just skills, but people. People who have the right soft skills like strong communication, the ability to work with a team, and flexibility, among many other soft skills.
Before you begin your job search you should think about what industry or role you want to work in. For example, maybe you want to be in a management role in an industry that requires working with people or customer service. In a role like this, you would need to know how to explain how you brought about results to improve the company’s progress, how you build relationships with customers, and so on. Being able to effectively explain yourself in a story before you even begin your job search will help with unexpected calls from recruiters and can help to provide clarity when writing your resume and cover letter.
One thing to note is that no matter your level of experience you do have stories to tell, whether you are at the executive level or fresh out of college. For candidates who are just out of school, you can draw on your internships, personal and school projects, and volunteer work. Recruiters typically tend to remember candidates who were confident in what they had to say and who could carry on a good conversation. The more influence you have during your conversation can help you to stand out during an interview.
So, what method do I use when crafting my stories?
There is a method that you can follow when creating your persuasive stories. It is called the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Below I am going to break down what each section should say and what employers are looking for when you go to tell your story during an interview or conversation.
Situation – This is where you describe what you can do to help the employer solve a problem, they are looking for you to solve in the role you are applying for. When going to an interview it is a good idea to get a strong sense of what they are asking for in the job posting. Therefore, I suggest memorizing the job posting if possible. For the strong points, sit and think about how you have solved a problem based on what they are looking for.
When you begin your answer, think about it as if you were telling a story to answer the question. The key is to not give a long-winded answer but to give an answer that is engaging, interesting, and clear. Start the story by giving an idea of the environment you were in, who you were involved with and what the problem was.
Task – Move on to the task at hand. Think about what it was that you were trying to solve and be clear and concise in how you talk about your tasks. Mention your thinking process, what motivated you to take the steps you did, the tools you used, and who and how you were working with.
This part of the process can be somewhat daunting. Consider jotting down your answers on a piece of paper and reframing them into your story. As with this part you want to be once again concise, but impactful with what you write and how you plan to explain your tasks when you are in an interview.
Action – This is where you explain the steps you took. Think about explaining your action in a manner that paints a picture of what you did to solve the problem. This section will probably also require the most detail, without going off in the wrong direction. Stick to the key points when explaining this section. This is where you should be able to tell the listener where you made the biggest impact while illustrating your problem-solving abilities.
Result – Finally the result! This section is short and sweet. Explain how you finally solved the problem, what results brought about improvements, and how you were able to build relationships with those involved throughout the process.
Storytelling during the interview is meant to be engaging. This is your opportunity to build a connection with the interviewer while helping others to gain a better perspective of who you are in the process. Telling a story, no matter the content should be relatable to the listener while giving them a better understanding of who you are as a person. Letting your personality shine, along with displaying your skills are all essential during the interview process.
Bliss + You 