You will need to create many stories throughout your job search to showcase your knowledge, skills, and abilities. The first type of story you want to create is the professional narrative. This type of story tells the potential employer who you are at your core and reveals why you are unique compared to other candidates for the job. Some consider this to be their unique selling proposition. Done correctly, it will reflect your personality and value system to the interviewer.
The story you create for your career narrative can be about anything; But it generally involves a significant event, challenge, or obstacle you faced in a work environment that details how you overcame it and what lessons you learned. In the course of writing your story, you will gain a better understanding of who you are as a person. You will also be able to extract more stories from this experience that can be used during your job search that will highlight some of your other positive job characteristics and traits.
Keep in mind that you are not limited to creating a professional narrative. It’s best to create several that illustrate different aspects of your personality and accomplishments that you can choose from. When creating your story, it is important to be aware of the fact that the listener has the power to hire you based in part on the personal insights they receive after hearing the stories you tell.
Here are some tips to get the most out of your career narrative. First, keep it short so that you can easily remember and retell other people involved in the hiring decision. Second, link your past accomplishments to future career goals you have set for yourself. Third, don’t inflate your career narrative. It is important to be authentic, reciprocal and transparent when conveying your story to the interviewer. Keep practicing your story with friends and family until you start your presentation and appear both humble and personable.