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Use these storytelling principles to get noticed, make yourself a more memorable candidate, and get hired!

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NOVEMBER 2022

The Corner News

presented by CornerStone Staffing
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Telling Tales: Using Storytelling to Land the Job You Want

Need to Get Hired? Become an Expert Storyteller 

Everyone, including hiring managers, loves a good story (as long as it's not rooted in fiction, that is!). Use these storytelling principles to get noticed, make yourself a more memorable candidate, and get hired:

Research

Every great story starts with a research process. In order to know what type of story will be the most impactful, you must know your audience: 

  • Read news articles, websites, or LinkedIn posts to find out the scoop on your prospective company. Think of it as researching a date online before you go out. Look for things like company values, goals, and culture. This will help you find commonalities.  
  • Become friends with current employees on LinkedIn. Have Zoom chats with them and find out what types of problems the company might be facing and where you could add value. Staffing firm recruiters can also provide insightful information. 
  • Read similar job descriptions to find applicable ways your experience matches. It’s not about making yourself fit a mold, but finding where you fit and crafting your story in a way that directly relates to them. 
Narrow the Focus

Now it’s time to find a way to make yourself stand out. Ask yourself, “what is one key component that I bring to the table that makes me unique?”. We’ve all watched episodes of “Shark Tank” and witnessed the entrepreneurs move the panel by their stories. 

Knowing your metrics is vital, but it’s equally as important to be able to talk about what makes you who you are.  

  • Do you have resilience and determination?  
  • Do you excel in leadership and relationships with people?  
  • Are you a top-notch problem solver?  

Pick one or two of your strengths and a powerful anecdote to illustrate them.

If this is your first time applying for a job, think about the skills you’ve been using throughout life like creative thinking or making new friends. If you have experience, back up your story with numbers and metrics. Recruiters can give you advice on what experience to highlight.  

Have a Beginning, Middle, and End

Every good story must have a beginning, middle, and end. Here’s an example of a story that demonstrates the soft skill of relationship building with these three elements: 

Beginning: I worked in a property management office with a small staff. Shortly after I was hired, a new receptionist was hired. The other staff members didn’t like her approach. It became obvious she was feeling isolated. Our department heavily overlapped with her job duties.  

Middle: One day I took her on an appointment with me to show a house to a client. We began talking and I built a friendship with her. I began speaking highly of her to the staff.  

End: As a result, other agents followed suit. Soon, she became a welcome part of the team. Eventually, she helped our department tremendously during one of the busiest seasons by taking on additional responsibilities. She increased our productivity by 25% after I helped her integrate with her co-workers. We are still friends to this day.  

Stories like these can cause you to draw the listeners in as everyone knows what it’s like to have an incohesive team. Set the stage for the problem, the hard work in between, and the resolution.  

Practicing (and editing!) makes perfect! 

While you don’t want to come across as over-rehearsed and robotic, practice can help. The best speech givers of all time often practiced in front of the mirror, allowing their bodies to mirror their words.  

Subtle things like leaning in and posture can add non-verbal cues.

Make sure your story can be told within a short, succinct period. Practicing with friends ahead of time will help you refine what details you want to add.  

Remember, don’t exaggerate, and be truthful! You may need to edit a few times to refine what you want to say. If you get the job in the first round, you will have practiced your presentation skills. If not, you will have a good foundation and can add or subtract any details based on the specific job.

Keep Calm and Carry On 

The interview process can be nerve-racking. Sometimes it feels like sitting in front of an “American Idol” panel. Flip the switch on your nerves and visualize yourself telling the story to a friend you’ve known for years.  

While things must stay professional, remembering that your interviewers are people too can help keep your heart rate down. Picture yourself walking into the office prepared and at peace. A little bit of confidence will go a long way. Remember, to be yourself because you do have something to offer that no one else does: You! 

 
 

Copyright CornerStone Staffing, 4500 Mercantile Plaza Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76137. All rights reserved.

We at CornerStone Staffing wish to clearly identify ourselves. We only send staffing and management related tips and ideas to our clients and others who have expressed interest in receiving our information. You have the right to opt-out of our mailing list at any time using the remove link found at the bottom of every newsletter. If you would be interested in specific staffing advice for your organization, please contact us at 1.888.419.4119.

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