When you tell a story, it needs to have three parts. You should have the introduction, the middle, and the end of the story. Whether you read a book, watch a movie, or tell a scary story, you need all three components. And, believe it or not, you should be using the same layout during your interview. You can become a storyteller and use your story to make yourself stand out as a job applicant.
Before we go into our storytelling tips, you may want to know you should even bother telling a story at all. An interview isn't a time for you to spew off a long list of statistics or numbers. While your resume should include a few key statistics, your interview shouldn't be about numbers. Instead, you need to find a way to make your statistics, accomplishments, and skills interesting.
In general, people pay more attention when you tell a story. You need to take on your interview as if you're telling a story - every question doesn't have an answer but instead has a story. By making your answers more interesting, you accomplish several feats. First, you make sure you grab the interviewer's attention. Secondly, you sound more professional and intentional. And, finally, you make a stronger case for yourself as a candidate.
You never want to give extremely short answers during an interview because it doesn't get the point across. And, although you don't want to bore the interviewer, you need to give thought-out answers that show them your worth. Telling a story is a great way to be entertaining, memorable, and everything else a hiring manager wants you to be.
You could read a book about storytelling, but that won't get you very far in your interview. Typically, tips on storytelling are geared towards book writers. In this case, you need advice that will get you through your interview.
When it comes to interviewing, there are two storytelling tips you should follow. First, make sure you use the five "Ws" of journalism. Those include:
Who
What
When
Where
Why
How
To be more specific, you need to think of the question at hand. If an interviewer asks you about your weaknesses, you should address the questions by thinking about your weaknesses. What are your weaknesses, and what was the problem? Then, you want to discuss who was involved in the situation. Was it your manager, a co-worker, or a client? After you explain those details, discuss the location of the situation. Did it happen in your department or in another team?
One of the most important pieces of the puzzle is the why. If you're talking about a time you had a weakness, explain why your weakness was a problem. After you discuss that, it's time to show the interviewer that your weakness didn't stop you. How did you keep your weakness from affecting you, or what steps did you take to improve upon your weakness? Now is the time to transform your weakness into an asset.
After you address all of the questions above, it's time to end your story. Make sure you end on a positive note and explain how you've mastered your weakness or plan to further master it. This might take some thought. Long before the day of your interview, you should practice a few common interview questions. Write down how you can answer those questions in a story format, and then practice your answers.
The second tip is to use your story to make a lasting impression. Although answering all of the "W's is a good start, it's not the only way to utilize a story to get a job offer. When you tell your story, you need to make a strong impression on the interviewer. This is easily done by showing you can balance your strengths and weaknesses. While most people are eager to only talk about their strengths, you need to be willing to discuss your flaws.
Everyone has weaknesses, and a hiring manager wants to hire someone who is aware of their flaws. So, no matter what interview question you're answering, you should be willing to acknowledge your imperfection. You shouldn't focus on the negative, but you should at least bring up a few of your flaws. Doing so will give your employer confidence that you are taking measures to improve yourself and that you won't let your weaknesses hold you back.
As you try to make a deep impression, think about what the hiring manager expects to hear. Then, think about what they want to hear. You should balance it out by being unexpected but appealing to what they need and want from an employee.
For instance, the interviewer might ask about the type of animal that best describes you. People don't usually answer this question with unusual animals, so you can stand out by using an uncommon animal. After all, the interviewer doesn't care as much about the animal as they do the reason you identify with that animal.
Once again, being unexpected and being employable is all about balance. You need to come across as unique yet professional. Try to temper your answers in a way that gives you the right balance.
When you watch someone tell a great story, you do more than just listen. You also watch the person who's telling the story. If a storyteller has no expression or seems stiff, you probably won't enjoy the story very much. It doesn't matter how great the story might be; the storyteller needs to emphasize their words with gestures and body language.
During an interview, you can embellish your story with the appropriate body language. Don't be too tight or stoic. Instead, have body language that makes you seem warm and welcoming. Doing so can make all the difference.
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