Storytelling Powerful Interview Tool

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How do you master the art of storytelling in a job interview?

First, let’s provide a practical definition. It is the act of a job applicant or the interviewer communicating information in a succinct, engaging narrative that captures the listener's attention and keeps them interested. Mastering this art not only makes you a compelling storyteller but also significantly increases your chances of leaving a lasting impression on the interviewer.

Storytelling is not just a tool, it's the secret sauce for success in a job interview. Whether you're an applicant selling your value or an employer extolling the virtues of your organization, storytelling is the key.  In 27 years of global executive search, I have seen it work again and again.

Whether you're an applicant selling your value or an employer extolling the virtues of your organization, storytelling is the key.  In 27 years of global executive search, I have seen it work again and again.

Stories can be a transitionary quip that elicits a smile or a laugh, or it can create an ah-hah moment. In one interview, the applicant for a rural hospital CEO role, when asked about his weaknesses, paused, smiled, and remarked, “Before I answer, that may be we better call my wife.”  Board members laughed — the women knowingly, the men nervously. And their body language signaled a shift. They all leaned into the conference table. His wonderfully timed quip changed the trajectory of the interview.  Board members felt he was someone they liked and could trust. Another applicant influenced the board by sharing his journey, from a young boy on a farm who saw a local hospital save his father’s life and how that led him to commit to rural and community healthcare. “You can trust me,” he concluded, “that I will respect each of you for the important governance role you play in the good times and the bad, to care about this community, and devote my heart and soul to the success of our employees, our physicians, and this hospital.” One board member later told me, “I voted for him because I had never heard anything like that in my time on this board — someone who was willing to be accountable in such a meaningful way.”

One of the grand benefits of mastering this job interview skill is that it will pay handsome dividends in employee meetings and community town halls. The ability to use stories to keep the team focused on the mission, vision and values is a characteristic of most great leaders. One employee at a Western Pennsylvania medical center said, “I never miss the manager’s meetings because our CEO uses amazing storytelling to lift us up every week.” This skill is not just for job interviews but for any situation where you need to engage and inspire your audience.

What steps should I take to identify stories I can tell?

First, understand your value. That begins when you go through the process of creating your value brand statement, a narrative that brings together your four or five (no more) signature strengths with quantifiable proof.  Then, write a 250-300 word statement summarizing this information in a way that captures the attention and imagination of those with whom you share the information.  It is an essential statement because you take part in it to answer that ubiquitous first interview question:  “Tell me about yourself.”  What they want to hear is your value, your value,s and why they should hire you.  Pure and simple.  Definitely not a summation of your resume. This process is a crucial step in identifying the stories you can tell in your job interviews.

You will tell a story by summarizing your value and why they should hire you. If you hope to get the job, tell them a compelling, engaging story. 

After an amazing career filled with more than a dash of good fortune and having interviewed people all over the world, I have developed a reputation for being a storyteller. Teaching people how to tell stories about who they are and why they should be hired is one of the great joys of what I do in my coaching practice.

The hardest part of this job is getting executives to understand they have permission to become great storytellers. If you want to be an effective leader and a respected servant leader, you must learn to master this amazing art.

If you would like to become a master storyteller in a job interview, schedule a free call with John. In his career as a crime writer, investigative journalist, global executive recruiter, and coach, John has interviewed thousands of leaders around the world.

Visit JohnGSelf.Com for more information.