Are You A Great Storyteller?

Let's pretend for a moment that you are interviewing someone for a job, and you ask the candidate if he considers himself to be a good manager. The candidate answers, "Yes, I do," but offers no proof or elaboration. He just goes on an on about how great a manager he thinks he is. He almost convinces you.

Later that day, you see a second candidate. You ask her the same question you asked the first candidate - "Do you consider yourself to be a good manager?"

The candidate also answers, "Yes, I do." But then she launches into a compelling story about how she was able to lead a cross-functional team and drive that team to a successful outcome. It is an excellent story, and every time you ask her a question, she backs it up with evidence.

Later that day, you consider the two candidates. Which one would you want to hire --the one who just answered, "Yes, I'm a good manager." Or, the one who consistently told convincing stories to back up her claims?

The answer is obvious, isn't it? People who can present "proof" of their "claim" in a job interview are more likely to get the job because they are able to bring the claim to life and generally sound more legitimate.

Do YOU know how to tell a great story about yourself and your career? Before you even send out your first resume, prepare an arsenal of convincing stories about your accomplishments. I personally view this as the first and most important step in preparing for an interview.

Are you having trouble telling stories about yourself? Write in, and we'll help.