It’s normal to feel a bit awkward, nervous or even confused when it comes to talking about wanting to shift to a better job or a bigger opportunity. It goes without saying that today’s workforce is hyper-competitive. It's way too difficult to distinguish yourself and if you're looking for a career shift, you'll need the right story to appear more credible, authentic and memorable than other competitors.
The Importance of Storytelling
When it comes to influence and persuasion, storytelling has been proven to be 12 times more effective vs. other forms of communication. Scientific research has shown that a story helps listeners to remember things in a meaningful and memorable way. When you combine storytelling with your purposeful activity and present it with an appealing narrative, you instantly tug at the heart and mind and alter people’s views about you.
This means you have a lot of influencing power as a job prospect if you implement effective storytelling and combine your expertise with the right story to stand above the crowd. Effective storytelling requires you to organise your thoughts into a story that combines facts with positive feelings about you as a person, resulting in a rush of the feel-good hormone, dopamine, in the brain of your listener
How To Influence Recruiters With Powerful Storytelling?
Recruiters strongly believe that they make decisions based solely on rational factors. However, even though they might not admit it, their emotions play a significant part in the decision making process. It is part of our human nature to be influenced by emotions and facts. Emotions influence how connected we feel to others, and those connections influence how we see others, whether positively or negatively. The simplest approach to be on the right side of that equation is to tell a compelling story through your CV, cover letter, and most importantly through your interview.
This is where you discover the importance of a professional storytelling coach.
Key Principles to Telling a Compelling Story
1. Make Your Story Their Story You must make the audience feel connected somewhere in your story, as if you are narrating the listener's story. Your identity, your worldview, and your life experiences need to relate to the listener and connect with the listener.
It's critical to discover a point of connection between your story and the story of your listener when discussing your career aspirations, skillsets and expertise.
Your story must connect with the listener’s heart and identity.
2. Craft an Authentic and Compelling Story
Your story should have a dramatic element to make it sound compelling. What was the context of the challenge, how was it difficult to surmount, and how did you manage to overcome the challenge – this is a basic framework to incorporate adequate dramatic elements to elevate your experiences and skill sets.
However, too much drama can cost you as you may come across as inauthentic and unprofessional. You should have the authentic touch to your story and make sure it promotes you and your skills and experiences with credibility and sufficient persuasion to elevate your chances to land the job!
Remember, it's time to start crafting a story: one that clearly maps out who you are now and helps you understand the new path your life is on.
3. Welcome The Intrigue Factor
The best stories are about overcoming adversity; they make your audience lean in and ask, "What happened next?". So, don’t miss adding these moments of intrigue to your story.
As you talk about your career transition, embrace the uncertainty and talk about how you navigate uncertainties/challenges/issues. Remember, nobody wants to hear a story in which everything went smoothly from beginning to end. Life is a jumbled mess. There will be curveballs, hitches, and blind spots. So, make sure your story maps out the highs and lows and how you overcame challenges and your key life lessons coming out of your experiences. Express your emotions and feeling. Ensure you streamline your storyline. Make it intact with emotions, feelings, complexities, adversities etc. – this makes the story authentic and relatable.
4. Discover Your Purpose
Purpose might be merely a buzzword if you don't think about it deeply, but if you ask yourself the appropriate questions, it can become a powerful tool. It keeps you anchored in turbulent times, helps create your identity, generates internal motivation and broadens the spectrum of employment choices.
If you concentrate on the role, your next steps will be to obtain the necessary qualifications, combine them with work experience or launch your own business. So, rightfully justify your purpose for shifting your career paths and ambitions.
5. Craft a Well-Structured Story
Focus on your strengths. Do not limit yourself by only sharing with the listeners about what you know, what you can do, or the abilities you have. Rather, prioritize things that make you feel energized and fulfilled. Allow space on your CV for previous career accomplishments that resulted from activities that made you feel stronger and happier.
Remember that your CV should not be your resume, but rather your letter of purpose. Explain where you're coming from, and also talk about your destination. Others will find it easier to accept and support your transition process if you tell them your story.
Meet George Eapen, Your Interview Storytelling Coach!
Career transition is already challenging. Make your transition and the journey seamless and less complicated with George Eapen, the best interview storytelling coach! Invest only 30 minutes and experience positive change as you confidently transition to the next level in your career roadmap!
Enroll for a 1-on-1 storytelling session with our storytelling coach now! Mater the art of crafting a purpose-driven story to crack even the toughest job interview effortlessly.
Book a storytelling session today!