Being able to tell your story — and to tell it well — is one of the most important skills a job seeker can have. My friend, Ken Revenaugh’s blog, Fast Track Tools, shares information about how to tell good career stories. He reminds us that being a good communicator relies on collecting factoids and being able to share them with an audience.

Another resource for job search storytelling is fellow Career Collective member, Katharine Hansen’s book, Tell Me About Yourself. You may not have realized that interviewing is mainly about being able to tell a story well.

The most important thing for job seekers? Learning how to SHOW, not just TELL. This applies to the resume, all written correspondence, networking meetings, online profiles — any place where you have an opportunity to detail exactly how you can help the organization solve its problems. Maybe you can touch on problems the organization does not even know that it has? If you can network your way into a company, you have a chance to show why they need you.

A great example of how to show, not tell is the OnStar commercials. They say, “Whether you need help to get to where you’re going, or want peace of mind with safety and security in an emergency situation, OnStar has your back.” But, they don’t leave it at that. Their commercials vividly recount situations when having their system made the difference between life and death. I admit that most of the commercials give me goosebumps. (No, this is not a sponsored post!)

Take a look at their latest ad and think about how you can do a better job of being the person your target organization cannot do without.

If you want to learn how to look for a job today, check out The Career Summit…more than a dozen online presentations to help you land that next job!

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  • http://www.fincar.com.au David

    Personal data is generally the most important aspect as you look for a job. Your self is what you basically promote as you sit in front of an interviewer. Coming in with your best asset and confidence will definitely bring you into a job acceptance that will provide you with the stream of income you aspire the most.

  • http://tomhawkin.com Tom Hawkin

    Very true, Miriam. Too often, interviewees try to let the ‘resume speak for them’. Potential employees need to provide examples to back up the facts on their resume. Simply stating ‘Increased sales by 50% over a two year period’ is not enough. That statement needs to be backed up with real life stories of how you boosted sales and how you overcame any obstacles. I always encourage people sending their resume out to participate in mock interviews, they are so valuable to sharpen your story telling abiities!

    http://www.tomhawkin.com/career-blog

  • http://astoriedcareer.com Kathy Hansen

    Thanks so much for the shoutout to my book, Miriam. I also cover job-search storytelling in my blog, A Storied Career. I cover other kinds of applied storytelling there, but storytelling for the job search is the centerpiece.

    Great to have you recognize storytelling as the most important thing a job-seeker can do.

    • http://www.keppiecareers.com Miriam Salpeter

      Thanks, Kathy! Your book is one of my favorite career books, and I enjoy referencing it. I’ll add your blog to my resources as well!

  • http://edmusesupon.wordpress.com/ Ed Han

    Miriam, excellent entry. As a writer, I have always understood that interviewing is in fact about a narrative, but never understood it in those words until this. Thank you.

    • http://www.keppiecareers.com Miriam Salpeter

      Ed – Thanks so much for your note. I am always looking for new ways to illustrate important career/job search concepts, and I am glad this one resonated with you!

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