Using Storytelling as a Job-Search Strategy

Abstract

This article demonstrates and reinforces the role that well-told stories play in the success of the job-search process. Building on narrative theory, impression management, and an increased use of behavioral-based questions in interviews, well-crafted stories about work and educational experiences demonstrate skills applicants possess and convey them to interviewers in memorable ways. The article shows how to construct stories based on an applicant’s experiences and shaped to the needs of a potential employer. Additionally, the article demonstrates how a job seeker can create a collection of personal stories that can be adapted to varying job interview situations.