Angelina Darrisaw chatted with Monster.com on the importance of storytelling to land a job.
Here are some snippets featuring Darrisaw in the article by Catherine Conlan:
<When Angelina Darrisaw applied for a job as manager of digital business development at Viacom, the job description was for someone with a banking or consulting background who had more years experience than she did at the time. On paper, she was not the ideal candidate, but she had performed similar job duties in a past position.
“After initially being rejected from the role, I was able to connect with HR by phone,” she says. “I used that as an opportunity to share my story of success doing tasks that aligned almost completely with the job description. The interview process continued and I landed the role.”
What’s your story? Knowing it and telling it well during the job search process can help you stand out to hiring managers.
Take these tips to help you make the most of storytelling in your job search.
Know your audience
The most effective stories are those tailored to a specific audience, says Darrisaw, who’s now a career coach. “While the major takeaways of your career story don't have to change, the details you include should vary based on who your listener is.”
Do your research and learn about the company, then determine which elements of your story will be most relevant to it and the specific role you’re applying for. Then, find ways to weave those key points in throughout the hiring process.
Tell stories at every step
Don’t wait for an interview to start telling your story — incorporate it into your first contacts with an employer. “Storytelling is quite effective in a resume, as candidates can weave stories of their accomplishments throughout the document rather than copying and pasting ‘responsible for’ statements,” says Darrisaw. And being familiar with your stories can boost your confidence in interviews when you can use them to show how your skills address the employer’s pain points.>
Read the full article here.