How to Tell Your Story during an Interview

Summary: Learn how to tell your story during an interview. The most important thing is to explain who you are and why you are the best person to be hired.

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Interviews can be a troubling event if you don’t go prepared. You should know by now the common types of questions that get asked so you can have answers ready to go. One of these questions from the interviewer will be to explain your “story.” Here are guidelines to help you prepare for this question.

 

Guideline #1: Many interviewers will make their decision about you within the first few minutes. You want your story to be unique but also show the interviewer why they should hire you. If an interviewer does not like your “story”, they will not care about any other answers you give during the interview.

 

Guideline #2: Start your “story” with a beginning that leads into a spark, growing interest, your future, and why you are there today.

 

Guideline #3: There are six big mistakes that you can make delivering your “story”.

1. Providing too much setup to the point of the story.
2. Not giving a specific spark about why you are passionate about the field.
3. Weaving too many plot twists and transitions into the story such as changing your career more than twice.
4. Not having any transitions or illogical transitions. Explain how jobs that unrelated can lead from one to the next.
5. Putting negativity into your “story.” A little negativity, such as the fact that you were laid off or the market crashed so you had to find a new career is fine, but putting down every company you ever worked for and every employer will not bode well.
6. Not having a distinct vision. When you have worked in just about every industry, describe how having all those skills are part of your vision for the future.

Guideline #4: Practice your story and determine if you are making any of the above mistakes. Correct those mistakes and practice the rest of your answers to common interview questions to make sure you are fully prepared.

 

See the following articles for more information:

• 21 Major Interview Mistakes to Avoid at All Costs
• The Best Way to Prepare for a Job Search and Interviews
• How to Talk About Other Interviews in Your Interviews
• How to Answer the Tell Me About Yourself Interview Question
• How to Answer the Do You Have Any Questions for Me Interview Question

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