Good stories make a lasting impression: without stories, most people will forget what you say in a matter of minutes. It’s important to get ‘the real you’ across in a memorable way to cement your impression on an interviewer.

To get the ‘real you’ across, start by identifying your ‘core’ attributes. The exact words and phrases at the heart of your communication strategy (your story) are a key to interview success: use them wisely, and you’ll expand your marketability by building appeal that is beyond your basic credentials. (Another plus to using the story line as a selling technique in an interview.)

To better understand your communication strategy (your story), imagine a politician’s platform: a politician anticipates questions on major issues and formulates well thought out position statements to guide their answers.

Here’s another key: preparing for your job interview by researching the company and their culture, by anticipating all the questions you may be asked and writing well thought out responses in the form of a story, will put you way ahead of those who neglect to do this.

Where’s the proof?

In a test conducted at a major university in the US, two groups of students were given a list of 20 questions that they would likely be asked during an interview. Half the students were asked to write out their responses in the form of stories. A local HR professional with many years of interviewing experience was recruited to interview and score the students. He had no idea that one group of interviewees had previously prepared written responses and that the other group had not.

The group that prepared the written responses to the interview questions scored higher in their interviews than the group that did not.

Your advanced degrees or titles alone will not likely get you hired: job candidates get hired for their traits, skills and abilities – based on their performance (and effective description of them) in an job interview. Using key phrases that set you apart from others like ‘operated effectively under pressure’ or ‘an excellent motivator’ is paramount. Research other phrases such as these and apply them to what you feel are your greatest professional attributes.

What to do next?

Read the next interview coach Interview Tip: Use Your ‘SOAR Sell’ to Soar to the Top!

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