Greetings!
Welcome to your latest issue of the Interview Expert newsletter.
Every issue explores the key elements of a successful job interview - so you can master your skills and land the job you really want!
In this issue we give you the nuts and bolts of how to tell stories that stick in an interviewer's mind. |
Making stories stick |
Responding to interview questions with stories rather than with simple facts makes a huge impact on interviewers, who will remember you in a positive way. One of the best ways of making stories stick in the minds of interviewers is by painting mental images. It's not as difficult as it may seem because most of us think in pictures quite naturally. For example, think of an elephant. Did you visualize the elephant or use words to describe it? Most of us see the elephant rather than thinking of ways to describe it. Because we think in pictures, that's why first impressions make such a difference. Telling stories is an effective way to share your mental pictures. The more vivid your stories, the more memorable you'll be in the minds of interviewers. Here are some simple but powerful ways to help you paint pictures that show you're the best candidate for the job. When you tell a story... 1. Be specific about the time.
Instead of: "A few months ago..." say, "In January, 2009..." 2. Use first names.
Instead of: "My boss said..." say, "John, my boss said..." 3. Specify the context.
Instead of: "I was an outstanding performer ..." say, "In my last performance appraisal, my boss said...." 4. Use numbers to state size, but make sure they're relevant to the hiring organization. Small companies won't see the relevance of big company numbers and vice versa. For example:
Instead of: "A large number of staff..." say, "50 staff members..."
Instead of: "significant savings..." say, "$500,000 in savings within two months..." 5. Quantify the results. Where possible include sales numbers, revenue, cost savings, number of new clients etc. As in the examples above, make sure the size is relevant to the hiring organization. If it's not, leave it out or change the numbers to percentage increases. For example:
Instead of: "I increased sales...." say, "I increased sales by 20 percent in four months." Finally, write down your stories to solidify them in your mind. But don't memorize them; just remember the key points so you when you speak, you sound natural. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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