CAR Stories and Your Resume

Amy Whittenberger, SPHR, MBA

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Successful Employment

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•Complain C

•Annoy A

•Rat Hole R

• CHALLENGE C

• ACTION A

• RESULT R

WHAT IS A CAR STORY × An answer to a behavioral question × A framework and a process × A story, with a beginning, middle and end × Preferably a hook at the end

× Not just a bulleted list of facts, but with personality

Hard work, but worth the ROI

A CAR STORY ANSWERS: × This is how I made a difference. × This is how I am different than the other

interviewees. × This is how I can add value to your

company. × This is why you should hire me.

Use metrics to solidify the power of the story

BENEFITS OF A CAR STORY

× Provides more info in your answer × Makes you more memorable to hiring manager × Remembers a story, not facts × Remembers accomplishment and that there were

numbers to back it up × Key words / repeat competencies × Significant differentiator

Remember: they are looking for FIT

W.I.I.F.M.

× Helps you to be remembered × Prevents  long  pause  because  you  don’t  

have an answer × Keeps you articulate and on topic × Keeps you from the rabbit hole × Helps them follow your answer

They’ll  say:    “Hey,  I  really  like  this  person.”

All Rights Reserved. Amy Whittenberger May, 2013

AMY’S TEMPLATE

All Rights Reserved. Amy Whittenberger, May, 2013

C: Challenge S: Situation At XYZ Company, my role was XYZ. I was faced with XYZ situation/challenge.

M: Metrics I was asked to improve/change by XYZ metrics.

A: Action

A: Action The actions I took were: 1. 2. 3.

R: Results R: Results The result was that we XYZ by XYZ metrics.

T: Tie-In Link  the  result  back  to  the  employer’s  competency  question  or  interviewer’s  needs.

EXAMPLE C: Challenge

S: Situation

A few years back, while HR Generalist at Johnson Controls, an internal client of mine, VP of Finance, determined that his organization was lacking important leadership skills.

M: Metrics The  challenge  was  we  didn’t  have  a  budget  or  training  team  to  rely  on  to  develop leadership training, so we decided to create our own leadership program.

A: Action

A: Action x Together we collaborated on a 10-month leadership development program.

x I planned, communicated all the logistics and managed 12 sessions held every three weeks

x I presented two modules: Leadership Effectiveness Model and Courageous Conversations.

x A requirement was to engage learners through role playing and small group exercises which proved to be tremendously effective.

R: Results R: Results The program was a success and cost us less than $250 for a few materials and recognition certificates. The VP attributed the success of this program as a key reason leadership effectiveness and employee engagement scores on the employee survey increased six percentage points each in one year. Additionally, the managers/participants said it was a good use of their time and were able to put their learning into action.

T: Tie-In Most importantly, we developed a sustainable model: the program was replicated for different departments over four years.

TIPS × Write them out, share them verbally with

someone so they can critique you. × Do not bury your story in unneeded details.

Give them the golden nuggets. × 1.5 minutes max × Practice each one 30 times so they roll off

your tongue. DO NOT memorize. Keep it natural.

× Have 10-15 CAR stories in your arsenal

All Rights Reserved. Amy Whittenberger, May, 2013

MATERIAL FOR CARS × Past performance

reviews × Personality

assessments × Recommendations × Bullets on resume × Strengths on resume × Job description

All Rights Reserved. Amy Whittenberger, May, 2013

× StrengthFinders 2.0 × Non-paid experience × Life-altering events × Interview questions × Company Website

YOUR RESUME × Accomplishments and Strengths × Concise × Make an impression in 20 seconds

Gets you the interview

CAR STORIES × Stories that explain resume

Gets you the job!!! All Rights Reserved. Amy Whittenberger, May, 2013

WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW?

Thank You!

All Rights Reserved. Amy Whittenberger, May, 2013