Use Stories to Get a Job and Connect With an Employer

WHEN I GO TO BUY SOMETHING…

My first question usually is:

HOW MUCH?

A GOOD SALESMAN WON’T TELL YOU THE PRICE UNTIL…

They have shown you the product

They have shown you all of its features

They’ve added a quick story.

Middle Eastern Rug Merchants Are KnownFor This

RUG MERCHANTS USE THE POWER OF STORYTELLING TO…

Create a bond between the product, the merchant, and the customer.

TO STRENGTHEN THE BOND, THE MERCHANT MIGHT…

Offer you tea and a snack.

He will tell you how and where he lives.

He will tell you whatbooks he likes and dislikes.

He will also get to know you.

THEN HE REVEALS THE PRICE OF THE RUG...

STORYTELLING CAN BE VERY HELPFUL

Rug merchants are giving you more than just a rug.

You get the tale of the rug: where it came from, you learn about the merchant who sold it to you, and how you came

upon the rug shop in your travels.

You are getting a significant connection to what you have purchased.

How many times have you heard someone tell a story about why they bought something?

YOU ARE A COMMODITY When an Employer is hiring you, they are

making a purchase

The more information an employer has about you, and the more positive stories that are associated with your hire, the more likely the employer will be to hire you.

THE ELEVATOR PITCH

The elevator pitch is a story that you can tell that can be told again quickly, that is to the

point and is memorable.

Examples: Google was started by two students at

Stanford. Henry Ford developed the

assembly line. What’s your story?

As a recruiter, one of the primary jobs I do for candidates is write a story describing

their work.

This story must draw in the employer who reads it.

STORIES ARE CRUCIAL

The better the story, the more likely the candidate is to get hired.

Developing a story is the most important thing I can do for them.

With very rare exceptions, every successful candidate placement was due to development of an outstanding story.

THE BEST STORIES…

Revolve around the employee being motivated to do a good job.

Or around the employee being a hard worker, having a positive attitude, being loyal, and due to forces outside his/her control, he/she can no longer grow in his or her position or company.

A WELL WRITTEN STORY ALWAYS… Includes details about the candidate’s daily

life.

Educates the employer about the candidate’s family and friends.

Allows the employer to identify with the candidate as a person.

A GOOD STORY NEEDS…

A candidate with a positive attitude, who is trying to do well but cannot due to forces beyond his/her control.

WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A JOB

Find a story that shows you are out there trying to do good!

Make the employer feel like the good guy by hiring you.

WHEN CONNECTING WITH A POTENTIAL EMPLOYER…

Give the employer a glimpse of your personal life.

Make him connect with you.

The more you stand out, the harder it is to reject you.

DO NOT TELL THE EMPLOYER EVERYTHING ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL

LIFE!

PORTRAY YOURSELF AS FURTHERING THE CAUSE OF THE GOOD.

PEOPLE WANT TO FEEL LIKE THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING GOOD AND POSITIVE.