Don't Just Tell WHAT You Did, Tell HOW You Did It!
by Cindy Kraft

What is the best way to ensure that YOU stand out from among the competition during the interview process? Storytelling!

Think about the last time you attended a speech. What was it that you most remembered from that 15 or 20-minute presentation? Was it the facts, or the statistics, or was it when the speaker actually summed up what he said with a personal testimonial that caught and held your interest?

The same technique is extremely effective during an interview. Will the interviewer remember you from among the other 10 people he interviewed because you told him you increased profitability, or streamlined processes, or reduced costs? Probably not. Will he remember you, though, if you give him an example of how you did what you did? Probably!

Try framing your example within the C-A-R format (challenge, action, result). What was the situation, what specific action did you take, and what was the end, measurable result?

If you have engaged the interviewer in dialogue early in the interview process and listened carefully to the company's needs, stories are even more effective. You can capitalize on the "aha" factor - that moment when the listener connects your past accomplishments with his company's current needs because you told him a "story" he not only listened to, but heard and understood!

About the Author: Cindy Kraft