3 Ways Authentic Storytelling Helps You Land A New Job

Imagine this scenario for a job interview: You fly nine hours to an in-person interview. You are jetlagged, but even worse, you’ve come down with chicken pox. No amount of makeup will cover the marks on your face and you feel lousy. This happened to me in 1998 and despite all the setbacks, I was still offered the job. In fact, before I started my own company, I had a 100% track record of being offered the position I was interviewing for. It took me decades to realize and name why I was able to thrive during interviews, even horrible ones. My secret: I used authentic storytelling. Through stories, I was vulnerable, let my true self be seen, and I asked questions because I was curious about the people interviewing me.

This graduation season, thousands of incredibly well-qualified college students will be turned loose into a sluggish job market. “There’s effectively no new net job creation,” Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said in his last press conference before stepping down. “In a sense, the labor market is in balance, but it’s an unusual and uncomfortable kind of a balance where people who don’t have jobs will have a hard time breaking in unless somebody quits their job.”

So, how do college grads or anyone interviewing in this competitive job market make sure they prepare for the job interviews they do land? My advice is to prepare for a job interview with authentic stories that showcase who you are. What makes stories authentic? Authentic stories allow you to be vulnerable, let your true self be seen, and be curious about the other people in the room. Here are 3 ways you can use storytelling at your next job interview:

1. Storytelling Allows You To Be Vulnerable

Preparing for job interviews is a must. Having a handful of answers ready for common interview questions such as “Tell me about yourself” or “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”  But you don’t want to come across as rehearsed or robotic. Your interviewers want to know if you are trustworthy. In the study Personal Narratives Build Trust Across Ideological Divides, Dr. Minson (author of How to Disagree Better) and her colleagues found that personal, authentic stories that reveal vulnerability are the best at building trust especially in charged contexts. This is where authentic storytelling can help.

At first glance, it would appear that stories that reveal vulnerability should be avoided at interviews. Aren’t we trying to put our best foot forward? But in her research, Dr. Minson saw again and again “that stories that divulge an action or event that humbles the storyteller increase perceptions of trustworthiness by making the speaker appear vulnerable.”

During a job interview, building trust is more necessary than showing off your qualifications. It’s a straightforward task for the interviewers to determine whether you are qualified. You’re probably qualified — that’s why they asked to interview you. The interview is the place where you need to differentiate yourself from the other candidates who are equally, if not more qualified, than you. Showing that you are trustworthy is a great way to do that. During the interview where I was jetlagged and pock-marked, I was vulnerable. They saw the real, vulnerable me. Because I felt like I had nothing left to hide, I was able to be myself.

While having chicken pox is one (unintentional) way to be vulnerable, I recommend sharing an authentic story where you are not the hero instead. A common and challenging interview question is: “What’s your biggest weakness?” This is a great opportunity to be vulnerable. Answer this question with a story that shows how you are aware of a true weakness and how you are taking steps to close the gaps.

You can prepare an authentic story using my IRS method, with an intriguing beginning, riveting middle and satisfying end. In only a few sentences, you can tell a story that builds trust with your interviewer.

2. Storytelling Lets Your True Self Be Seen

Like being vulnerable, many job candidates think they need to hide their personality in favor of being polished and professional during their job interview. This is a huge mistake. One of the reasons companies conduct job interviews is because they want to get to know you, not just your resume. What will it be like to work with you? Do you have a sense of humor? Are you unusually talented at trivia? How do you respond to the stress of project deadlines?

To show your true self at an interview, don’t be afraid to be different to show what makes you truly you. This is another place a brief, brilliant authentic story can help stand out from the crowd. If you are a marathon runner, you can share what you learned from training and how it translates to your work ethic. If you grew tomatoes at the community garden at your college, talk about the patience you gained as you waited for them to ripen. Don’t be afraid to share experiences that may seem totally unrelated to the job you are interviewing for. The characteristics you’ve shown in other areas of your life are transferable to the job you are applying for.

3. Demonstrate Authentic Curiosity By Asking Timely Storytelling, Questions

When I was interviewing for a position at University of Chicago Booth School of Business with the Dean of Admissions, he started the interview by telling me a little bit about the school and a recent fundraising campaign that was meeting goals ahead of the deadline. It was so successful, he told me, that they had decided to increase the campaign goal.

I took this opportunity to interject with a question because I was genuinely curious. “That’s amazing!” I said, “What would you attribute this success to?”

This question gave him the opportunity to reflect on the campaign and share more deeply about the goals of the fundraiser. It turned the interview into a conversation and it helped us build rapport. He enjoyed telling me about the successes and I learned more about my potential employer and colleagues. It was truly a win-win.

Just because you are the candidate doesn’t mean you can’t ask questions. You don’t even need to save your curiosity for the designated Q&A time. Timely, relevant questions are a great way to shine the spotlight on other people in the interview room. In my new book, Winning Without Persuading: A New Framework for Leading with Curiosity and Story Discovery, I uncover the power of curiosity as a mindset that unlocks potential and empathy in teams, organizations, and our own careers.

What’s more, in high-stakes situations like interviews, practicing genuine curiosity reduces your own anxiety. You can’t be too nervous about how you look or how you sound if you are more curious about the other people in the room. Demonstrating your curiosity by asking questions can put both you and your interviewer at ease.

How To Prepare For A Job Interview In A Tough Job Market With Storytelling

Landing a job in a competitive market comes down to more than qualifications — it comes down to connection. Authentic storytelling will help you do just that. When you embrace vulnerability, let your authentic self show, and turn interviews into genuine two-way conversations, you will stand out from equally qualified candidates and leave a positive, warm impression. Whether you’re a new graduate entering a tough job market or a seasoned professional making a career change, these strategies will help you build the trust and rapport that turns job interviews into job offers.

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