If we are , in fact , a compilation of not only our life experiences but also our stories , surely these stories should help us find the answers to fundamental questions such as : “ Who am I ?”, “ What am I good at ?”, and “ What is my life path ?” We can also use these same stories in our job search . Because employers are interested in the value that a prospective employee can bring to their company and the positive impact they can have , using anecdotes in an interview can be a great way to demonstrate who you are and what you have to offer .
I like to suggest starting with stories that reveal your greatest accomplishments — stories that make you feel invincible when you tell them . In the world of career development , we call them “ pride stories .” If that sounds uncomfortable , start by practising with people who know you well . Get together with a small group of people who care about you and whose judgment you trust . Pick three pride stories and share them with your audience — if your group consists of other job seekers , take turns sharing your stories . You get to decide the parameters — maybe you ’ ll focus on your current job , your previous job , or your entire work history . You can decide how far back you want to go . You can also open it up to achievements in other areas of your life , including community involvement and athletic activities , for example . For those who are just getting started , I like to suggest opening up the parameters completely , just to help the creative juices flow and make it easier to tackle this task .
Which stories should you share with employers ? Not every pride story will be worth sharing . If you find that you ’ re having trouble coming up with workplace pride stories , here are some helpful prompts :
• Did you save the company money ?
• Did you deliver more than was expected of you ?
• Did you train or supervise anyone or help someone reach their goals ?
• Were you ever singled out by management for a job well done ? Did you receive an award ? Were you promoted ?
• Did you do something to make a job easier or more efficient ?
• Did you take on a special project ?
• Did you find or foresee a new opportunity ?
• Did you solve a challenging problem or overcome a difficult obstacle ?
Once you share your stories with your test group , ask them for feedback . Did certain character traits , such as compassion , tenacity , or ambition , shine through ? Did the stories reflect your core values — values like trustworthiness , honesty , or idealism ? Did they highlight abilities that would be ideal for specific jobs , such as critical thinking , mediation , or innovation ? You would be amazed at how clearly those around you can perceive your character traits , values , and abilities . Use their perspectives to help illuminate the blind spots you may have about yourself ( and write down everything they say — this stuff is pure gold !). I also encourage you
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CPABC ’ s Careers Site is the exclusive online career resource for designated CPA members , candidates , and students in BC . More than 18,500 members , candidates , and students currently use the Careers Site to advance their careers and find exciting volunteer board opportunities that enhance their resumés . The Careers Site also provides an excellent platform for employers from all sectors — including public practice , industry , government , and not-for-profit — to connect with qualified finance and accounting professionals . New this year is a feature that enables employers to find talent by browsing through the resumé database before purchasing a job posting plan . That means more eyes on your resumé ! So whether you want to find your next career opportunity or you ’ re looking for a new hire , be sure to visit careers . bccpa . ca .
to keep a journal or notebook close by to record your pride stories as they occur — that way , you will not only remember the wonderful things you do , but you will also be motivated to add to your list of achievements .
You can also find useful tools and checklists online to help you organize your pride story process . One resource I recommend is a “ Pride Experiences ” self-assessment checklist created by the University of Waterloo : pstipanuk . pbworks . com / f / Self + Assess + Packet . pdf .
How can you apply ( honest !) storytelling to your resumé ? Once you ’ ve developed your pride stories , it ’ s time to apply them to your resumé . Transcribe your achievements into the appropriate sections , and be sure to quantify them with details wherever possible . That means describing the challenges and stakes involved , the actions you took , and the results or outcomes .
Including tangible achievements on your resumé is vital in today ’ s competitive job market . It ’ s no longer enough to just list job duties , especially when 400 other job applicants have the same tasks listed on their resumés . Your achievements are what will make you stand out — they enable you to put your own personal signature and imprint on your work . They mark your authenticity .
Trust the process Remember , you have everything you need to succeed . As you proceed through your career , expect that you will continue to peel away layers and uncover more of the hidden talents you already possess . Consider using pride stories as a way to access these hidden talents , and use them as the foundation for your self-knowledge . In my next article , I ’ ll talk about the next step in the job search process : “ hitting the pavement .”
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Dan P . McAdams and Kate C . McLean , “ Narrative Identity ,” Current Directions in Psychological Science ( 22 ), June 2013 ( 233-238 ).
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