Paint Them a Picture: Sharing Stories During Your IT Interview

Before a big interview, you’ll probably spend time preparing answers for basic interview questions. But interviewers are going to be looking for more than just a rehash of the information on your resume. They want to hear something that adds to it.

Additionally, you want to be a memorable candidate—in the right way. The best way to accomplish both? Learn to tell stories that sell you and your experience!

Storytelling doesn’t mean making things up. It means presenting information in a compelling way. Think about how marketers use stories to sell products and services. You can use them to communicate desired messages to a hiring committee, such as how you would be a great fit for the organization and the position. Facts can easily be forgotten or mixed up, but people tend to remember stories. So tell them the right way!

How? Here are 3 rules for effective storytelling during an interview.

• Listen carefully to the interviewer’s questions before you respond. You need to understand exactly what they are asking and what type of story would apply. You’ll talk yourself right out of the job if you sit there churning out story after story that has no relevance to the situation.

• Your stories need to have a clear beginning, middle and end. And instead of a punch line, you’ll need to deliver your result. Keep them short — about 60 seconds long. If it’s an interesting story, the interviewer will ask you to elaborate.

• Make them original. Interviewers will want to hear about your out-of-the-box problem-solving or your imaginative and clever methods to reach goals.

What stories should you create and practice for your next interview? Here are 6 topics you should prepare:

1. Yourself: Summarize where you’re from, your education and your work history. Include your plans for the future and what value you’ll bring to your next employer.

2. Money: How you can help an employer make it or save it. NOT salary expectations.

3. Teamwork: Prepare a story that shows what a team player you are.

4. Work ethic: Show how hard you work or how you’re prepared to go the extra mile for your company and/or client.

5. Challenges: At least one time you faced a professional challenge and triumphed.

6. Conflicts, setbacks and stress: Demonstrate how you deal with negatives, like how you resolved a conflict or coped under pressure.

For each story, include what actions you took, what skills you used and what results you achieved.

By using stories, you’ll create a strong connection with the listener, you’ll demonstrate your communication skills, and you’ll be remembered for the right reasons!

If you’d like to hear more, or if you feel you could use assistance with interviewing, don’t hesitate to contact the IT staffing professionals at Triumph.  When it comes to helping IT professionals find the right position, we have success stories galore!