The Story That Got Me the Job

The Story That Got Me The Job

About 12 years ago, I walked into an interview I really wanted. The kind of opportunity where your hands get a little clammy, your heart beats just a little faster. The position was majority admin-focused, so I came ready to roll with all my credentials topped with an air of confidence only a 23-year old entering the corporate world for the first time has.

When they asked, “So, tell us about yourself,” I froze.

Do I start with my work experience? There’s not much there to refer to and my resume is pretty short…

Do I rattle off my skill sets in Microsoft Office? Well… that's just a boring way to start isn’t it?

Now, lucky for me I had done my research ahead of time. I knew this company was a young one, growing rapidly, and with a primarily under-35 workforce at the time, I had a feeling they were looking for someone who would not only get the job done, but add to the culture they were trying to build.

So, in an effort to be my most authentic self, I told a story.

I shared how my love for adding value to a workplace really started back when I began my acting career in college. How navigating school and grades while living in NYC as a starving artist gave me a sandpaper-like grit. How those casting calls and script-memorizing all-nighters and study sessions to pass exams spiraled into learning, leading, failing, and growing—and how those lessons brought me here.

It wasn’t just about credentials. It was about connection.

I was isolating the part of their business that valued determination and grit and putting it face to face with its counterpart.

By the end of the interview, they weren’t just nodding—they were leaning in. A few days later was the second interview, and before walking out of the office I had got the offer.

Here’s the takeaway: Storytelling isn’t fluff—it’s strategy. When you can connect your experience to a larger narrative, you become memorable.

If you’re job hunting, interviewing, or even just updating your LinkedIn—start with your story. Not just what you’ve done, but why it matters.

Connection Coordinator, SPEAC Success