Telling Your Story: a Critical Job Hunting Skill

Author: Paulette RisherProgram Director, Veteran Employment Servicesprisher@stillservingveterans.org

Connect with us at:Website: http://www.stillservingveterans.org/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stillserving.veteransLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/still-serving-veteransTwitter: https://twitter.com/SSVeteransPhone: 1.866.778.4645

Veteran Employment Services enabled by a

generous grant from the Call Of Duty Endowment

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Why Story? From antiquity, stories have shaped

human consciousness and conduct We “story our lives” to make sense of

our experience, to give voice to our values, beliefs, accomplishments, and hopes for the future

People remember stories; they tap into both intellect and emotion

Telling our story well is a key skill in finding a great job and …………………..You don't just have a story - you're a story in the making, and you never know what the next chapter's going to be. That's what makes it exciting.

Dan Millman

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Transitioning Veterans Struggle Veterans in transition as a whole are lousy at telling our

stories – well Many reasons …

‒ Telling the personal story counter to military culture‒ At a loss for language – telling the story in civilian, not military-

speak. Story lost in the translation‒ Listener thought to be unable or unwilling to “get it”‒ Lack of confidence, misplaced humility, or the reverse, arrogance‒ Perhaps most universally, the emotional nature of not just the story,

but the transition process

"You either walk inside your story and own it or you stand outside your story and hustle for your worthiness.”

Brene Brown

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Unemployment as Transition

Unemployment is a transition – typically unwelcome and many times unexpected (or we prefer to think so)

Transition is a process – universal in nature, unique in experience

Transition is a three-phased psychological reorientation process

William BridgesForemost Expert On TransitionsTransition Model

Transition as Process

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Disengagement Disidentification Disenchantment Disorientation Discovery

and hopefully…Effective story telling in the midst of the

emotional upheaval of the transition process – requires focus, effort, patience,

courage

Transition as Process

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As Veterans knowing what to retain and what to let go of is key to this phase

What we keep and what we abandon is part of our story

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Crafting the Compelling Story See yourself as a storyteller, and your

professional successes and accomplishments as your story

Tell your story in different formats Each bullet point of your resume is a

story Have all kinds of stories ready to tell

Listen carefully to other people’s stories and monitor their reactions, adjusting as needed

Tell the truth – about facts and claims of experience and skills but be open to new patterns

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Proven Structures for Great Stories

STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result)

BARER (Background, Actions, Reasons, Explained result, and Reflection and re-application)

SOAR (Situation, Obstacles, Action, Result)

Then > Now > HowWhether the result of anxiety, nervousness or simply a case of

being ill-prepared (or unprepared) the typical candidate tends to take a ho-hum, “just the facts, Ma’am” approach to answering a hiring manager’s questions … boring, boring, boring ... and who

wants to hire a bore? Skip Freeman

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Consider Potential Questions

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Consider Potential Questions

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Performance Based Interviewing Sample PBI Questions (from Dept. of Veteran Affairs)

‒ Describe a situation in which you had to use your communication skills in presenting complex information. How did you determine whether your message was received? (With the original question you are assuming the person did understand.)

‒ Share with me an example of an important personal goal that you set, and explain how you accomplished it.

‒ Lead me through a decision-making process on a major project you’ve completed.

‒ Have you ever had many different tasks given to you at the same time? How did you manage these?

‒ Give an example of a time you had to make a difficult decision.

Research findings show that the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior … This

method is also referred to as competency-based or behavioral interviewing

Step 1: Reflect

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What are my best and favorite skills?

What do I desire in a job? What do I absolutely not

want in a job? What kind of work will

contribute to my (and my family’s) life-satisfaction and well-being - today, at this point in time?

Write down your reflections!http://

www.bluezones.com/be-happier/

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Step 2: Get Your Stories Down Start with the “Big Four”

‒ Tell me a little about yourself‒ What kind of work do you want to do?‒ How does your experience fit with the job you want?‒ Why did you leave your last job?

Write them down! Talk them aloud. Tweak the story until it sounds like you. Use it and watch for reaction. Adapt and adjust

Expand beyond the “Big Four” – what other stories must you personally be able to tell? What are the painful or negative stories that you must practice telling?

Tell your story: Yes, tell your story. Show your example. Tell everyone it’s possible, and others shall feel the courage, to climb

their own mountains? Paulo Coelho

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Step 3: Synchronize Your Stories

Craft your stories, tell your stories - consistently‒ Resume. Does your resume reflect your story? Each

bullet is a mini-story. Use a consistent story format (STAR, BARER, SOAR, etc)

‒ Social Media. Update LinkedIn. Review Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Focus on creating a Virtual Presence consistent with your stories

• Networking. Tell a consistent story, especially with potential references or connectors

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Closing Thoughts

We “story our lives” to make sense of them for ourselves and others

It takes time and effort to create stories about what we have experienced that are truthful, credible, self-responsible, and personally empowering

Write out your stories get your thoughts out of your head and onto paper first

Tony Robbins

Control the stories that you allow to be replayed in your head – negative stories hurt you, your well-being, and your job hunt

Who We Are Still Serving Veterans, a registered 501c(3) non-profit, established in

Huntsville, Alabama in 2007 provides the Veterans and their families, transitioning military, and members of the Guard and Reserves with employment services including career planning, job search strategy development, resume preparation, and interview preparations. Additionally, we work closely with local Veteran-friendly employers to fill positions with well-qualified, screened Veterans. All services are provided at no charge to either client or employer.

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North Alabama / Huntsville Office626 Clinton Avenue, Suite 200Huntsville, Alabama 35801Phone (256) 883-7035 | Fax (256) 883-7166

Central Alabama/Birmingham Office135 Gemini Circle, Suite 204Birmingham, Alabama 35209Phone (205) 670-1955 | Fax (205) 637-7917

East Alabama/Columbus GA Office1206 Broad Street, Suite 102Phenix City, Alabama 36867Phone (334) 384-9111 | Fax (334) 384-9112

Virtual Employment CounsellingWeb request at: www.stillservingveterans.orgOr Call (866) 778-4645 or (256) 883-7035 and ask to speak to an Employment Counselor

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About the Author

If you are looking for someone to stand by you and support you through critical life transitions, Still Serving Veterans is here for you!

Paulette M. Risher is twice retired, once as a civilian Organizational Psychologist with the United States Air Force Research Laboratory and once as a Major General (2-Star) in the United States Army Reserve. With 34-years of Army service, Paulette was the first woman to command an Army Special Operations unit as a flag-officer and served as President of the Joint Special Operations University.

Upon leaving active duty, Paulette joined Booz Allen Hamilton and led their organization and strategy team in Huntsville and then served as the Principle Director for Huntsville Operations for DigiFlight, Incorporate. Today, Paulette is the Program Director for Veteran Employment Services for Still Serving Veterans and manages the Call of Duty Endowment (CODE) grant to expand Veteran hiring. She is a serious mentor and Veterans’ advocate. Paulette holds a Masters degree in Education with a focus on adult learning and a Masters and Bachelors in Psychology.