51. Selling and telling your Career Story

How do you answer that common question

‘What do you do?’

or let’s start with

‘Tell us a bit about yourself?’

How do you effectively communicate your work story?

Whether it's for a job interview, a networking event, or casual conversations, being able to tell your work story concisely and persuasively is a crucial skill that many of us find challenging.

Often, we use vague explanations, long-winded stories, or a laundry list of job titles and tasks. Vague or rambling work stories often fail to capture attention and engagement.

They can leave our listeners bewildered or disinterested, causing us to miss valuable opportunities for meaningful connections or lasting impressions. 

In today's competitive job market, where our story can be the game-changer, this approach can be detrimental.

 So what should you do instead?

To truly stand out you need to be able to share your experience in a captivating and compelling way. 

But also do it simply and authentically. 

This can be hard when you are nervous! 

Whether you are at BBQ, an interview or it is an elevator pitch.

You should answer 5 pivotal questions. 

Step 1. I am 

Start with your name and a brief personal introduction. 

I am Sam and I am a Career Coach. 

It could be I am Sarah and I am a Project Manager. 

Or I am Rita and I am Data Science. 

Or I am Rhonda and I am a Marketing executive. 

So it is your name and what you do - this could be your title or an overview of the role that you are in. If you have a long title summarise it - depending on the audience. 

Key to this is the audience and tailoring this response to the audience. 

Step 3. I've spent 

This is where you add in some context to what you have done. What do you want to draw peoples attention to. Use this area to speak to your seniority or your experience. 

I’ve spent the last 3.5 years building a career coaching business called Lady Leadership.

I've spent the last 10 years running multi-million dollars projects for larger retailers.  

Step 4. I've Helped

This is where you show the impact of what you have done has had. 

I've helped 1000's of women grow their careers through my podcast, my newsletter, my coaching and my new course - The Confidence Project (Launching soon)! 

Or

I launched the XYZ project for XYZ company and they double their sales. 

Step 5. My area of Expertise is 

Tailor this to the audience and what they are interested in.

I help women move past what is blocking them and help them figure out the steps to get there. 

If you are in an interview then refer to your CV. 

As you can see I have worked for - X, Y, Z where i help them ...

Then other some extra like and I have a degree in X or Y. 

THE CONFIDENCE PROJECT - COMING SOON!

The key is to pull this all together and put into one statement that really shouldn't be any longer than a minute.

Try this out for yourself. 

Reflect on your journey, identifying key milestones.

Craft a concise narrative using a five-part framework:

- I am

 - I help

- I’ve spent

- I've helped

- Primary area of expertise. 

Then practice this and seek feedback.

Adapt the story to the context, whether a job interview or networking event.

Always prioritize authenticity as it resonates with others!

This Week’s Action Step

Write out your Career story for yourself and try it at your next networking event! 

That’s it for today.