Telling good stories during job interviews helps increase your chances of getting hired.

Despite having enough experience, skills, and even a great profile, you still can't catch the attention of the employer. Why? The answer may not lie in your ability but in how you tell your own story.

Why is a story important in a job interview?

When interviewing for a job posting, employers are not only looking for someone with skills, but also someone who can communicate those skills convincingly. That’s why a story – even a short one – carries so much more weight than a list of answers.

A good story helps you clearly illustrate your skills, mindset, and personal values through specific actions. That story will bring your abilities to life and create an emotional connection with the interviewer that dry numbers or achievements can hardly do.

In other words, if your profile is your “resume”, then your story is your “ID card” that helps employers realize that you are not only suitable for the job but also worthy of a long-term companion.

How to tell a story properly? Use the STAR formula

You don't need to be a natural storyteller, you just need to know the STAR formula - one of the simple but extremely effective ways to present your story in a coherent and impressive way.

Telling good stories during job interviews helps increase your chances of getting hired.

STAR stands for:

. S – Situation: The context you are facing;

. T – Task: Your role or responsibility in that situation;

. A – Action: What you did to solve the problem;

. R – Result: What is the end result, best measurable.

For example: “In a recent marketing campaign (Situation), I was tasked with creating social media content to increase awareness of a new product (Task). I planned the content in detail, conducted A/B testing to select the most effective message, and worked closely with the design team to ensure consistent visuals (Action). As a result, engagement tripled in just 2 weeks, and the fanpage gained over 2,000 new followers (Result).”

With the STAR formula, you not only tell a coherent, logical story, but also show the employer clearly how you solve problems, how you think, and what you contribute. This is what they really care about.

Tips for better storytelling in interviews

To tell a story that really “scores points” in the eyes of the employer in a job interview, you need not only good content but also know how to tell it. Here are a few small but extremely useful tips:

. Choose the right story: Prioritize situations that are directly related to the job you are applying for, clearly demonstrating the skills or attitudes the employer is looking for.

Avoid rambling and beating around the bush: No matter how good your story is, if it's too long or off-topic, your audience will easily get bored. Get straight to the point and keep your story concise and clear.

. Don't just tell the story, tell how you create value: Employers don't just want to know what you did, they want to understand why it's important and how it helps the organization.

. Keep the tone honest: An honest story, with both hardships and lessons learned, is always more believable than overly perfect achievements.

Practice first: Telling a smooth story is not always easy. You can practice in front of a mirror or tell it to a friend to adjust your delivery.

Storytelling in an interview is not about “acting” but about intelligently and honestly sharing what you have experienced, learned, and can contribute. When you know how to tell the right story, at the right time, and in the right way, you are not only talking about yourself but also showing the employer why you deserve to be on their team.

So, before you head into your next job interview, take some time to pick out a few valuable stories of your own. And remember, you don’t have to be a great speaker, just being a genuine, engaging, and valuable storyteller is enough to make a difference.

Trang Tran (QT)

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/ke-chuyen-hay-khi-phong-van-xin-viec-giup-tang-co-hoi-trung-tuyen-260441.htm