Figure out your story

I recently read an article about 3 ways to pitch yourself and it got me thinking about processing and bottling up your story.

The gist of the post are these three key elements:

1. Think relevant, not recent
2. Focus on skills-based versus situation or industry-based qualifications.
3. Connect the dots — what ties it all together?

The third seems to be the most important to me as it indicates why and how you got to this exact spot. Whether it is a work even, conference, networking function – all the decisions you have made to date are a culmination putting you right here. It may be random, but that plays its role too.

Finding your story also provides good context and history to someone that may gain great information without having to go through prying interview questions. This is also helpful when you are not even in an interview, which is honestly a great way for someone to get to know you.

A friend of mine recently has been looking for a new opportunity and I helped him bottle up his “story pitch” as follows.

I worked in a large corporation, learning the bureaucracy and politics, but also identifying I did not want to be there. I next joined a startup company where doing menial tasks and wearing 10 different hats was a common occurrence. I gained some insight and experience that I brought to my next role within a public company – taking ownership over a team within a large organization. I now know that I like to operate with a smart group that has the resources to try new things.

Without getting too specific that quote above is helpful even to the general person he might meet. It is also helpful to gain some background knowledge and context. Packaging up your story can be important and its worth doing in a short and concise way.

As the saying goes “If I had more time I would have written a shorter letter”

In a world where people are looking at tons of resumes, yours has to pop from the pile to get the job done.