Kayne
is back again with another great blog post on the importance of your
story. Great insight and congratulations on your new job! Take it away
. . .
Be a Storyteller
Everyone
has a story. Unfortunately we often fail to tell our story when
conducting a job search. But if you want to land a job, you’ve got to
tell your story. Not your life story, the story of you; your hopes and
dreams and how your next job can make them a reality.
Like most
people, as part of my job hunt I decided to begin reaching out to old
and new friends alike. But instead of just talking about my background
and what kind of work I’m suitable for, I told them my story. My story
is one of a future where I align my work with my beliefs. That means
engaging in work with a social impact component, having a real
opportunity make an impact in my community, and to grow as a person.
It’s
important to realize that when telling your story to people, many times
it will fall on deaf ears. But that’s a sign that it’s working. You
don’t want a lot opportunities that are sort of a good fit. You want the
one. Telling your story will help weed out the sort of good fits and
help you focus on the job you really want.
But don’t just make
something up on the fly. Take time before reaching out to people to
really think through what you want your future to be and how a job can
make that so. They’re not separate. You’ll find that this time will help
you think in a more holistic way.
I recently landed a job that
is two miles from my home. A nearly impossible feat in the suburbs of
Washington, DC! As a result I get to spend more time with my family, and
I get to bike to work - two aspects that are part of a future I’ve
envision for myself. And it’s all thanks to telling my story.
Kayne Karnbach
has a decade's worth of experience in stakeholder engagement and
project management in issues spanning human rights to environmental
conservation. He is currently seeking a position in corporate social
responsibility and can be reached at Kayne.karnbach@gmail.com.
