Telling your STAR stories

Become Irresistible

ByCatherine JewellThe Career Passion® Coach

They determine if you CAN do the job

To “read” your personality – to see if you are a “fit”

The real purpose behind job interviews

Hat in hand, the beggar

Proud and sure – the consultant

Tell yourself: “I have a business meeting.”

How to approach the interview

All interviewers will use “Behavioral Interviewing”

Premise: Past performance predicts future performance

The dreaded question:“Tell me about a time when…”

Why are STAR stories so Important?

1. TMAY – Tell me about yourself

2. Success story from your career or personal life

3. “Mentions” about skills from your resume

Three kinds of STAR stories

Tell Me about Yourself - TMAY

NOT a question Demand “Convince me in 60 seconds that I’m

not wasting my time.”

Tell Me about Yourself – DON’Ts

Don’t start with “I was born…” or “I graduated…”

Don’t include ANY personal information – age, married, 2 children – that could be used to discriminate

Don’t talk for more than 60 seconds

Tell Me about Yourself – DO’s

Do recap significant career highlights, especially recent ones

Do prove your capability for this jobDo tell why you are interested in this

specific job5 to 8 sentences; about 60 seconds

long

Sample– What are they looking for?

Masters degree in Instructional Design or similar

Creating elearningExperience with LMSAble to upgrade current curriculum

Tell Me about Yourself - SAMPLE

I recently completed my Masters in instruction and curriculum with an emphasis on learning technology.

My most recent job has allowed me to create e-learning and use online collaborative tools such as learning management systems and software.

I’ve been able to lead my current team at (company name) to completely revamp the new hire training. I created a training roadmap, discovered the redundancies, and was able to reduce training time from 20 days to 16.

Tell Me about Yourself - SAMPLE

I’m interested in this position because it will allow me bring my expertise in learning technology, LMS and elearning to the table to enhance the training and learning at your company. (53 seconds) 

Create Your Own -- Tell Me about Yourself

Recap Career: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Relevant Experience: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________I am interested in this job because ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

STAR Stories

Fill your resume with ACHIEVEMENTSGive you interview CONTENT Make you UNIQUEMake you MEMORABLEMake you IRRESISTIBLE

Patrick’s STAR StoryWhen I was just 19, I worked for a furniture store during the summer. One day, I was sent out in a truck to pick-up a $3,000 sofa. The woman who had purchased it was irate because the leg was loose and the sofa was just a few weeks old. I decided to find a way to connect with her. When we entered the home, I saw a photo of a crew team on a river. I asked her about it, and told her I was on a crew team at college. She opened up and told me enthusiastically about her son. Later, we discussed the sofa and I asked, “Would you be willing to keep it if we can tighten the leg right now?” Not only did she keep the sofa, she made lunch for us! Then, she called my manager and complimented our service.”

What employers want

Employees who can deal with AMBIGUITY

Employees who TAKE INITIATIVE Employees who LEARN ON THEIR

OWNEmployees who THINK

STAR Stories

S – SituationT – Thinking/TacticA – ActionR – Results

You might say…

“I don’t have any success stories…”“We had procedures that prevented

innovation and initiative…”“I just did my job…”“I can’t remember…”

Weak, uninspired interview

How to Begin

Think about each of your jobsPut yourself back in that situationSeparate the job from the work

Everyday business success

Job vs. Work

Overcome? Achieve?

Job Conditions Work Activities

Sales quota/commissions Relating to Customers

Sales over service Troubleshooting software

Constant time pressure Helping new sales staff

Micro-managing boss Implementing software

Harried corporate culture Proposal writing

New software versions Creating training

Service policies eLearning solutions

Transferable Technical Skills

Learn? Efficiencies?

Adobe eLearning GoToMeeting / Zoom.us

Web Ex Lotus Notes

Survey Monkey Articulate Quizmaker 09

Adobe Dreamweaver SalesForce Customer Mgt

Articulate Cornerstone on Demand

Microsoft PowerPoint .NET 2.0

Caution!

On your resume, convert job duties to achievements

People who READ resumes WRITE job descriptions

It’s all about: What can you do?

Everyday business success

Keith’s STAR Story

Accomplishment StatementMentored and trained team of 5 order entry specialists, helping to reduce errors on over 60 major orders per week with an average price of $30K and average of 20 line items

Interview “Story” “In my work at ABC Software as account manager, we realized

that our order-entry specialists were making errors on our large customers orders, creating most of our customer service complaints. I analyzed the situation and found out there were just 4 concepts that needed to be trained. I volunteered to create the training and reduced…”

Can anyone else tell this story?

What is a resume?

300-900 Words

Sample—a taste of your challenges and successes in business

An advertisement about you

To win an interview!

What is a resume?

300-900 Words

Sample—a taste of your challenges and successes in business

An advertisement about you

To win an interview!

Mine your resume for STAR stories

Study your own story

Expand on the achievement statement

Kerry’s STAR Story

Accomplishment Statement• Generated $230,000 in sales leads by creating a popular Limo

Ride instead of an ordinary trade show exhibit.

Interview “Story” “In one of the trade shows I did for MediaMemory, there was a

miscommunication with the vendor, who delivered our new 2,000-square-foot display to Las Vegas instead of Anaheim. I made some calls and got the display reshipped within 24 hours. To make the best of the show while we waited, I hired a local limo service to give our best clients a ride, complete with champagne and snacks, while our sales force gave their sales pitch in the limo. We generated $230,000 in new sales leads and the limo ride was so popular we had show participants waiting in a line two-blocks long.” (45 seconds)

Documenting the Details

Achievements vs. ResponsibilitiesSTAR stories

S – SituationT – Thinking/TacticA – ActionR – Results

Verbal: STAR StoryWritten: Achievement statement

Sequence of elements

Achievement Statement•Result (verb) (number)•Action•Who with / who forSTAR story - interview•S-T-A-R•Don’t forget the results!

Components of a STAR story

1.Situation – paint it bleak, but don’t be judgmental

2.Thinking (Talent) – taking initiative3.Action – personally took4.Results – dollars saved, product

sold, time saved, profits, ROI, etc.

John’s STAR Story

Accomplishment Statement• Competent in impromptu situations; participated in Moot Court.

Won or tied through 5 levels of competition.

Interview “Story” “In law school I entered a moot court competition, which

basically consisted of a series of scheduled arguments against opposing teams. In the competition I found myself arguing on behalf of a school trying to censor one of its students. Unfortunately for me, most of the judges of the competition were students themselves. In the third round a teacher stepped in to judge…

John’s STAR Story

“Not just any teacher, but a teacher who had a tendency to debate with students in class. When I saw the teacher step in, my heart started racing and I grew very nervous. Instead of giving a speech, I had a conversation with the teacher, who pinpointed every weakness in my argument and would not relent in questioning my points. After a while, I started to have fun and enjoyed my debate with the teacher. I was told I had a polished argument and my team tied that round.” (59 seconds)

1. Saving money2. Extraordinary customer service3. Winning back a customer4. Make a huge sale/negotiation5. Resolving a conflict

Categories of STAR Stories

6. Taking on a new challenge7. Creating something out of

nothing8. Learning from a mentor9. Meeting an impossible deadline10. Something you love to do; an

extraordinary talent

Categories of STAR Stories

5 Powerful Questions

How did you do your job differently than others in the same job?

Did you create or bring innovations to your job, the process, your work duties or your business tools in some lasting way?

What assignments did you volunteer for beyond your job responsibilities?

Did your co-workers look to you for some special knowledge, talent or ability?

What did you enjoy about the work?

1. Contribution2. Innovation3. Initiative4. Talent5. Enjoyment – Career Passion

Your STAR Stories

Resume achievements

Resume competencies – Key words

Asking yourself the 5 questions

Sources of STAR Stories

Are you willing to share a STAR story today?

Sharing & coaching

Is it 60 seconds or less? Does it clearly state the situation as a problem for the

company? Is it clear that I am the one who took initiative? Do I clearly state what action I personally took and my

thought process? Do I clearly state the impact or results my story produced? Would my grandmother fully understand the story? Is all

the jargon replaced with everyday language? Do I love this story and tell it with enthusiasm? Does the story have any hint of judgment, criticism or

hurt? (If so, revise it.) Does this story contribute to my likeability?

Test of a Great STAR Story

STAR “mentions” – from competencies list

Choose a competency

Presentations of key financial data to Executive Team, presented with 15-minutes preparation, because the CFO was stuck in traffic….Expand on it for just a few seconds by telling a short story.

STAR “mentions” – build from competencies list

Presentation Skills

Presentations of key financial data to Executive Team, presented with 15-minutes preparation, because the CFO was stuck in traffic….I’ve made presentations of key financial data to Executive Team. One time, I stepped in to present to the Board with 15-minutes preparation, because the CFO was stuck in traffic.

STAR “mentions” – from competencies list

Multitasking

Presentations of key financial data to Executive Team, presented with 15-minutes preparation, because the CFO was stuck in traffic….I really know how to multi-task. I’ve worked in a call center environment while managing 5 direct reports and mentoring 3 new employees, during a thunderstorm with intermittent power outages.

STAR “mentions” – build from competencies list

Writing

Presentations of key financial data to Executive Team, presented with 15-minutes preparation, because the CFO was stuck in traffic….I wrote, designed and edited a 12-page monthly e-newsletter distributed worldwide to 50,000 clients and staff. We won the IABC gold award for our content and design.

7 Active job leads2 Applications per week2 Career Conversations7 LinkedIn sessions per week7 STAR stories – create & practiceCall your coach if you get a job interview.Even a phone screen!

Homework

Work hard to apply for jobs and get an interview!

More weeks to complete your coaching

Call or email your short questions Download from the Member Page

What’s next?