What are the benefits of using storytelling in your resume?

1 Why storytelling matters

Storytelling is a powerful tool for job seekers who want to stand out from the crowd and connect with potential employers. It can help capture the attention of recruiters and hiring managers, highlighting your unique selling proposition and demonstrating your achievements with concrete examples and metrics. Storytelling also allows you to show your passion, motivation, and fit for the role and the organization, building rapport and trust with your audience. Ultimately, it can make them want to learn more about you.

2 How to structure your resume story

A good resume story should have a clear beginning, middle, and end. To create a coherent and engaging narrative, your resume sections should be organized in a way that effectively tells your story. Start with a headline that summarizes your main value proposition and sets the tone for the rest of the resume. Then, use your work experience section to illustrate your career progression, highlighting key accomplishments, challenges, and learnings. The education and skills section should provide relevant qualifications, certifications, and competencies to support your story. Finally, end with a personal or professional statement that reveals something about your personality, interests, or goals and encourages the reader to contact you.

3 How to write your resume story

Writing your resume story is much more than simply laying out facts and figures; it’s about selecting the right words, tone, and format to communicate your message and personality. To craft an effective resume story, use active verbs and descriptive adjectives to highlight your actions and results. Additionally, the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) can be employed to structure your bullet points and provide context for your accomplishments. Furthermore, numbers, percentages, and quantifiers can be used to measure and illustrate the impact of your work. Additionally, include keywords and phrases that match the job description and industry. To make your resume easy to read and scan, utilize a consistent font, style, and layout. Finally, adopt a personal and conversational tone to demonstrate your voice and enthusiasm.

4 How to tailor your resume story

Tailoring your resume story to the specific role and organization you're applying for is essential. You should research the company, its mission and values, as well as the main requirements, expectations, and challenges of the role. Analyze your skills, experience, and achievements that fit with the position and organization. Highlight aspects of your story that are most relevant and valuable for the job. Address any gaps or transitions in your story and explain how they helped you grow or learn. Lastly, incorporate the company's language, tone, and style to align your story with their brand and voice.

5 How to test your resume story

Before you submit your resume for your dream job, it's important to test your resume story to ensure it's clear, concise, and compelling. To do this, you can ask a friend, colleague, or mentor to read your resume and give honest feedback. Additionally, a resume scanner or checker tool can be used to evaluate your resume's readability, keywords, and formatting. Furthermore, read your resume out loud and check for any grammar, spelling, or punctuation errors. You should also compare your resume with other resumes in your field to see how you stack up. Finally, ask yourself if your resume story answers the questions: Who are you? What have you done? What can you do? Why do you want this job? Through storytelling in your resume, you can effectively showcase your skills, value, and personality in a memorable and impactful way. By following these tips, you can craft a resume story that captures the attention of employers and makes them want to meet you.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?