Storytelling

10 posts
3 Surefire Ways To Connect With Your Interviewer



The difference between most areas of life and the job search process is that, in most areas of life, you know who your competition is. You can analyze the competition's strengths, capitalize on their weaknesses, and prepare accordingly to give yourself the best chance to win.

The job search process is different: you don't know who you are competing against.

Dozens, sometimes hundreds of applicants are competing for a single role within a company. And you never quite know how you stack up against them. So, how do give yourself the best chance to win?

The key is connection. When we connect with others (in this case, an interviewer), it is going to be harder for them to forget your name. Don't make it easy for them to forget you. You have to focus on what makes you unique, and what makes you unique in relation to your interviewer.

Here are three ways you can connect with your interviewer:

1. Research & Relate


Woman on laptop researches how to connect with an interviewer

When you are given the name of the person conducting your interview, the first thing you should do is research their role within the company. Find out as much as you can about their professional life: where they went to school, what roles they held before this one, and what big projects they've had the opportunity to work on.

This not only demonstrates your curiosity but also opens up a space where you can ask questions and connect with the interviewer on a deeper level (in a deeper way than you would if your questions were primarily focused on the job and company as a whole).

The goal is to find something you and the interviewer have in common. No matter how different your professional paths have been, there are commonalities. You just have to do the work to find them.

2. Compliment (The Right Way)


Man connects with his interviewers during a job interview

In some cases, it's probably not the best idea to compliment your interviewer on their outfit. While it might be genuine or innocent, it can come off as insincere, even flirtatious—and you likely won't receive any "brownie points" for it.

Complimenting (the right way) is an art. For an interview, it comes down to research (again!) and specificity. Avoid complimenting your interviewer on their appearance. Instead, focus on their career accomplishments.

For example, if in your research you come across a project your interviewer worked on, don't be afraid to bring it up. You can say something like: "I noticed you worked on X project last year. The solutions you proposed to deal with Y problem were really creative and original. How did completing this project change your role?"

By complimenting your interviewer in this way, you are focusing on the interviewer as a productive and valuable employee. They will remember how you made them feel long after the interview

3. Tell A Story


Woman tells a story during her job interview

Nothing engages an audience like a story. During an interview, you should think of your interviewer as your audience. Storytelling has the power to connect anyone. It can also help you ace those tough interview questions.

When asked about an obstacle you've overcome recently, don't just go over the facts. Tell them a story. You might find the "Experience + Learn = Grow" model used for answering behavioral interview questions to be helpful.

But remember, every story should end with you on top. What did overcoming that obstacle teach you? What skills did you develop by overcoming it? How did it change your outlook on work? Life?

Don't be afraid to get personal. That is, after all, how we connect with others.

Doing these three things in your next job interview will help you connect with your interviewer, therefore helping you stand out in the hiring process. Connection is the key to making your interview unforgettable.

Need more help with your job search?

Join our community to learn how to land a job and UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.


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7 Powerful Ways To Inspire Emotion With Storytelling



Have you watched an advertisement that made you cry, got you angry, or gave you goosebumps? Rihanna’s Road to Halftime ad gave fans everywhere goosebumps. Apple Music is the new sponsor of the Super Bowl Halftime show in a new multi-year agreement with the NFL. They just gave fans an alternative way to experience this event with headliner Rihanna, calling it “Rihanna’s Road to Halftime.”

In building excitement ahead of Super Bowl LVII, Apple released an ad that paid tribute to the singer’s childhood in Barbados titled “Run This Town.” The ad tells a great story, following a girl who puts on her mother’s sunglasses and struts down the street, going past Rihanna’s childhood home and along Rihanna Drive, renamed in 2017 to honor her success. It ends with the girl and her friends flying kites with the message, “My whole life was shaped on this very road. I was just a little island girl flying kites in the cemetery…but I had big dreams.” Rhianna said she represents immigrants, her country Barbados, and black women everywhere for Super Bowl LVII.

What’s truly amazing about this story is that we watched the first pregnant woman perform at the Super Bowl Halftime Show, with no special guests, saying loud and proud that a pregnant woman can handle this. She then opened with the song "B… Better Have My Money" which was inspired by a real-life experience of an accountant that cheated her of her money. In one decade she became a billionaire. She opened with that song on her own stage, pregnant, with no special guests, and closed with the song "Diamonds" (she has all the diamonds) on top of a stunning product placement of her Fenty brand, all while grabbing the attention of 113 million viewers. Rihanna is the wealthiest female musician in the world (worth $1.7 billion), second only to Oprah Winfrey. This is no small feat!

Knowing Rhianna’s story makes this ad, this Super Bowl Halftime Show, and her brand much more interesting and relatable. When stories resonate and connect with us, they trigger an emotion in us that leads to the formation of a deeper, more meaningful relationship with your brand. This is called emotional branding.

Let’s take a look at what emotional branding is and how to inspire emotion with storytelling.

What Is Emotional Branding?


Did you know that people buy emotionally, even if they don’t realize it, and then justify their decisions rationally? Fifty percent of brand experiences are based on emotions. Creating an emotional bond with consumers requires more than good marketing.

Emotional branding refers to creating a deep emotional connection between your consumers and your brand. Marketers can achieve this by appealing to consumers’ natural desire for love, power, emotional security, and ego gratification.

At the heart of emotional branding is storytelling. So how do you inspire emotion with storytelling?

Inspire Emotion With Storytelling


We all have a story to tell. Great stories can connect with audiences on a deeper, more memorable level, creating more meaningful relationships. Here are five ways that storytelling can be used to inspire emotions.

Make The Audience The Hero


One effective way to inspire emotion with storytelling is to make the audience the story’s hero. This can be achieved by crafting a narrative that resonates with the audience’s experiences, values, and aspirations. By doing so, the audience will become emotionally invested in the story and feel empowered to take action or make a positive change. To achieve this, the story should highlight the audience’s strengths and potential while also acknowledging their challenges and struggles. By portraying the audience as the hero, the story can inspire them to overcome obstacles, pursue their dreams, and make a difference in their lives and the world around them.

Drive Empathy


To inspire emotion with storytelling by driving empathy, it’s important to create characters that the audience can relate to and care about. This can be achieved by showing the character’s struggles, fears, and desires in a way that resonates with the audience. By creating a sense of empathy between the audience and the characters, the story can evoke powerful emotions and create a lasting impact.

Another way to drive empathy is to use descriptive language and vivid imagery to create a sensory experience for the audience. By appealing to the audience’s senses, the story can create a more immersive and emotional experience, helping them feel more connected to the story and its characters. It’s vital to use storytelling to break down barriers and connect with the audience on a human level. By sharing stories that are honest, vulnerable, and authentic, the audience can feel a sense of kinship with the storyteller and the characters in the story. This can help to drive empathy and create a powerful emotional response.

Make It Emotional


To harness emotions with storytelling, it’s essential to understand the emotional journey that you want to take your audience on. First, build tension by creating a sense of anticipation and excitement in your audience by building up to a moment of emotional impact. This can be achieved by using suspenseful language, foreshadowing, or cliffhangers. Second, create an emotional impact by contrasting emotions. For example, you could start with a moment of sadness or despair and then follow it up with a moment of hope or triumph. This can create a more powerful emotional response in your audience. Third, use repetition (repeating a phrase or image throughout your story) to develop a sense of familiarity and emotional resonance with your audience. Fourth, use symbols that are universally understood to create a deeper emotional connection with your audience. Fifth, use music and sound effects to create a more immersive experience.

Build Suspense


Suspense is a powerful tool in storytelling that can be used to create an emotional impact on the audience. By building tension and anticipation, the audience becomes emotionally invested in the story, eager to discover what happens next. This can be achieved by establishing high stakes for the characters, using foreshadowing, creating a sense of mystery, using cliffhangers, and varying the story’s pacing. Using these techniques, the audience is taken on an emotional journey, experiencing a range of emotions such as excitement, fear, and anticipation. When the suspenseful moment is finally resolved, the emotional releases can be cathartic and rewarding, leaving a lasting impact on the audience.

Be Vulnerable


Embrace vulnerability in your storytelling. It’s important to share personal experiences authentically and honestly. By sharing stories that reflect your vulnerabilities, you can create an emotional connection with your audience. This connection is often built on the common ground of shared experiences and emotions, which can help your audience to empathize and relate to your story. Use descriptive language, describing sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures to create an immersive experience to draw your audience in and help them to feel the emotions that you’re describing. Also, allow yourself to be seen as imperfect, flawed, or uncertain. By showing your own vulnerability, you create a sense of authenticity and honesty that can be very powerful for your audience. It can also develop a sense of connection and empathy, as your audience can see themselves in your story.

Don’t forget to be courageous in your vulnerability. By sharing your personal experiences and emotions, you’re opening yourself up to the possibility of rejection, criticism, or judgment. However, by being brave and sharing your vulnerability, you create a space for others to do the same, which can be very powerful and healing for you and your audience.

Visual Storytelling


Use descriptive language to create a vivid picture in your audience’s mind. This can help your audience to better visualize and feel the emotions that you’re describing. One way to use visual language is to paint a picture with your words. Use descriptive language to create a detailed picture in your audience’s mind, focusing on the sensory details that help to develop a sense of atmosphere and emotion. For example, instead of saying, “The sun was setting,” you could say, “The sun was casting a warm, orange glow across the sky as it slowly descended towards the horizon.” This kind of description helps to create a sense of warmth, peace, and tranquility and can help evoke a sense of emotion in your audience.

Another way to use visual language is to create a metaphor or analogy that helps your audience to understand better the feeling that you’re describing. For example, you could say, “Her heart was a heavy stone, sinking deeper and deeper into her chest with each passing moment.” This kind of language can help your audience to better understand the emotion of sadness and can make it easier for them to empathize with the character in your story.

By following these steps, you can develop a strong emotional connection with your audience through inspiring storytelling. If done right, you can increase brand loyalty, enhance your brand’s overall equity, drive more qualified leads, and increase your customer retention rate. For a step-by-step guide on how to develop a brand strategy, check out my book How to Develop A Brand Strategy. Start building your brand leadership today. You’ve got this.

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My Experiences As A Professional With Autism & Why I #WorkItDaily



We recently launched a social media campaign on TikTok asking users to share their stories about why they "#workitdaily." This week, we heard from Robert Rosen, a Work It Daily member who wrote about his experiences as a professional with autism.

We wanted to share Robert's story with you to spread awareness about the unique challenges autistic individuals face in the workplace and to reassure other professionals who are also on the autism spectrum that they aren't alone.

Robert's Story


Robert Rosen

I have read multiple stories and reports saying that the unemployment/underemployment rate of people on the autism spectrum is through the roof. This source says that the unemployment rate alone is between 76% and 90% (although it may not distinguish between “high-functioning”—those perfectly capable of living independently without assistance—and “low-functioning” individuals).

I estimate that I have spent something on the order of 20 years either unemployed or underemployed (much of that time making less than a living wage), translating into maybe as much as a million dollars in lost income compared to if I had been fully employed at the level of my academic and professional peers.

My situation could be perhaps best described by how a therapist from my high school years described it: “A in intellectual, F in social.” One reason for my attachment to the dogs that appear on my Facebook profile is that I never have to worry about starting or maintaining a conversation with them, or their getting angry with me if I say or do the wrong thing.

When I first heard that getting a job was “all about networking,” I thought that it would be like for a paraplegic to hear that it was all about running. To say that my social network is small might be putting it mildly. That’s been pretty much the case for my entire life. And I see more evidence of it on Facebook. Virtually all of my relatives, former high school classmates, and such friends as I have with Facebook accounts who are currently active on it—and many who are not—have hundreds of Facebook friends. My older sister has over a thousand. I have about 40. And even that doesn’t tell the whole story, because in probably at least 80% of those cases I have had to be the one to make the friend request; I can hardly even remember the last time I received one unless you count a couple of people I didn’t know at all who were probably not making such request for any legitimate purpose.

I grew up basically before there was awareness of autism, and although it manifested itself far more starkly in my younger childhood days, my parents only found a regular psychiatrist to take me to, who apparently was not aware of it either because he eventually told them that he couldn’t help me. So I didn’t receive any sort of diagnosis of it until after the age of 40. (It was diagnosed as “atypical,” meaning that I didn’t show any mannerisms common with autistics, just social awkwardness.) There is some compensation in that I am not been saddled with the horrendous costs of housing and college education that younger people have experienced, which in combination with family trust and inheritance money and a relatively frugal lifestyle and low expenses have made the lack of income more bearable. (Although I did go back to college later in life to change careers, tuition was paid for with family trust money.)

One thing that the interviewer at the autism center said about me that puzzled me for a long time was that my communication style was almost entirely verbal. I do think I use gestures, but now I don’t think that’s what she was referring to, but rather that I tend to not pick up on nonverbal signals sent by others, which I can believe. My mother sometimes remarked how I had trouble looking people in the eye (a frequent autism symptom). Much later, I read that in an interview if you have trouble looking the interviewer in the eye, they will think that you are lying—certainly not true in my case. So reading that sent a signal to me of “Don’t trust nonverbal communication.”

My work career was reasonably stable for about my first decade in the professional workforce until I was laid off from a software engineer job at Boeing in the summer of 1993. Then it all went to pieces. Following the advice given in the book What Color Is Your Parachute, I focused my search on smaller companies, working largely from a book listing high-tech companies in the region. I did get some interviews, but offers were few and far between. And a pattern started that would repeat itself multiple times over the next several years: when I did get a job, I would lose it in a matter of weeks or sometimes even days. It was over two years before I got any job with any measure of stability, and starting another pattern it was one where I was badly underpaid compared to other jobs of that type (programming), and for a time in terrible working conditions to boot. After about three years there, I was laid off, and the pattern of lengthy unemployment and lost jobs began anew. After one last job in the field where I was laid off yet again after a little over a year and confronted at the time with a hiring slump in the tech field, I decided then to go back to college and try to change careers. It would be nine years before I would finally complete that (with a couple more very poor-paying programming jobs in the interim, including one project that I ended up never being paid for at all).

I ended up with a double degree in accounting and environmental science (in 2010), and despite a GPA that earned my admission into a national business honor society, I graduated right back into unemployment. At that point, a friend told me about the state Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). Things seemed to hit bottom at one point, though, when a DVR person told me that all they would be able to help me get would be an unpaid internship or a warehouse job.

If there is any job-finding resource that gives me the willies, it’s the free-form networking event. In situations like that, where people tend to separate themselves into groups, I have frequently ended up in what I jokingly call a “group of one” and as a result, I have ended up leaving more than one of these early. But one did have a payoff. I met a Boeing accounting director there and, eventually, my DVR counselor was able to set up a meeting between the three of us (and some other Boeing personnel). And although their answer to the question of whether I had the background that they might hire me for was “no,” I did get a call from the director a short time later about a temp job there. And it would lead, eventually, to four more temp jobs at Boeing. But no permanent ones. And the employment timeline after graduation was fifteen months unemployed, followed by four months of employment, followed by eight more months unemployed (other than part-time work at one of those very poor-paying jobs), followed by ten months of employment, followed by four more months unemployed before work became somewhat more steady. But the temp jobs came with very few benefits—I didn’t get a single day of paid vacation the whole time, for example—and they didn’t give me any career progression.

Finally, after one more job paying virtually nothing, I landed a job that seemed to promise the end of my troubles, as an auditor with the federal government. By then it had been nearly a quarter century since that layoff from Boeing. And for the first couple of years, that promise did seem to be a reality. The high-water mark came when, because of a conflict-of-interest issue with a pension, I was temporarily transferred out of the office that audited Boeing to one that audited many companies in the area. The supervisor at the second office had doubts about me because the Boeing office progressed new employees much more slowly than theirs. But I won him over, so much so that he suggested I put in for a permanent transfer. But I didn’t end up doing so first because my supervisor at the Boeing office said that my chances for approval wouldn’t be good because of low seniority, and second because that second supervisor was soon rotated to work for the headquarters office.

But as seemed to inevitably happen, me and job security were soon separated again. After several months the conflict of interest was resolved and I was sent back to the Boeing office. Then a few months later, my supervisor there retired, and for the first time in over 20 years, I found myself under a supervisor with a short temper. But worse was yet to come. After several more months, I found myself put under a newly transferred supervisor with an even worse temper, and one who also would lose her temper for just about any reason at all. That is twice now that I have found myself under a supervisor like that, and both ended badly for me. All the more depressing after reading an article saying that federal jobs are as secure as they come, with only 4,000 losing their jobs out of 1.6 million over a period of several years. (My work group did seem to be an exception, as another person under the same supervisor was terminated just a few months later. But she succeeded in getting another federal job even before the termination date, while I remain unemployed.)

My newest cycle of unemployment is at 3 ½ months and counting. So far, every interview I have had has resulted in failure—if an initial interview, no second interview. If there is only one interview required, then no offer.

Why Do You #WorkItDaily?


@workitdaily Thank you Fatima for being the first to join our @tiktok social media campaign♥️♥️♥️@fatimalhusseiny We can't wait to share your story with the world! Check out our campaign to learn more! @workitdaily #workitdaily #WhyIWorkItDaily #careertiktok #careertok #jobtok #edutok #mywhy #purpose #passion #worktolive #live #life #love ♬ Epic Music(863502) - Draganov89

Robert shared his story with us. Will you?

Share your story on TikTok, tag @workitdaily, and add #workitdaily to your post. You could get featured on our website and social media feeds!

Let's start changing the narrative through storytelling today!

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My Experiences As A Professional With Autism …

Why Do You #WorkItDaily? Share Your Story With Us Today!



For many of us, our careers are not only about what we do but WHY we do it. At Work It Daily, we know this is true. That's why we want to hear YOUR career story!

Why Do You #WorkItDaily? 


@workitdaily Why do YOU #WORKITDAILY ??? Share your story on @tiktok, tag @workitdaily & add the hashtag #workitdaily too. You could get featured on our feed & website where millions will see you.♥️♥️♥️ #jobtok #edutok #careertiktok #careergoals #work #lifehack #life #live #love ♬ original sound - Work It Daily

J.T. O'Donnell, Work It Daily's founder and CEO, recently launched a social media campaign on TikTok asking users to share their stories about why they "#workitdaily."

Why do you do what you do?

Work It Daily's mission in 2023 is to help millions of people become the purpose-driven professionals they want to be. But in order to do that, we need to change the narrative. We need to stop asking people what their job titles are and what they do for work and judging them based on those answers. Instead, we need to start to get to know the people behind the work.

And the way that we do that is through storytelling.

If millions of us can share our stories about why we work, we will collectively change the narrative. And this is also how we're finally going to be able to be comfortable working to live instead of living to work. The shift has to come, and we're starting that shift with this campaign.

Need Some Inspiration? Check Out Fatima's Story! 


@fatimalhusseiny I joined the challenge #workitdaily @Work It Daily #fypシ #bookishmuslimgirl_lb ♬ Epic Music(863502) - Draganov89

Our first participant in this challenge was Fatima, a writer who loves telling the stories of others.

In her TikTok, Fatima states:

Writing is my passion. It's how I express myself and share my voice through others' stories. Telling stories is a way of communication and connecting with others and making a difference. I think it's also a personal journey for me. I love nothing more than just sitting down with someone and hearing about their experiences, challenges, struggles, their triumphs and achievements, and then being able to take all of that and put them into words. There's something magical about being out there for someone sharing their stories and being there.

Fatima shared her story with us. Will you?

Share Your Story With Us Today! 


@workitdaily Thank you Fatima for being the first to join our @tiktok social media campaign♥️♥️♥️@fatimalhusseiny We can't wait to share your story with the world! Check out our campaign to learn more! @workitdaily #workitdaily #WhyIWorkItDaily #careertiktok #careertok #jobtok #edutok #mywhy #purpose #passion #worktolive #live #life #love ♬ Epic Music(863502) - Draganov89

Why do YOU #workitdaily? Share your story on TikTok, tag @workitdaily, and add #workitdaily to your post. You could get featured on our website and social media feeds!

Let's start changing the narrative today! We look forward to seeing your story!

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Why Do You #WorkItDaily? Share Your Story …

Why A Job Posting Feels Like A Scam (When It’s Not)



If you feel like many of the job postings you come across in your job search are scams, you're not alone. You are not the first job seeker to tell me they feel this way. But we have to think about where this comes from.

The Job Application Process Is A Broken System


@j.t.odonnell Replying to @nana_5075 Why job listings feel like a scam... #jobs #careers #careertok #jobtok ♬ original sound - J.T. O'Donnell

Back in the day, a company would post a job in the want ad section of a newspaper, so you'd have to open up a newspaper, read through it, write up a resume and cover letter, and snail mail your application off to them. When the idea came to post jobs online, it meant more people who were the right fit could apply. But over time, that's broken down.

Now thousands of people will apply for one job when it gets posted. And many of those job applicants are not a fit. So employers now have to hire recruiters, who are also called sourcers, to go through thousands of applicants so they can whittle it down to about 50 qualified applicants. What's the rhyme or reason they're using to select some applicants and screen others out?

This is why you don't get called—because it's just so random.

After employers get down to 50 applicants, they look through those, find a few they like, and call them. That's why only 3% of people who apply online ever hear back from companies.

It's a completely broken system, so I can see why it feels like a scam. The whole thing is flawed.

So, how do we improve this system? It starts with making better matches, getting back to a place where only the right people are applying to the employer. We actually want fewer applicants, but more of the right applicants. That's the solution. And there are hundreds of millions of dollars in this industry trying to figure it out. But the one thing we have seen is that storytelling is one of the ways to do that.

You're going to see a rise in companies telling their stories. And there's a fancy term for this in our industry. It's called employer branding. Companies will tell their stories on social media platforms like TikTok so that those stories fatefully, naturally, and organically show up in your feed. But it's not fate, right? It's the algorithm at work—and before you know it, you'll start to see companies that feel like a fit. Then you'll go over and check them out. You'll see that there's a job posted that you're fit for. And this is how this matching process will start to fine-tune itself.

Right now, yes, you're right. Those online job postings don't work. They don't work for either side. We need a better system. And storytelling is the key. So go learn how to conduct a proactive job search today so you can finally land a job and work for an employer you actually like!

Need more help with your job search?

I'd love it if you signed up for Work It Daily's Event Subscription! I look forward to answering all of your career questions in our next live event!

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Why A Job Posting Feels Like A …

The Overwhelming Need For Storytelling In Business



My work at the National Football League in Officiating Administration allowed me the opportunity to collect, analyze, and report data. Looking back at my career, I realized I was telling a compelling story.

For example, when I completed the annual budget, I summarized that budget into a one-page document showing last year’s budget at the top of the page. In the middle of the paper, I outlined all the current changes leading to the total current budget total at the bottom of the page. I call this my budget walk. I gave this one-page budget walk to my manager so that when he discussed the department’s budget with his superiors, his discussion was a 30,000-mile-high view—strictly summarized.

Storytelling like this helps an audience connect with you so they trust you. When you come across as human and do not force numbers their way, you’ll seem more, trustworthy—especially if the storytelling is relatable as it becomes more memorable. If the audience can see themselves as the ‘character’ in your story or realize it relates to them, they won’t forget your business easily.

Data storytelling is a way to communicate insights using data, visuals, and narrative. Plenty of data is collected and must be presented in a way that is easy to comprehend.

Stories Engage Your Audience


the power of storytelling concept

Numbers do matter, but they mean much more when built based on a story. Put yourself in the audience’s shoes. Would you want to sit there while someone throws numbers and data at you?

A Nielsen study revealed that our brains are far more engaged by storytelling than by facts alone. The brain processes images 60 times faster than words, and when we read data, only the language parts of our brain work on decoding the meaning. But when we read stories, every part of the brain we’d use if we experienced the story also becomes activated.

Data analysts extract patterns in data. By adding storytelling skills, they can convey information about the data that helps decision-making. The benefit of the analyst being the storyteller is that they are the person who knows the context around the data. As engaging as stories can be for organizations, the best ones are those that evoke emotional reactions. If you tell a story that people genuinely connect with and relate to, they’ll likely believe in you. Some of the best storytelling in business comes from mistakes, failures, and past business struggles.

How To Create Stories


Man on laptop creates story

1. Begin with a pen-and-paper approach

a) Visually engaging presentations will inspire your audience

b) Scripting down your ideas and flow before you start structuring your story is essential to your final product

2. Dig deeper to identify the sole purpose of your story

a) Identify closely what the idea of your story is. Ask yourself, “What am I giving with this story?" It’s never the story alone but what the story can do to make decisions better. What you’re displaying is the idea of better decision-making or analytics.

b) Develop a personal “passion statement.” Tell your prospects why you are genuinely excited about working with them in one sentence. Your passion statement will be remembered long.

c) The most critical thing you can do to improve your analytics is to have a story to tell. The flow you can generate can have much friction in your result.

3. Use powerful headings

a) Create your heading, a one-sentence statement for your story, visual, or analysis. The most effective headlines are concise, specific, and offer a personal benefit.

b) Remember, your heading is a statement that offers your audience a vision of a better understanding. It’s not about you. It’s about them.

4. Design a roadmap

a) Create a list of all the key points you want your audience to know about your story, visual, or analysis.

b) Categorize the list until you are left with only three major message points. This group of three will provide the verbal roadmap for your story.

c) Under each of your three key messages, add supporting evidence to enhance the narrative. These could include some or all of the following: personal stories, facts, examples, analogies, etc.

5. Conclude with brevity

a) Now that you have put forward all the points of your story, your conclusion should be short and powerful. In my report, I mentioned 3-4 liner summaries to conclude why to buy a particular stock.

5-Point Plan That Helps Deliver A Strong Impact


storytelling in business concept

A five-point plan that helps deliver a strong impact is:

1. Deliver a story or statement that arouses the audience’s interest.

2. Pose a problem or question that must be solved or answered.

3. Offer a solution to the problem you raised.

4. Describe specific benefits of adopting the course of action outlined in your solution.

5. State a call to action.

Lastly, marketing campaigns must avoid cheap tactics and focus on storytelling. Honey Bunches of Oats pulled on the heartstrings by inviting actual employees to participate in the campaign and share their endearing qualities. You can sense the passion in their stories, making the business more memorable.


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The Overwhelming Need For Storytelling In Business

4 Steps To Writing A Disruptive Cover Letter



In my experience as an executive resume writer, cover letters only get read about a third of the time they are sent. That being said, when one is required, or you are hoping for that added edge to get a hiring manager's attention, there is no doubt a great cover letter can make all the difference.

To accomplish this, your cover letter must be disruptive and draw them in.

Here are some things to keep in mind when you're writing a disruptive cover letter.

Paragraph 1: Tell A Story


Woman writes a disruptive cover letter for a job opening

In the first paragraph of your disruptive cover letter, you need to establish a connection between you and the employer. How do you do that? Well, you need to tell a story.

The surest way to stand out to employers is to tell a story about why you feel connected to their company.

Don't just reiterate what you say in your resume in the very first paragraph of your cover letter. Explain what you admire about the company you're applying to. Do they sell a product or provide a service that's had a big impact on your life? Do they support causes you are passionate about? Why do you feel connected to their mission?

Ultimately, you want to tell a story about what drew you to the company, and the important role it has played in your life.

Paragraph 2: Dig Deeper And Get Them Excited About What Comes Next


Man writes a disruptive cover letter to impress hiring managers

The second paragraph must provide the hiring manager with some added context about your unique background, and set the stage for some career highlights that, to quote an old saying, "puts your money where your mouth is."

Blend language from the job description together with nuggets of information that are unique to you. Set the stage for how you are qualified for the role you are applying to. But, don't overdo it.

Continue your story and relate it to the position, all while emphasizing that connection.

Paragraph 3: Hard Hitting Highlights


Job seeker writes a disruptive cover letter

Select a couple of examples from your resume that you believe will impress recruiters and hiring managers. Rather than a complete cut and paste, reword these achievements and frame them in a way that shows the employers what you can do for them.

In many cases, numbers resonate more than words, so be sure to include quantifiable examples wherever possible.

Paragraph 4: Say Goodbye While Refreshing Their Memory


In this fourth and last paragraph, be sure to thank the hiring manager for taking the time to read your disruptive cover letter (remember that not all managers do!).

Next, use this last bit of space to help the reader connect the dots to show them why you are a great job candidate, a business-of-one who can provide a service they need with a personal connection to the company that is invaluable.

Remember: You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Make yours count with an impactful and disruptive cover letter that separates you from the competition!

Need more help with your job search?

We'd love it if you signed up for Work It Daily's Power Hour Event Subscription! Get your career questions answered in our next live event!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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How To Use A ‘Connection Story’ To Get Hired



Are usually you struggling to obtain discovered by employers? Could it be hard for you to set up a reference to certain firms? If so, this survive event is for people!

We get it. Is actually difficult to be passionate regarding a job when everyone have no connection towards the organization. How do one show enthusiasm within your protect letter and job job interview if you don't completely love what you'd become doing, or where you needed be doing it?

Fortunately, there's a good easy way to display your enthusiasm for a new company during the software and hiring process.

With this training, you’ll learn how to:

  • Identify the significance behind 'connection stories' and exactly how these will help you will get hired
  • Pinpoint the various kinds of cable connections that you can begin to understand certain businesses
  • Understand precisely how to stand out making use of your own 'connection story' to ultimately land some sort of job with one associated with your dream companies

Sign up for our CEO, J. To. O'Donnell, and Director that will train Development & Training, Christina Burgio, for this specific live event on Wed, September 14th at twelve pm ET.

CAN'T GO TO LIVE? Which okay. You will have access so that you can the recording and this workbook after the program!


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It’s Time To Claim Your Employer Story For FREE!



We get that.

Sites just like Glassdoor and Indeed include hijacked your company’s plot online.

Just enter “working at_____” or “working for ____” while inserting your company’s name and there’s a lot more than a good opportunity that Glassdoor/Indeed (who, BY THE WAY, are owned by this same company) rank increased in the search engine results compared to your own company’s career page.

Well, here’s some very good news…


Young woman (Gen Z) is found in a job

Job searchers today (especially millennials plus Gen Z) are today “job shoppers. ” Elevated on social media, these people skip the review websites, and even your very own website, to be able to consume tales about what it’s similar to to work for your own personal company from credible, thirdparty sites—like Work It Every day.

Work That Daily? Hey, that’s all of us!


Work The device Daily

Work The idea Daily is really a trusted, highly regarded advisor to millions involving job shoppers. Since 08, we’ve been an recommend for the worker, providing timely advice and sources designed to help all of them get ahead within their professions. And now, with more than 1. 5M visitors in order to our site monthly, in addition to an incredible number of followers on internet sites like TikTok and LinkedIn, we want to expose them to YOUR ORGANIZATION}.

CLAIM YOUR OWN COMPANY’S STORY & GET BACK THE NARRATIVE!


Group within happy professionals

Let us explain to you the power of getting your employer story upon our site. Fill away the shape below and we all will be in contact having a draft of your personal story. You’ll be capable to adjust it and even we’ll only make the idea public when you point out so.

And then, watch the wonder happen!

Here’s what you can assume from the free employer account on Work It Everyday:

  1. Google ranking inside 48 hours of publishing.
  2. Distribution about our social networking channels regarding added exposure.
  3. Multiple bits of content a person can use to advertise your story.
  4. Chance to leverage your active recruiting technologies to improve the ROI on your individual existing investments. (i. electronic. link to your OBTAIN THE, etc. )

Check out often the Incredible Companies that currently have already claimed their boss story!

Prepared to get started?


Total this Google form together with we’ll be in feel with next steps:


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Information us at [email protected] possuindo and somebody will be in effect within 2 business times.

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5 Ways Your Brand Can Connect Through Storytelling



Brand storytelling is an integral part of a brand’s identity and the way to communicate its personality. It is the ability to tell stories about your brand that build trust, loyalty, and advocacy with your customers.

Sound Like You


Authenticity always comes through. Make sure you're telling stories that make sense for your brand and its culture. It does you a disservice to sound like someone else or worse—multiple people. It can be confusing to customers when they get mixed personalities for one brand. Brands that don't use their brand voice sound the same as everyone else and get lost in a sea of sameness. Use every opportunity you can to infuse your content with more you. Need help figuring that out, let me know—I can help.

Share Sneak Peeks And Behind-The-Scenes


Share a sneak peek about how something is made, or behind-the-scenes content with the people on your team just being people. Let your audience see your company culture doing its thing. Shining a spotlight on the humans who keep your brand running not only lets customers see more of your story, it makes employees feel valued and respected, and that they are part of a true team. You already have product experts on your team—tap them to help you create content that they know customers are looking for. They are solving your customers' pain points daily and can probably provide more content ideas than you imagine.

Use All Of Your Real Estate


Every touchpoint is an opportunity to tell a little more of your brand story. Your website, your packaging, and even something mundane as a confirmation message or a 404 error is an opportunity to say something in your brand voice. USE IT! Every touchpoint with your customer should be consistent. If you are funny on the website, be funny on the 404 too, why not?

It's A Two-Way Street


Sharing your brand story and message is important, but having an actual conversation with your customers can be a game-changer. Sometimes, it can be as simple as asking a question. Why spend hours trying to figure out what your audience wants to see when you can ask them, and incorporate them into the process? It is a win-win for everyone. Your audience gets relevant, personalized content, and your brand gets an engaged audience and original content for practically nothing. Using customer-generated content shows you value their opinions and experience and helps connect them to your brand.

Turn Spreadsheets Into Stories


Check the data—a powerful tool you may have not even thought to use but can tell a compelling story is data. What? How do I turn spreadsheets into stories? Start by looking for patterns. Look for what is missing. Look for relationships. Data can come from internal sources like customer surveys, sales data, or even website analytics. For example, seeing what people respond to online or knowing the most searched FAQ data can help you see what your customers are looking for from you. If you cant use internal sources try to find reliable external sources like Pew Research or do a search for topic-specific sources.

There are lots of other ways to tell your brand story. Whatever you do, make sure your messaging is consistent with your brand and its culture, and use your voice to stand out and be authentically you.

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5 Ways Your Brand Can Connect Through …