I’m so happy to have a new Q&A to run this week. I believe I encountered Jane Freese during my usual wanderings and research for blog content and was thrilled to find yet another kindred spirit working with storytelling and career/job search. I am most excited to have her join the Q&A series. This Q&A will run over the next five days.

Bio: Jane Freese guides job-seekers in storytelling techniques through her “Storytelling for Job Seekers” workshop in Las Vegas. A former journalist and retail manager, Freese formed the workshop after completing her master’s degree in library and information science. Eager to put her knowledge of business storytelling techniques to work, Freese created a way for people to help one another compete in a tight job market. In addition to facilitating the workshop, she operates her own writing and research business. Her blog about job hunting, personal branding, and storytelling can be found at www.TellingAboutYourself.com.

Q&A with Jane Freese, Question 1:

Q: In this essay, you write about “emblematic moments in telling a story. Can you talk more about what you mean by emblematic moments?

A: An emblematic moment is a holographic event. It can be a pivotal moment in a person’s life or an event that epitomizes a greater context. A pivotal event can be a moment of realization, even when the recognition arises long after the actual experience.

For example, in the 2008 documentary, “Harlan Ellison: Dreams with Sharp Teeth,” Ellison relates a memory of standing over a bathroom sink after being beaten up by a gang of bullies. His mother is dabbing his wounds with a wet washcloth when she says to him, “Well, you must have said something.” Ellison is stunned by her remark, but he knows in that moment that he has no allies in the world except himself. This realization is sad yet liberating. It empowers him to become fiercely independent, a fiery individual, and one of our most celebrated science fiction authors.

A simple question such as, “When did you first come to the realization that you wanted to be a teacher?” can reveal an emblematic moment and lends itself to personal storytelling in a job interview.