See a photo of Jane, her bio, Part 1 of this Q&A, Part 2, and Part 3.
Q&A with Jane Freese, Question 4:
Q: You recently held your first Telling About Yourself workshop. How did it go, and to what extent will you tweak it for the next time?
A: “Storytelling for Job Seekers” was a confusing title for many since it is
an unfamiliar concept. I’ve tweaked the title to simply, “Job Finders Workshop.” The storytelling aspects have surfaced naturally. I’ve discovered that when people talk about themselves they are unaware of the story elements embedded in their narrative. It is useful to repeat back to them, in story form, what they said. I listen to them so they can listen to themselves. Once I explain storytelling and its uses, workshop participants are eager to learn more. They appreciate how storytelling can be used to create a full picture of who they are to potential employers.
In a flooded job market, there are hundreds of applications for one job. Job-seekers need a way to stand out. Personal branding is a way of distilling a person’s story into a few key elements — a mission statement and a tag line. It is the foundation on which to build a strong, memorable, personal brand.
[Image credit: Self portrait as a puzzle by Tony Karp]