Becoming the hero of your job search
Thanks for reading Pluck! Today, we’re talking about how communicators can use their storytelling skills to stand out in a tough job market.
It’s been a rough summer for communicators.
Organizations are cutting back. Layoffs are everywhere. Job searches are dragging on for months. Even the most seasoned pros are feeling nervous about their long-term prospects.
Yet it’s this exact moment when our greatest skill—storytelling—can become our greatest asset.
Stories connect us, move us, change us—and communicators understand their power better than anyone. That’s why we’re constantly hunting for them inside our organizations and our leaders.
Yet we often miss out on mining the story closest to us: our own story.
Play the hero
Communicators tend to shy away from the spotlight. We’re too focused on elevating others: helping the CEO sound visionary, empowering partners, inspiring audiences to action. And we do it all so seamlessly that our fingerprints disappear, allowing our stakeholders to shine as the heroes of the stories we craft.
It’s a brilliant skillset. But it doesn’t serve us well in a job search, where we’re expected to cast ourselves in the hero role.
Unfortunately, results don’t always speak for themselves in a hiring process. You need to make the case for what you uniquely make possible. The secret sauce your prospective boss and company can’t live without.
Maybe it’s your attention to detail, or your creativity, or your strategic insights. Whatever it is, it’s not arrogant to claim your role in the story. It’s honest. And it’s the only way your next employer will understand the value you bring to the table.
Embrace conflict
In keeping with playing the hero, you also need to get comfortable with your hero’s journey. And at the heart of every journey? Conflict.
It may feel risky and counterintuitive to talk about challenges in an interview where you’re trying to put your best foot forward. But when you invite someone into a story with emotional stakes, you create a powerful connection—actually syncing your brain waves.
Imagine telling your interviewer about a time you hit a roadblock, pushed through, and came out stronger on the other side.
They won’t see weakness. They’ll see confidence. They’ll see resilience. They’ll see growth. And—most importantly—they’ll see someone they want on their team, who can roll with the punches when things inevitably get tough.
Don’t edit out the hard parts of your story. They’re what make someone root for you.
Ask the hard questions
Just as you embrace the conflict within your own stories, you also shouldn’t shy away from some conflict with your interviewer.
Communications is a strange corner of the corporate world. Sometimes it’s internal, sometimes it’s external. Sometimes you’re part of the marketing team, sometimes you sit under HR, sometimes you’re parked in the CEO’s office. Sometimes even the hiring manager doesn’t fully understand the job they’re asking you to fill.
If you’re interviewing for a role with a murky reporting line, unclear responsibilities, and minimal access to the executives you’re meant to support, don’t hesitate to ask questions. You’re the expert in this space—you should act like it.
Speak to what you’ve seen work (and not work) in the past. Talk about what your own nonnegotiables as a communicator are. Don’t get so hung up trying to impress your prospective employer that you forget to interview them.
Own your value
There’s a thread running through each of these tips: owning your value.
When you pursue a communications role, you’re not applying for a “support” position—you’re stepping into a senior advisor role, even if the org chart doesn’t explicitly spell that out.
The influence, the access, the seat at the table—you not only deserve it, you need it in order to do your job properly. The time to establish that is during the interview process.
But here’s the part that takes courage: sometimes it won’t work out. Sometimes your candor won’t resonate, and you won’t get the offer.
That’s not a reflection of your worth. It’s a signal that the position isn’t right for you. That the organization isn’t built to recognize your value right now.
That’s not a job you actually want.
The interview process ultimately isn’t about getting “picked.” It’s about finding a mutually beneficial partnership. Telling your hard-won stories with clarity and courage will ensure that your next role is the right role—and that you’ll walk into it as the strong, confident leader you are.
Pluck: A Newsletter for Fearless Communicators is produced by Justine Adelizzi, an award-winning speechwriter and communications leader. She is the founder of FEARLESScomms, a coaching and consulting firm dedicated to creating fearless communicators.