In recent years, there has been more research on storytelling and how it affects our body and our brain. This research found we are more active and engaged, whether we are the storyteller or the listener. As the storyteller, we get to relive the impact a moment, situation, or accomplishment had on our lives, and it feels good to share this experience with others. For the listener, our brain begins to process more and work as we experience emotions, recollections, and relatable events of our own. In the end, both the storyteller and the listener feel more connected (click here for more on the science of storytelling).

If this is true, why don’t we use it more in interviews?

It would appear to work to our advantage to tell stories to impress interviewers. Furthermore, we become more interested and involved ourselves. The mood is more light, a rapport builds, the connection is real, and it feels more natural (and we all known interviews are not natural – how often do you walk up to a stranger on the street and say “so…tell me about yourself?”)

With that in mind, below is the first of a 3-part series on questions in an interview and how to turn your responses from answer to story. And that question is the dreaded “Tell Me About Yourself.” If this question isn’t asked, there usually is some variation of it (“tell me about yourself” is basically “walk me through your resume” in disguise). How you approach it with a story as opposed to an answer could be the difference between an offer and a rejection.

Tell Me About Yourself

Most people respond to this question with a running history of employment and the main responsibilities required in each job. They might tack on three things they like to do in their free time (if there’s such a thing as free time these days) onto the end of their answer. They essentially reiterate their resume, which the interviewer already has access to. So what’s the added value or benefit?

Instead, consider telling a story of how you first discovered a career, what you have done since to deepen your experience and knowledge of said career, and how that led to you sitting across the desk from the interviewer. Pepper antidotes in between each step of your story that highlight your interest, passion, and/or skill established through each experience. It’s those moments in between which a resume cannot convey. And if you still want to tack on a thing you enjoy doing outside of work, go for it!

Just give it some personality and humor.

In a recent session with a client, we worked to reconstruct her answer into a story. See which one makes more of an impact on you.

Example One

I grew up in (sic) and went to college at (fill in the blank). I decided to major in accounting after taking an Intro to Accounting course. I also worked at (name of company) as well as volunteered to help low income families prepare their taxes. I am currently pursing my Masters of Business Taxation at (name of college), and hope to go into corporate tax. In my free time, I love to cook.

Example Two

I was born and raised in (city). In high school, I was drawn to subjects such as Math and Science that enchanted my analytical skills. When I entered (name of college), I started out as a Math major. Being the first in my family to go to college, it was important that I majored in something that could support my family and provide stability. I decided to change to Business after I felt the only possible careers I could pursue with a Math degree was to be a math teacher or a statistician. I was looking for something a little more practical.

I never considered Accounting until I took my first Intro to Accounting course. I immediately took a liking to it, as it combined my interest in math with strong analytical skills and number crunching abilities. I further enhanced my exposure to this field through work at (name of company) as well as through volunteering with (name of non-profit), where I helped low income families prepare their annual taxes. One of the things I really enjoyed about these two experiences was the one-on-one attention I had with these clients.

Nevertheless, I wanted to be more challenged, which led to me applying to and pursuing a Masters of Business Taxation. I really feel I’ve found my calling in Corporate tax, as it combines my interest in big business with my strong accounting related skills as well as my interest to continue to work one-on-one with clients.

Beyond that, I really enjoy cooking, and make a mean Carne Asada.

Which one do you prefer? Which individual would you rather work with? Sure, the second example is significantly longer, and some experts advise you to keep your answer to this question short. However, telling a story makes it sweet. Furthermore, if you grab the listener’s attention, time flies and no one is looking at the clock.

In the following post of this 3-part series, we will look at storytelling in responses to “what is your greatest strength/weakness” (part two) and behavior questions that start with “tell me about a time when (fill in the blank)” (part three).