How to make sure your story shines in your job search banner

As a candidate for any job, the most impactful thing you can do is make sure your story gets told. Every career journey is a story worth telling, and focusing on yours through each step of the hiring process can not only help you land the job, but also ensure that the job you land is the right fit for you and your goals.

Like any good story, your career journey likely has its fair share of twists and turns. So, what’s the best way to tell it? What should you include? What should you emphasize? Why does it matter? Let’s talk about making sure your story shines, from the beginning of your job search all the way to accepting your next great role.

Updating your resume

The first step of going out on the job hunt is also the most important in determining what story you’re going to tell when you share your career journey. Depending on where you are in your career, there could be quite a few chapters to consider – and they might not follow a straight line.

If that’s the case, don’t stress. Everyone’s path is unique. All you need to do is look ahead to that next stop on your journey. What is the job you really want? What experiences and skills have you gained that could make you a great fit for it?

Those are the experiences and skills that should be front and center in your resume. Keep in mind, they don’t have to match the job description perfectly, and you don’t have to cover every job you’ve ever had. What matters is being able to paint a picture of how your accomplishments and these key pieces of your background have come together to position you for success in that next role. Making sure that story gets told is one of the many ways to craft a resume that truly shines.

Applying to jobs

Your resume covers your story up to the present day, but where it goes next is up to you to decide. You are its author, after all. When you’re combing through job postings and sending off applications, be sure to consider how each one would fit into your journey. Is this next job going to be your dream job, or could it be a stepping stone on the way there? Does it have a place on the path to achieving your broader career goals?

It's also worth thinking about previous jobs you’ve had and considering what you liked, didn’t like, loved, or hated about them. That, too, is part of your story. Seek out the things that give you drive and energy and purpose and leave behind the things that don’t.

Once you’ve decided a job feels right for you, you’ll need to navigate the always different, sometimes tricky application process. Don’t worry, we have plenty of advice to guide you through and help you stand out to recruiters and hiring managers alike.

Interviewing

Interviews can be a nerve-wracking experience, but there’s confidence in knowing exactly what you’re bringing to the table. Remember, you’re just there to share your story and figure out if the job fits into it.

Prepare beforehand by reviewing the skills and experience you highlighted in your resume, and be ready to shed more light on them. Think about smaller stories within your overarching story. Consider challenges you’ve overcome, accomplishments worth celebrating, and how your journey has brought you to this point.

Interviews go both ways, so make sure you come in with questions, too. Beyond the usual stuff like day-to-day responsibilities and benefits, how could the job help you reach your goals? How do they see your story fitting into theirs? Does it sound like the job you imagined when you set out to write your next chapter?

It’s possible that you’ll come away from the interview realizing the job is not what you need, or the employer could decide to go with a different candidate. Either way, don’t get discouraged. The thing about stories is, sometimes they take a while to get where they’re going. As long as you know that where you’re going is right for you, it’s well worth the patience and persistence to get there.

If a rewarding new job in early childhood education is that next step you’re looking for, now or in the future, we would love to hear your story. If you apply to work at KinderCare Learning Companies, we can share our story with you, too. You just might find our goals wonderfully align.

AUTHOR
KinderCare Jobs
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