 
|
Good stories make a lasting impression
To expand your marketability, you must develop stories to create maximum
interest. Without stories, most people will forget what you say in a matter
of minutes. To ensure that your points are memorable, we suggest you use
a method for creating interesting stories.
CAR is an acronym that stands for Challenge,
Actions, and Results. It offers a process for describing your past experience.
We all like good stories and remember them. The CAR format represents
a compelling way to present information about your history and accomplishments.
- Challenge
Describe a job by reviewing the situation when you began, making it
interesting. Then bring up information about the opportunities that
the job presented. Here's an example of what we mean:"When I joined
the firm, sales had been declining for three consecutive years.
Knowing the firm's markets, I saw the opportunity to target new areas."
- Actions
Next, move to actions taken by you and others (the team). We believe
that these actions are the most important part of the CAR process as
they show what skills you have and how you solve problems.
- Results
Then relate what results occurred. When you talk about the results,
try to quantify them. For example, you cut costs by $100,000 or 20 percent.
In many administrative situations, it is not always so easy to quantify
results. In these cases, you need to measure results using statements
like "I did it in half the time," or "The system I developed was adopted
throughout the company," or "I won an award ... "
Here, you need to indicate positive things you did to help your organizations
and how you took on extra tasks. Describe how you helped your management
team meet their goals, and also the results they achieved. If appropriate,
you can show how you demonstrated a skill, special knowledge or a personal
quality.
Develop CAR stories that cover situations where you can demonstrate the
value of fresh thinking as a means to improve productivity, or show that
you have solved a variety of problems in diverse areas. Your audience needs
to feel that you are the answer to one of their problems. If you can show
them how you met or exceeded the needs in other environments, they may conclude
that you can do the same for them. The idea is to create stories that demonstrate
the benefits you are bringing to the organization. If you successfully managed
the integration of two teams following a merger, and the new business gained
market share and/or costs were reduced—by all means say so. Wherever possible,
quantify with dollar amounts, percentages, etc. If you have many stories,
focus on those which are most important. CAR means telling your whole story.
If it's well told, it will generate more genuine interest than any dry recitation
of your duties.
Review a
sample CAR Success Story |
