For many Americans, August means squeezing in a final trip to the beach or other summer getaway. Here in Delaware, the obsession with the Delaware beaches is strong, and it seems as though not a day goes by when I don't hear about a trip to the beach from someone. Back in Minnesota, where I grew up, the same is true of trips to the lake (it being the Land of 10,000 Lakes and all). All of these trips are a precursor to the start of the school year. It use to be that K-12 schools didn't reconvene until after Labor Day, but that seems to be less and less common. What is seemingly ubiquitous in Higher Ed right now, though, is the job search.
The higher education landscape has changed drastically in the last few years, in no small part due to the pandemic's impact on our relationships to work. The result has been increasing numbers of vacancies on college campuses. In the past few weeks, I've been engaged directly in numerous job searches, which has meant spending a lot of time thinking about interview questions and formats. Deciding on how to structure an interview to find the best candidate for the job can be a challenge, and there are no shortage of opinions on how to go about it. However, just as important is the approach a candidate takes to the interview process.
The internet abounds with tips and tricks on how to effectively interview, but I want to focus on story-telling for the moment. Search committees go to great lengths to collect background data about candidates. We ask for employment history, educational history, teaching philosophies, honors and awards, and all sorts of other facts and figures. What we don't typically ask for are the background stories that led to all of these bulleted items. This is where the opportunity to interview becomes so important.
In thinking about this process, I couldn't help but see similarities to the dating world. A significant percentage of Americans report using dating apps across all demographic categories. Young people today have grown up knowing how to swipe left or right and select the right profile picture. Dating has been narrowed down to a list of facts and figures about a person that determine even initial interest. Sound familiar?
What happens once you get their attention, though? This is often where we faulter. The initial meetups or dates end up amounting to no more than a rapid fire Q & A as two people exchange more facts and figures about each other. Now think about the colleagues you have that you work the best with, admire the most, and trust the most. Is it because of where they went to school or how many awards they garnered? Of course not. The trust is based on connection, and the connection is based on story-telling.
If we shift our interview goals from that of vetting qualifications to that of identifying potential connections, then we begin to move past bullet points and start focusing on the value of story-telling. For this reason, it is essential that you come to an interview ready to share your story. The hiring committee has your resume and clearly saw something in you that warranted an interview in their eyes. They swiped right. Now comes the date.
If you're not already doing it, start identifying key moments in your professional career and personal life that have shaped how you approach each day, how you lead, how you follow, and how you tackle problems. This is more than simply regurgitating a list of "examples", which can amount to no more than a play-by-play that a reporter would share. How did you feel during this situation? What were you struggling with as it unfolded? What made you excited and want to get out of bed in the morning? Sharing YOUR story means including the individual components that make it unique to you.
The best dates are often those where the conversation comes easily. The stories are flowing, and each person is jumping in to ask questions to clarify or to gather reactions. In the interview setting, this means we can't be afraid to interrupt the traditional format. If something in your response also sparks a question, then ask that question in the moment. Don't be afraid to begin an interview as a candidate by asking a question of the group you are with, and using their responses to guide your own story-telling.
Whether dating or interviewing, we are looking for someone we can work well with, spend time with, learn from, and be challenged by regularly. Bullet points aren't going to tell us that, but stories will. So, next time you find yourself in an interview, whatever your role, focus on the story. Let's find out what happens when we swipe right!
