Context Is Everything: What Story Are You Telling?
"The most amazing thing for me is that every single person who sees a movie, not necessarily one of my movies, brings a whole set of unique experiences, but through careful manipulation and good storytelling, you can get everybody to clap at the same time, to hopefully laugh at the same time, and to be afraid at the same time.”
- Steven Spielberg, filmmaker
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been in conversation with coaching clients about the power of narrative—how the stories we tell shape how others see us, and even how we see ourselves.
This reflection pulled me back into my academic roots. I spent years analyzing narratives—deconstructing the language, surfacing the implicit power dynamics, and revealing how stories function both as cultural mirrors and tools of persuasion. I studied not just what stories said, but why they were told, by whom, and for what purpose. Who gained power from the story? Who was erased, diminished, or redefined?
Sound familiar?
It should. Because storytelling doesn’t just live in literature or theory. It’s living and breathing—especially in job interviews, where your story becomes your strategy.
Storytelling Isn’t Just Natural—It’s Strategic
Let’s be honest: we all shift our stories based on audience and context. Sitting on the couch with your best friend, you might give all the juicy emotional backstory. But at a work event? Different details. Different tone. Maybe even a different point.
This kind of tailoring feels so natural, we often don’t notice we’re doing it. But in high-stakes environments—like interviews—we forget. We revert to bland, generic storytelling. We freeze. We flatten out the rich texture of our experience into résumé recitations.
And yet, those subtle choices—what you emphasize, what you skip, how you begin and end—are the very things that differentiate memorable candidates from forgettable ones.
The Resume Walkthrough: Your First Serve
Take the classic interview prompt:
“Walk me through your resume.”
It seems straightforward, but it’s actually a golden opportunity to control the narrative. Think of it like the serve in tennis. It’s the one shot that’s entirely yours to shape. You decide the pace, the spin, the placement.
Too many people use that shot to deliver a chronological snoozefest. But the best candidates? They craft a story—a compelling, purposeful arc that leads right to the job they’re interviewing for.
Here’s what that looks like:
1. Control the Narrative
Every story is a set of choices. You don’t owe the interviewer every line item. What you owe them is a story that has shape, momentum, and direction—a story that makes you make sense for them.
That doesn’t mean being fake or overly polished. It means being intentional. Structure your resume story like a well-composed pitch: highlights that map your journey, pivot points that show evolution, and a throughline that builds to this role, this team, this mission.
2. Make the Right Choices
There’s no “one true version” of your story. What matters is fit. Every detail you include is a signal—and an invitation. When you emphasize certain moments, you give your interviewer softballs they’ll want to follow up on. That’s not manipulation. That’s strategy.
This story should reveal your competence and credibility—but also your curiosity, your values, and your alignment with what the company needs. Tell the story that shows not only what you’ve done, but who you are and why you belong there.
Practice What You Already Know
I remember living abroad, describing my research to people who had no context for it. I naturally adapted—translating ideas, shifting emphasis, simplifying language. When I stepped back and heard myself, I’d think: “That was all true... but that wasn’t how I usually tell it.”
And that’s the point.
You already know how to adapt your story. You just need to apply that same instinct—consciously, strategically—to your job search. Especially in interviews, it’s worth reflecting on:
What do I want them to remember?
What should they feel is undeniable about my fit?
What story connects my past with their future?
Final Thought: Be Intentional, Not Inauthentic
This is not about abandoning your uniqueness. It’s about amplifying it—intentionally. Your story is the bridge between your experience and the opportunity in front of you. Don’t just tell them who you are. Show them why you matter to them.
So go ahead. Practice. Reflect. Edit. Sharpen.
Then walk into that interview and tell your story like no one else can.
You’ve got this.
Pam
EdTech founder, CEO of Archer Career
Human Capitalist
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