你是否有过这样的经历：花数周时间面试，越来越了解公司的文化氛围，设想无数你在公司工作的情景，最后却发现，你申请的岗位被另一个应聘者抢走了？

 

　　Have you spent weeks interviewing for a new role, learning more and more about the company ethos, imagining your future there, only to discover that another candidate has beaten you to it?

 

　　你想不通这是为什么，因为你具备岗位所要求的技能，你在面试时表现得很好，你也收到了下一轮面试的通知。你想知道“那个候选人的什么资质是我所缺少的？”你可能会非常沮丧，因为你付出了如此多的精力做准备，更别提花时间去实际参加面试了。

 

　　This can be extremely confusing, given that you had the right skills; you interviewed well and were invited back to the next stage. It could make you question “what did the chosen candidate have that I lacked?” These situations are also incredibly frustrating, given that you put so much effort into preparing, not to mention taking the time to actually attend the interviews.

 

　　许多人不知道，一个简单诀窍可以增加你面试成功的机会，那就是讲故事的能力。如果你掌握在面试中讲故事的艺术，你可以与面谈官建立融洽的关系。他们将更有可能端坐，聚精会神地听你说并记住你。

 

　　What many don’t realise is that there is one simple trick which can strengthen your chances of interview success and this is the ability to story tell. If you can master the art of storytelling during your interview, you can use this technique to build a rapport with those interviewing you. As a result, the interview panel are much more likely to sit up, take notice and remember you for the right reasons.

 

　　讲故事 - 不仅仅适合小孩

 

　　Storytelling – isn’t that just for kids?

 

　　讲故事是建立关系的重要方法，也是世代传承知识和文化的重要途径。你听说过口头传统吗？这解释了社会如何通过言语手段分享其传统和知识 – 基本上是通过讲故事。今天，那些最知名的组织和品牌仍然在使用这种看似简单的艺术来吸引顾客。

 

　　Telling stories is a key tool for relationship building and one that has passed down vast reserves of learning and culture throughout generations of time. Have you heard of the oral tradition? This explains how societies share their traditions and knowledge through verbal means – essentially storytelling. Today, the biggest organisations and brands use this apparently simple art to engage customers.

 

　　想想那些著名的商务人士，例如理查德·布兰森（Richard Branson），他经常在LinkedIn上分享他的轶事、领导技巧和他一路上学到的生活教训。

 

　　Think about leading business people such as Richard Branson – a man who will frequently write a LinkedIn blog about his anecdotes, leadership tips and the life lessons that he is still learning along the way.

 

　　那么，如何通过讲故事增加面试的胜算呢？

 

　　So, how can storytelling help improve your chances of interview success?

 

　　如果你在面试前仔细排练常见面试问题并背诵“教科书式”的答案，那么在面试过程中，面试官很可能会走神。这就是为什么你应该让你的面试技巧更有趣的原因。毕竟你是在推销你的价值，分享个人经历、让对方产生共鸣会增加你的胜算。

 

　　If, during your interview preparation, you have been meticulously rehearsing answers to common interview questions and practicing ‘textbook’ replies, the chances are your interviewers will start to switch off. That’s why you should give your interview technique a more affable touch. After all, you are selling your value as a candidate, and are more likely to succeed if you share your personal experiences and come across as a relatable person.

 

　　讲故事是一门值得学习的真正的艺术。它不仅用于面试，对于各行各业也至关重要 - 无论你想增加部门预算还是赢得新客户，讲故事都是实用方法。

 

　　Storytelling is a real art and one worth developing. You won’t only use it in your interviews, it is vital for all walks of life – whether you are pitching for a department budget increase or looking to win a new customer.

 

　　以下是在面试中创造和讲述完美故事的六个步骤：

 

　　Here are my six steps to creating, and telling, the perfect story during your interview:

 

　　1、在面试之前准备一些事例

 

　　PREPARE EXAMPLES BEFORE YOUR INTERVIEW

 

　　在准备常见面试问题的答案时，想几个帮助你向面试官展示个人实力的故事，在面试时生动地讲出来。记住，故事要简洁、要切题，不能天马行空，为了讲故事而讲故事。

 

　　When preparing answers to common interview questions, think of stories which can help you describe your competence in real terms for the interviewer and bring it to life for them. Remember, it is important to keep these concise and relevant to the question, as opposed to just reeling of rambling tales for the sake of it.

 

　　比如，你可能会被问及你是否擅长独立学习，如果你认为自己擅长，那么回答“是”，然后举一个你为了公司利益或更好地履行自己的职责自学某项新技能的例子（例如通过网络研讨会、书籍、培训课程等学习）。

 

　　For instance, you may be asked whether you consider yourself to be an independent learner. If you think you are, then say so, and cite a time where you took it upon yourself to learn a new skill (e.g.- via webinar, book, training session etc) for either the good of the company or your role.

 

　　事先着重了解岗位所要求的主要能力，确保你的回答体现你在这些方面的资质。例如，如果该职位需要你与客户做“回头生意”，那么你需要准备几个事例，以展示你与客户建立关系的能力。

 

　　Highlight some of the key pre-requisites for the role beforehand and make sure your answers reflect these. For instance, if the role needs somebody who can build repeat business with clients, think about professional situations which showcase your relationship building skills.

 

　　记住，故事要展现你符合职位要求，以及你掌握该职位所要求的技能和经验。

 

　　Remember, this is a story to demonstrate how you embody the job specification, and how you have the skills and experience necessary to be appointed.

 

　　2、组织你的故事

 

　　STRUCTURE IT

 

　　组织答案时，确保内容充实和切题。开头、中间和结尾至关重要 – 你需要使用STAR法则：S是设定情况，T是描述你的任务和参与情况，A是你的行动，R是展示结果！以下是一个使用STAR法则回答常见面试问题的示例：

 

　　By structuring your answers, you can ensure they remain substantial without your point getting lost. A beginning, middle and end are essential – so use the STAR technique here: S to set the situation, T to describe your task and involvement, A to tell of your action, and R to show off the results! Here is an example of a typical interview question answered using the STAR structure:

 

　　问：

 

　　“你能用一个事例说明你解决问题的态度？”

 

　　Q.

 

　　“Can you think of a time where you demonstrated a problem-solving attitude?”

 

　　答：

 

　　（情境）好的。在X公司工作期间，我负责X产品的数字推广。

 

　　（任务）有一个星期，我们一款产品的在线销售额比平常低25％。

 

　　（行动）为此，我为该产品制作了横幅广告，显示在我们的主页和电子邮件签名上。我还组织开展社交媒体活动，以推广该款产品。我鼓励内部团队“点赞和分享”这个活动。我还设计了一个电子邮件活动，向目标客户推广该产品。

 

　　（结果）到那个星期结束时，该产品的在线销售额增长40％，此后一直保持稳定。

 

　　A:

 

　　(Situation) “Yes, whilst I was employed X company, I was responsible for digitally promoting a portfolio of X products.

 

　　(Task) One week, our online sales for a particular product were 25% lower than usual.

 

　　(Action) Therefore, I created banner adverts for these products to go on our homepage and email signatures. I also increased our social media activity promoting these products. I encouraged internal teams to “like and share” this activity.  I also launched an email campaign to go out to a targeted list of customers for that product.

 

　　(Result) Consequently, by the following week, online sales for this product saw a 40% increase and have remained steady ever since.

 

　　3、准备好调整你的故事

 

　　BE READY TO ADAPT THE STORY

 

　　听众在每个故事中都扮演一定角色，因为讲故事是听众和讲述者的互动。所以，当面试官告诉你公司的方向、他们自己的工作以及他们正在寻找的人才类型时，请仔细倾听，并根据你听到的内容定制一些答案和轶事。

 

　　The audience plays a role in every story, as it is an interaction between the listener and the teller. So listen carefully when your interviewer tells you about the direction in which the company is headed, their own job in the company and the type of person they are looking for. Now tailor some of you answers and anecdotes accordingly.

 

　　例如，如果面试官告诉你，公司正在全球扩张，这将以某种方式影响该空缺，那么你可能要回忆一个你以前担任过的跨国职务。向面试官提及此经历，并告诉他/她，如果你通过面试，你在这方面的经验将如何为公司及其扩张做出贡献。

 

　　For example, if your interviewer tells you that the company is expanding globally and this will affect the vacancy in a certain way, you may recall a previous role where you had a global remit. Mention this to the interviewer, and how your experience here could benefit the company and its expansion if you were successful.

 

　　4、让你的故事生动有趣

 

　　MAKE IT INTERESTING AND ENGAGING

 

　　适当地运用幽默并展示你的个性。用可视化技术调动他们的感官 - 使用丰富的词汇让你的故事栩栩如生。观看企业故事的视频以激发灵感 - Google的“Reunion”就是一个经典案例。

 

　　Use humour appropriately and to show your personality. Bring their senses to life with visualisation techniques – using rich words to create visual pictures. Watch videos of the great corporate stories for inspiration – Google’s ‘Reunion’ is a legendary example.

 

　　使用温和的手势：用温柔的手部动作“打标点”十分有用，但切勿用夸张的手势掀翻茶杯或文件。

 

　　Use hand gestures gently, however – a little punctuation with a soft hand movement is useful, but don’t knock teas and papers off the table with wild gesticulating.

 

　　5、熟能生巧

 

　　PRACTISE MAKES PERFECT

 

　　故事不可过分圆滑，但你有必要与你信任的朋友和家人进行演练，他们可以为你提供宝贵的意见。这样的演练也有助于建立信心和培养个人风格。

 

　　You don’t want your story to come across as overly-polished, but trying a few practice runs with trusted friends and family can help you to get valuable feedback. These trial runs will also help to build your confidence and personal style.

 

　　6、真实

 

　　BE AUTHENTIC

 

　　不要伪装自己。故事必须是真实可信，其目的在于展示你的个性 - 所以不要复制别人的风格，或试图成为一个喜剧演员。如果你天生外向和豪爽，你的个性会通过你讲故事的方式自然展现。如果你天生安静、内向甚至有点古怪，你同样可以真实地展现自己。记住，你要找一份真正适合你的工作。以诚实和能给人留下印象的方式展现个性，面试官才能真正了解你是否契合职位的要求，以及公司和更大的团队的文化。

 

　　Don’t pretend to be someone that you’re not. Storytelling should be authentic and help you to demonstrate your personality – so don’t copy someone else’s style or try to be a comedian. If you are naturally extrovert and expansive, this will already come across in the way you express yourself. If you are naturally quieter, more introverted and a little quirky, then that is ok too.  Remember, it’s vital that you are matched with a job that will genuinely suit you. By showing your character in such an honest and memorable way, your interviewers will get a true sense of how you would fit culturally and individually within the company and the wider team.

 

　　通过遵循以上步骤，你将能够在展现专业能力的同时，表现你的个性。你还在等什么？现在就开始润色你的故事吧！

 

　　By following the above steps, you can use relevant anecdotes to strike the right balance of being professional whilst letting your personality shine through. So what are you waiting for? It’s time to start polishing up some of your best corporate tales.