Using your Personal Story & Professional Brand story to stand out: How to tell your story.

This week I sat in interviews, I was looking for a digital marketing executive to join my team. All the candidates who showed up had great technical skills and work experience to boot.

However, one lady separated herself from the pack.

Guess what made all the difference? Her personal story!

Yes, she ticked all the core competencies checklist but at the tail end of the interview, she gave a really compelling reason why she wanted the role and at the company.

She left her previous role to look after her sick mother for a whole year and now had received her mother's blessings to continue with her career.

During this period she upskilled and had gained clarity on her career goals. Her energy was infectious and you could tell that she was ready to hit the ground running.

Come to think about it, what sold her was more than the cold hard facts about her accomplishments. The fact that she trusted us enough to share her truth created an immediate connection.

Your personal story is what makes you authentically you. It differentiates you from the rest.

Here is a list of 3 reasons why your personal story is powerful:

1. It makes you human

2. It makes people connect with you emotionally

3. It makes you have a deeper reason why you are doing what you're doing.

As career women, it's tempting to put on our full armour 24/7 because the workplace is viewed as a place where there's no room for authenticity.

That's what inspired me to write AFROFEMININE CAREER GIRL, because its almost taboo to be feminine at work.

Well, I'm from the new school of thought, so I totally agree with what Brene Brown says "Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it's having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome.

One thing to note though is the best way to tell your personal story is when you use your experience as learning, from which you can pass lessons on to others and impact their people's lives positively.

If there's no lesson learnt, then it's just another way to garner sympathy, unless of course, that's what you want...

P: S-If you'd like to consult with me on anything you feel I can help you with, please drop me a line and let's talk. 5 slots available only.

Linda O. Muchelule-Masya.

Founder afrofemininemuse

www.afrofemininemuse.com