The Power of Stories

Emotional Connection

In the field of recruitment, logic convinces, but emotion mobilizes.

While the resume provides the factual data and technical competencies, it is the narrative that generates the human bond necessary for a candidate to be memorable.

Humans are biologically programmed to respond to stories; when we hear a story of achievement or challenge, our brains release oxytocin and dopamine, generating empathy and connection.

A common mistake is to limit the interview to a recitation of dates and job titles, which is aseptic and forgettable.

Instead, transforming the experience into a narrative allows the interviewer to not only understand what the candidate did, but to "feel" the value of his or her contribution.

Imagine a film director like Alfred Hitchcock: he doesn't tell you the plot of his films with a list of scenes, but rather immerses you in the suspense.

Similarly, a candidate should not say "I managed crises", but narrate the exact moment when the company's most important project was about to collapse and how he took the reins to save it.

Structure of a story

For a professional anecdote to have an impact, it must be structured like a classic movie script, with a beginning, a middle and an end.

A story without conflict is boring; therefore, it is essential to present the initial challenge or adversity.

Without a "villain" (which can be a cut budget, an impossible deadline or a technical error), there is no "hero".

Think of the historical narrative of the Apollo 13 mission: the success was not in getting to the moon, but in creatively solving a deadly problem ("Houston, we have a problem") to bring the crew back.

In an interview, an Operations Manager might structure his achievement like this: "We were facing a total supply chain disruption (Conflict) two weeks into the Christmas campaign.

I assembled the team and we redesigned the logistics using local suppliers in record time (Action/Fight), managing not only to fulfill the orders, but to increase the profit margin by 5% (Resolution)." This structure gives epicness and meaning to the daily task.

Authenticity

Authenticity is the ingredient that validates the story. It is not a matter of inventing fables, but of selecting real moments in the trajectory that reveal the character and values of the professional.

Sometimes, sharing an initial vulnerability or failure, as long as it is followed by learning and recovery, is much more powerful than projecting an image of unattainable perfection.

Take Steve Jobs' biography as an example: his dismissal from Apple and subsequent comeback is a story of resilience that defines his personal brand far more than his initial successes.

A candidate can apply this by relating how a failed project taught him the importance of active listening with the customer, transforming that lesson into the foundati