Everyone loves a good story. As humans, we are drawn to them and have been since the dawn of time. Before the written word, history was passed down through the generations by the spoken word and oral tradition. People were energized by stories, so much that they built great cities and even went to work – on words. Why? Words and stories arouse emotions like passion, courage and desire. So, why not tell a great story to hook a great job candidate?
Why Tell Stories About Your Company to Potential Hires?
While it is necessary to have potential job candidates fill out paperwork, participate in criminal background checks, and go through many other steps involved in being hired, why not use the time-tested power of telling a great story that will resonate with the candidate for a long time? Telling a story can motivate the job-seeker to want to be part of your team. You can inspire the individual to be part of the mission, take the company to its next step or rise to a leadership position. The possibilities are endless.
What’s in the Story?
The goal of using storytelling to draw in potential hires is to share a narrative of your company’s history and value in an attention-gripping manner. It should also involve the many “whys” your company is great and how your team fulfills their mission. Great storytelling captures and communicates the company’s essence, culture, and personality. Start from the company’s beginning, growth and potential for the future, making the candidate a desired part of that future. Offer success stories as well as tough times your staff overcame, only to be better. Talk about how the company helps the community, the environment, as well as charities it supports.
Benefits of Recruiting Through Storytelling
When people hear stories, whether good or bad, they tend to stick around and are retold over and over. One good story can hook a hundred new hires. Stories get people’s attention and arouse emotions that can positively affect the candidate’s decision to strongly want a job. Facts and statistics only go so far. Job candidates are human and want to hear the many stories involved in the company’s past and present.
Strong storytelling also creates positive memories of the recruiting process. The job candidate, after the interview, can go home and share the story with their family, friends and others. They won’t just remember the story, they’ll in fact “feel” it and will have the natural urgency to tell others what they’re feeling about this company they can become a part of.
Final Thoughts on Recruiting Through the Art of Storytelling
Recruiting the next great hire isn’t getting any easier and some markets are ultra-competitive, so recruiters must find ways to hook potential employees through better means, like storytelling. Every company has a story, and humans love stories because they evoke strong emotions, create desires to be part of something great, or become the next leader in line. If you want to capture the attention of more job candidates, tell them a story they’ll never forget.