How to Tell Your Story to Land the Job or Client

To differentiate yourself from a pack of other lawyers, you have to explain your skills and motivation to your audience so people can imagine you in the job and excelling at it. How do you do that? Tell a good story with examples. I have met thousands of lawyers, and I remember the ones who presented themselves with charm and confidence. These standouts vividly told their story on how they got there and what they accomplished.

Keep your stories short but engaging. They need a beginning, middle and end. Some tips:

1. Think about an issue you faced. Pick one this employer or client would care about. What was the problem, and how did you address it?
2. What was the result? This is key. Did you save money? Did you win the case? Did you overcome the regulator’s objection? Was the deal closed? Was the product launched?
3. Inject color and emotion. What were you most worried about? How did your clients or managers feel when you started versus when you finished? What reputation did you earn? Was your client delighted?

Pro tip: Watch this clip by Dennis Yu, a digital marketer on how to do a one-minute elevator pitch and make a clear point. His formula is to tell a story in three parts. Start with a hook with the words “when I was…” so you jump straight into a story with some conflict. Next, indicate because of that story, your mission is []. End with who you are and what you do: “I am a lawyer who …”

This my story: When I was young, I watched my immigrant parents struggle with English and miss all sorts of cultural cues. After I got into recruiting, I learned exactly what managers were looking for and how people should present themselves. I believe everyone I work with who is qualified for a job should get a real shot at it, so I explain the cues and expectations in the hiring process. I am a legal recruiter who helps candidates get jobs.