Ask an Expert: How “Story Work” Can Help You Find the Right Career

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of people have walked away from their jobs to ask themselves, what do I really want from work?

This widespread identity crisis doesn’t come as a surprise to long-time career counselor Megan Haupt.

“In the US, we spend most of our lives preparing to work or working. But more often than not, our career choices default to what we learned growing up,” she said. “That includes how we define success, how we prioritize work-life balance, and what we believe about work.”

That’s where story work comes in, says Haupt.

Story work is a guided introspection practice Haupt developed to help her clients make thoughtful assessments about what they really value.

“It’s a reflective and exploratory process for looking at all of the factors that go into shaping who you are as a professional, how you perceive yourself, how you prefer to work, what management style serves you best, and how you define success,” she said.

The goal is to understand your own story in a way that will help you write a more authentic future.

To do that, start by journaling your responses to the following prompts.

Spread the project out over a few days, recommended Haupt. “Take your time and try to avoid overly critical assessments of yourself or your work history.”

Our parents wield massive influence over our conceptions of work, said Haupt. Despite their best intentions, they often acted out their subconscious fears about money, success, and self-worth while raising us.

Kids tend to internalize what parents model, she pointed out.

“So if you saw that your caregiver hated work, you may have come to the conclusion that work is something you’re supposed to hate. As a result, you’re less likely to question your own dissatisfaction as a working adult or introspect about what might make you happier.”

In this part of the process, explore yourself as a person and a worker outside the context of any specific profession or role.

“You can’t always align your identity with specific roles because the market is constantly redefining what those roles look like,” explained Haupt.

“If you’re really focused on one role or one career that is phased out or isn’t available to you for some reason, you’ve severely limited your openness to new opportunities that may provide room to grow.”

“Most of us have default strengths that we rely on to push through or bootstrap our careers,” said Haupt.

“But it’s worth investigating those more vulnerable, quiet abilities that emerge when we feel relaxed, safe, and happy. How can you leverage them? What kind of environment is necessary for you to access those strengths?”

When you’re done, distill your personal narrative into a one-page story.

You should notice some patterns and themes emerging that capture the big picture of who you are, what skills you have to offer, and what you really want, said Haupt. “That’s the good stuff.”

That “good stuff” should help you navigate a career change with more clarity and confidence.

Job listings and titles can vary dramatically from company to company. But now you have a powerful reference document that allows you to match your story to what employers are looking for.

“It also helps reduce imposter syndrome by undercutting any beliefs that you might not have what it takes to land a certain position,” said Haupt. “You’ve got the facts in front of you now.”

She advises her clients to use the 60/40 rule for job applications.

“Look for jobs where you have 60% of the qualifications in the bag. Consider the remaining 40% your opportunity for growth and development. If you only apply to jobs you’re 100% qualified for, you’re going to be bored, under-challenged, and unhappy in no time.”

Story work can also help you write more compelling cover letters.

“It’s essential to connect the dots for the reader to showcase specific skills and experiences while also indicating why the job excites you. This exercise provides you with raw, authentic material that is powerful, relevant, and deeply personalized.”

“Review your story before going into a job interview,” said Haupt. “Remember what you really want; That will help shift the dynamic from a performance to a conversation. You’ll be more relaxed, more curious, and more alert to possible red flags,” said Haupt.

“You’ll also be more confident asking for a specific salary or compensation package. Identifying your key strengths can help you assess your skills against the market ahead of time.”

“It’s a good practice to expand and revisit your story throughout your career,” advised Haupt.

“It can be incredibly grounding before going into a performance review, accepting a stretch assignment, or pursuing a promotion. Doing this work will help you stay true to yourself.”

Feature Image: ljubaphoto / E+ / Getty Images