How your unique story can get you hired
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0:00 - 0:04You're sitting at your computer,
about to apply for your dream job, -
0:04 - 0:06but then thoughts
start to go through your head -
0:06 - 0:07that this is a waste of your time.
-
0:07 - 0:09Maybe you're thinking,
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0:09 - 0:10"My parents didn't go to college,"
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0:10 - 0:12or "I have a learning disability."
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0:12 - 0:13"When I went on their website
-
0:14 - 0:16and I looked at the folks
in the most senior level roles, -
0:16 - 0:20I didn't see anyone who represented
my race or my gender." -
0:20 - 0:22"There's just no way
I'm going to get this job." -
0:22 - 0:25So you don't even submit the application.
-
0:25 - 0:28But I'm here to tell you
that your self-doubt -
0:28 - 0:32about your experiences can be the key
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0:32 - 0:34to driving your career success.
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0:34 - 0:36[The Way We Work]
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0:37 - 0:40[Made possible with
the support of Dropbox] -
0:40 - 0:43Most of us experience self-doubt
at high-stakes moments, -
0:43 - 0:45especially if they're people of color,
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0:45 - 0:47first generation college student,
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0:47 - 0:49or they don't have
a traditional background, -
0:49 - 0:51so they don't fit "the mold."
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0:51 - 0:53If that's you, you're
a part of my community. -
0:53 - 0:56What I've realized is
that these experiences -
0:56 - 0:58that seem like a liability
-
0:58 - 1:01are actually your
differentiating strength. -
1:01 - 1:06The secret is to transform
how you perceive your own story. -
1:06 - 1:08Even if you've been
on an untraditional path, -
1:08 - 1:11you've accrued some skills over time
-
1:11 - 1:13that are really valuable in the workforce.
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1:13 - 1:19Your task is to identify those
experiences and trumpet them, -
1:19 - 1:21because it's likely that story,
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1:21 - 1:24that is your ticket to a great job.
-
1:24 - 1:26I know this, because I had
my own self-doubts -
1:26 - 1:28that I had to overcome.
-
1:28 - 1:30I didn't have top-notch
internships in college. -
1:30 - 1:33I also wasn't an extraordinary student.
-
1:33 - 1:34By the time graduation came around,
-
1:34 - 1:38I was definitely the thank you, laude,
versus the cum laude. -
1:38 - 1:41What I didn't realize
was that I was really good -
1:41 - 1:42at connecting with people,
-
1:42 - 1:45and now as a talent nerd and a CEO,
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1:45 - 1:47I've watched thousands of graduates,
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1:47 - 1:50who actually had a lot
of self-doubts, overcome those -
1:50 - 1:53and accomplish goals
they never thought were imaginable, -
1:53 - 1:54and here's how.
-
1:54 - 1:56Ask yourself two questions.
-
1:56 - 1:59The first is, why do you want
to do this work? -
1:59 - 2:03Maybe you already know
the kind of job or work environment -
2:03 - 2:04that makes you happy,
-
2:04 - 2:06or maybe you haven't quite
figured that out yet. -
2:06 - 2:10Usually, your personal experiences
can help give you clues. -
2:10 - 2:13For example, did your
grandmother do manual labor, -
2:13 - 2:16and it made you really worry
that she didn't get access -
2:16 - 2:17to high quality healthcare?
-
2:18 - 2:20Did your brother
have to overcome his dyslexia, -
2:20 - 2:22and you helped him with his reading?
-
2:22 - 2:26And so, you became really
attuned to education policy. -
2:26 - 2:27When you're in an interview,
-
2:27 - 2:29go ahead and talk about them,
-
2:29 - 2:32because it will show your passion
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2:32 - 2:34and your dedication to the work.
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2:34 - 2:36One young person I know, Dylan,
-
2:36 - 2:38was not sharing his personal story
-
2:38 - 2:41about filling out immigration
papers for his parents -
2:41 - 2:42when he was younger.
-
2:42 - 2:43Often when he told it,
-
2:43 - 2:46people would think that his parents
weren't sophisticated. -
2:46 - 2:49Dylan realized that he needed
to harness the power -
2:49 - 2:51of that incredible story,
-
2:51 - 2:53along with his academic talents.
-
2:53 - 2:55He told it in a way,
when he was applying to law school, -
2:55 - 2:59that made it clear why he wanted
to go into advocacy law. -
2:59 - 3:03He is now in his third year
at Georgetown Law. -
3:03 - 3:06The second question
you have to ask yourself is, -
3:06 - 3:07how can I share my story
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3:07 - 3:11to showcase the unique strengths
I will bring to the work? -
3:11 - 3:13For example, did you have
to work multiple jobs -
3:13 - 3:16while you were in college
that did not at all align -
3:16 - 3:17with your major?
-
3:17 - 3:20That shows an employer
that you have time management skills -
3:20 - 3:22and a strong work ethic.
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3:22 - 3:23Did you need to drop out of college
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3:23 - 3:25because one of your parents was sick?
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3:25 - 3:26Fill in the gap,
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3:26 - 3:29talk about how you administered
their treatment plan. -
3:29 - 3:33Talk about how you had to work
around their complex schedules. -
3:33 - 3:35That shows that you're thoughtful,
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3:35 - 3:37that you're compassionate,
and you know what, -
3:38 - 3:40that is what makes a great teammate.
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3:40 - 3:42Reframing the hardship in your story
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3:42 - 3:46can remake your confidence
over and over again, -
3:46 - 3:48but it takes time.
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3:48 - 3:49It's like running a marathon.
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3:49 - 3:52You have to train and practice.
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3:52 - 3:54Go back and reflect
on those tough questions -
3:54 - 3:56that you need to answer.
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3:56 - 3:59The answers are what makes you you,
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3:59 - 4:01and I have to tell you,
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4:01 - 4:03when you learn to practice that story,
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4:03 - 4:05tell it with conviction.
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4:05 - 4:08I am sure that the hiring manager
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4:08 - 4:10is going to hear the strength in it too.
- Title:
- How your unique story can get you hired
- Speaker:
- Aimée Eubanks Davis
- Description:
-
When searching for a job, you may feel like you're not good enough or qualified enough to get it. But you are. Here's how to take your doubts and struggles and turn them into strengths, according to Aimée Eubanks Davis, founder and CEO of Braven.
- Video Language:
- English
- Team:
- closed TED
- Project:
- TEDTalks
- Duration:
- 04:10
Erin Gregory edited English subtitles for How your unique story can get you hired | ||
Erin Gregory approved English subtitles for How your unique story can get you hired | ||
Erin Gregory edited English subtitles for How your unique story can get you hired | ||
Ivana Korom accepted English subtitles for How your unique story can get you hired | ||
Ivana Korom edited English subtitles for How your unique story can get you hired | ||
Ivana Korom edited English subtitles for How your unique story can get you hired | ||
Ivana Korom edited English subtitles for How your unique story can get you hired | ||
Erin Gregory edited English subtitles for How your unique story can get you hired |