Professional Positioning
Your Career Story: How to Articulate Your Value
Your resume gets you in the door. Your story gets you the job. Here's how to craft a narrative that makes you unforgettable.
Being Qualified Isn't Enough
I've interviewed thousands of candidates over the past 12 years. I've sat across from people with impressive degrees, flawless resumes, and years of relevant experience.
And yet, when I ask them to tell me about their career, many of them stumble.
They walk me through their resume, job by job, as if I haven't already read it. They list responsibilities instead of demonstrating impact. They give me facts, but not the story.
And here's the uncomfortable truth:
The person who gets the role isn't always the most qualified.
It's the person who can tell the most compelling story about why they're the right fit.
I've watched it happen over and over again:
- A candidate with a non-linear career path who could connect the dots beautifully, beating out someone with a more traditional background
- A professional who articulated their value so clearly that hiring managers started advocating for them before the interview was even over
- A leader who turned a career "gap" into a strategic pivot, making it the most interesting part of their story
The difference wasn't capability. It was clarity.
And clarity comes from knowing how to tell your story.
What Is a Career Story?
It's not a resume. It's not an elevator pitch. It's something more powerful.
A career story is the narrative thread that connects where you've been, what you've learned, and where you're going. It's the answer to the question every hiring manager, mentor, or decision-maker is really asking:
"Why you? Why now? Why should I bet on you?"
Your story is how you answer that question in a way that makes you memorable, referable, and impossible to ignore.
❌ What It's NOT
- •A chronological recitation of your resume
- •A list of job titles and responsibilities
- •A generic elevator pitch
- •An apology for career gaps or pivots
✅ What It IS
- •A clear narrative that connects the dots
- •A demonstration of intentionality and growth
- •An articulation of the value you bring
- •A reason for others to advocate for you
Why Your Story Matters
Because being remembered is more valuable than being impressive.
Decision-Makers Need to Advocate for You
After you leave the interview or networking conversation, someone has to pitch you to others. If they can't retell your story clearly, you won't progress. A strong career story makes you easy to champion, even when you're not in the room.
Stories Create Emotional Connection
People don't make decisions based purely on logic. They hire (and promote) people they feel connected to. A well-told story demonstrates not just what you've done, but who you are. It builds trust, relatability, and confidence in your ability to succeed.
It Positions You as Strategic, Not Reactive
A strong career story shows that your moves have been intentional. Pivots become growth opportunities. Challenges become proof of resilience. When you can frame your career as a series of strategic choices, you position yourself as someone who thinks ahead, not someone who stumbles into roles.
It Helps You Stand Out in a Sea of Qualified Candidates
Every finalist for a senior role is qualified on paper. The question becomes: who do we want on the team? Who feels like the right fit? Who can we see succeeding here? Your story is the difference between being compared and being chosen.
The Three Elements of a Compelling Career Story
Every strong career story has these building blocks.
The Throughline
What connects everything you've done?
Your throughline is the narrative thread that runs through your career, even if your path hasn't been linear. It might be a consistent passion (e.g., solving complex problems, building high-performing teams, driving transformation). It might be a core skill that's shown up in every role. Or it might be a mission that's guided your choices.
Without a throughline, your career looks like a series of random jobs. With one, it looks like a strategic journey.
The Turning Points
What decisions shaped your trajectory?
Every career has inflection points: the moment you chose to pivot industries, the challenge that taught you something crucial, the risk that paid off. These aren't weaknesses to downplay. They're proof of growth, adaptability, and courage. When you frame turning points as intentional choices, you demonstrate self-awareness and strategic thinking.
The best stories don't hide the pivots. They own them.
The Direction
Where are you going and why does it make sense?
A career story without a clear direction feels incomplete. Decision-makers need to understand not just where you've been, but where you're heading and why this opportunity is a logical next step. When your story has a clear arc, the role you're pursuing becomes the natural conclusion, not a random leap.
Your story should make the listener think, "Of course they're the right fit. This makes perfect sense."
The Mistakes That Kill Your Story
Even strong professionals make these errors. Here's what to avoid.
❌ You recite your resume instead of telling a story
Hiring managers have already read your resume. Walking through it job-by-job adds no new information. Instead, connect the dots. Show the arc. Make them see why your path makes sense.
❌ You focus on what you did, not why it matters
Listing responsibilities is not a story. Demonstrating impact is. Every role should answer: what did I accomplish, what did I learn, and how did it prepare me for what's next?
❌ You apologise for career gaps, pivots, or detours
Uncertainty in your story creates uncertainty about you. Own your choices. Frame gaps as intentional pauses for growth. Frame pivots as strategic moves. Confidence in your narrative creates confidence in your ability.
❌ You use jargon or overly generic language
"I'm a results-driven leader with a passion for innovation" means nothing. Be specific. Use concrete examples. Make your story feel real, not like a LinkedIn template.
❌ You don't adapt your story to the audience
Your core story stays the same, but the emphasis should shift depending on who's listening. A recruiter cares about different details than a CEO. A networking contact needs a different version than a hiring manager. One-size-fits-all stories fall flat.
When You Get Your Story Right
I've watched what happens when professionals finally nail their career story. They don't just get better at interviews. They get better at everything.
Recruiters and hiring managers remember you
When your story is clear, you become referable. People know how to describe you and why you'd be a great fit.
You stop second-guessing yourself in conversations
With a strong story, you show up with confidence. You know what to say, how to frame your experience, and how to handle tough questions.
You attract better opportunities
When you can articulate your value clearly, people start thinking of you for roles you didn't even apply for.
You become the obvious choice
Instead of competing on credentials, you're chosen for fit. Your story makes it clear why you're the logical next step.
Ready to Craft Your Career Story?
Bold Moves is a 60-day career accelerator that helps you uncover your throughline, frame your pivots, and articulate your value so clearly that opportunities start coming to you.
Learn About Bold MovesFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about crafting your career story
What is a career story?
A career story is the narrative you tell about your professional journey that connects the dots between where you've been, what you've learned, and where you're headed. It's not a chronological recitation of jobs. It's a compelling explanation of the choices you've made, the value you bring, and why you're the logical choice for the opportunity in front of you.
Why does my career story matter if I have a strong resume?
Your resume gets you in the door. Your story gets you the job. Hiring managers meet dozens of qualified candidates. What separates those who get chosen from those who get compared is the ability to articulate a clear, compelling narrative. Your story helps decision-makers understand your value, remember you after the interview, and advocate for you when you're not in the room.
What if my career path isn't linear?
Non-linear careers are no longer the exception, they're the norm. What matters isn't whether your path was straight, it's whether you can connect the dots in a way that demonstrates growth, adaptability, and intentionality. The ability to frame pivots, transitions, and unconventional moves as strategic choices (not accidents) is what makes you compelling.
How is a career story different from an elevator pitch?
An elevator pitch is a 30-second summary. A career story is the full narrative that sits underneath. Your story gives you the flexibility to adapt your pitch depending on the audience, whether it's a networking conversation, an interview, or a promotion discussion. Without a strong story, your pitch will feel generic and forgettable.
Can I have more than one career story?
Yes. You have one core story (the throughline of your career), but you adapt the emphasis depending on the context. Interviewing for a leadership role? Emphasise your leadership arc. Pitching yourself as a subject matter expert? Focus on depth in your domain. The facts stay the same; the framing shifts based on what the audience cares about.
What if I don't know how to tell my story?
Most people don't. We're too close to our own careers to see the throughline clearly. That's why working with a coach, getting feedback from trusted colleagues, or going through a structured process (like Bold Moves) helps you uncover the narrative that's already there. Your story exists. You just need to learn how to articulate it.
About the Author
Georgie Hubbard
Georgie Hubbard is a career coach, keynote speaker, and author of The Bold Move. With 12+ years in recruitment and 8+ years leading her own agency, she's interviewed thousands of candidates and placed hundreds into senior leadership roles.
She founded CH Solutions (IT recruitment), Sisterhood Club (women in tech), and hosts the Career Confidence Podcast. Her work focuses on helping leaders build career confidence and strategic positioning.
Your Story Is Your Superpower
Learn how to articulate it with clarity and confidence.