Stories of employability: improving interview narratives with image-supported past-behaviour storytelling training

Abstract

PurposeStories of employability are told in employment and educational settings, notably the selection interviews. A popular training approach guiding higher education students to construct employability stories has been the past-behaviour storytelling method. However, insufficient research exists regarding the method's effectiveness and optimisation. This study examines whether the method (1) increases the quantity and quality of interview narratives in story forms and (2) can be enhanced by image stimuli.Design/methodology/approachIn a double-blind randomised control trial with repeated measures, participants submitted four weekly interview narratives. After receiving past-behaviour serious storytelling training in Week 3, they were randomly allocated to an exposure group using images and a control group using keywords as a placebo to continue producing interview narratives. The interview narratives were assessed based on the number of stories and quality ratings of narrative conformity, relevance and conciseness. Results before and after the training, and with and without the image stimuli, were analysed.FindingsTraining increased the number of stories. Training and repeated practice also increased narrative quality ratings. However, the image-based intervention was the strongest predictor of improved quality ratings (effect size 2.47 points on the observed scale of 0–10, p < 0.01, 95% CI [1.46, 3.47]).Practical implicationsA pre-existing ability to tell employability stories cannot be assumed. Training is necessary, and intervention is required for enhancement. Multi-sensory narrative interventions may be considered.Originality/valueThis study is the first known double-blind randomised control trial with repeated measures evaluating if storytelling training and image stimuli improve interview narratives.

The influence of linguistic profiling on perceived employability: a new application of the systems theory framework of career development

“…One tool that is commonly used to facilitate these decisions is the job interview, a simulated tool used in many research studies. During the job interview, the employer assesses the candidate's behaviors and past experiences to determine if they will extend a job offer to the candidate (Lin-Stephens et al, 2022). Subsequently, this assessment contributes to the employer's perceptions of the job candidate's employability.…”

Automatic identification of storytelling responses to past‐behavior interview questions via machine learning

“…Studies have also developed algorithm‐based systems automatically analyzing behavioral parameters to train interviewees (e.g., Gebhard et al, 2019; Heimerl et al, 2022; Hoque et al, 2013; Langer et al, 2016; Lin‐Stephens et al, 2022). Langer et al (2016) automatically recorded interviewees' nonverbal behavior, which was then fed back to them in terms of behavioral recommendations.…”