Using visual stimuli in narrative career interventions: effects of image-supported storytelling on interview anxiety and performance

Abstract

While narrative approaches flourish in contemporary career guidance, insufficient attention has been paid to the sensory input of narrative construction. This study concerns supporting narrative construction with visual stimuli. We examined whether image-supported storytelling preparation improved interview anxiety and performance. Using within-subject repeated measures, we found that although interview anxieties conceived by interviewees and perceived by assessors were negatively associated with interview performance, an image-supported intervention improved performance rating, appearance anxiety and assessor-perceived interviewee anxiety. Combined with practice, the intervention also alleviated other dimensions of interview anxiety, showing the value of visual input in narrative interventions.