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Imagine you're sitting in an interview, and the interviewer asks,
"Tell me about a time when you led your team through a challenging project."
You pause, your mind goes blank, and you scramble to find a good example.
Sounds stressful, right?
Now imagine you have a treasure trove of stories ready to go, each one showcasing your skills and experiences. That’s the magic of a story bank!
As an engineering manager, your job isn't just about technical expertise—it's also about leadership, problem-solving, and effective communication.
Having a story bank helps you demonstrate these qualities clearly and convincingly. But what exactly is it?
A story bank is simply a collection of your career stories—those little nuggets of experience that showcase your skills, challenges, and successes.
Think of a story bank as your personal highlight reel. It's a way to keep track of your professional triumphs, lessons learned, and moments of growth. Not only does this make you a more compelling storyteller, but it also boosts your confidence.
After all, who wouldn't feel more confident walking into an interview or a big meeting with a stack of winning stories at their fingertips?
Creating a story bank might sound like extra work, but it's an investment that pays off in spades. Plus, it’s kind of fun to look back and realize how much you’ve accomplished.
How To Create Your Story Bank
1. Identify Key Experiences
Start by thinking about significant moments in your career. These could be successful projects, challenges you overcame, times you stepped up as a leader, or even mistakes that taught you valuable lessons.
2. Write Down Your Stories
Keep it simple. Note down the situation, the task, your action, and the result (the good old STAR method that we are going to discuss in the next section).
No need for Shakespearean prose—just clear and concise storytelling.
Step 1: Select the Right Stories
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Choose Recent Stories: Pick examples from your recent experience to ensure they are relevant and fresh in your mind.
Example Question: "Can you tell me about a recent project you led?"
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Map to Company Values: Align your stories with the values of the company you’re applying to.
Example Statement: "This story showcases my commitment to innovation, which aligns with your company’s focus on continuous improvement."
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Include a Variety: Have a mix of success stories, failures, and lessons learned to show your growth and adaptability.
Example Question: "What was a significant challenge you faced, and what did you learn from it?"
What Should You Avoid
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Avoid Vague Memories: Don’t choose stories where you can’t remember the details, even if they make you look good.
Example Statement: "I’ll skip that one; the details are a bit fuzzy."
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Skip Uncomfortable Topics: Don’t select stories you wouldn’t feel comfortable discussing in detail.
Example Question: "Is there a topic you’d rather not go into depth about?"
Step 2: Shift Your Focus to a Managerial Perspective
- If you haven’t been a manager before, you might be used to highlighting your personal contributions. However, for engineering manager roles, it’s crucial to focus on how your decisions impacted your team.
Example Question: "How did your leadership influence the team’s performance on this project?"
- Interviewers are more interested in your leadership and management skills than in individual technical accomplishments.
Example Statement: "While I wrote some crucial code, what really mattered was how I coordinated the team’s efforts to meet our deadlines."
Step 3: Compile Your Stories
- Aim to have 5-10 detailed stories that cover both project specifics and management challenges.
Example Question: "Can you share a detailed story of how you handled a significant project from a managerial perspective?"
- Ensure these stories reflect the values and expectations of the company you’re interviewing with.
Example Statement: "This story highlights my focus on teamwork, a key value at your company."
What You Should Remember
Many candidates offer generic answers about what a good manager should do. Your goal is to provide specific examples of what you have actually done.
Example Question:
"How does your management philosophy translate into day-to-day actions?"
3. Organize Your Stories
Categorize them by themes like leadership, problem-solving, technical skills, team building, and so on.
This way, you can easily find the right story when you need it.
4. Practice Telling Your Stories
Practice makes perfect. Tell your stories to a friend, your pet, or even the mirror. The more you tell them, the more natural they’ll sound.
5. Update Regularly
As you gain more experience, add new stories to your bank. It’s a living document that grows with you.
A Quick Example
Let’s say you’re asked about a time you resolved a conflict within your team. Instead of saying,
“I handle conflicts well,”
you could share:
"Last year, two of my team members disagreed on the approach for a new feature. The tension was affecting the whole team’s morale. I sat them down, listened to both sides, and facilitated a discussion where we brainstormed a hybrid solution. Not only did it resolve the conflict, but it also led to a better feature than either of their original ideas."
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