Storytelling is perhaps the most time-honoured form of communication. More often than not, our first professional encounter starts with an invitation: “So, tell me about yourself”. Yet many of us are not equipped to tell our story to someone unfamiliar with our culture. Indeed, the art of storytelling draws on self-awareness, cultural sensitivity, and effective message delivery. So, how do we support a client and alleviate the stress resulting from cultural misunderstandings? How do we eliminate the risk of a client being “dismissed” before they even get assessed for the job? How can career practitioners, especially those working with diverse populations, equip their clients with the knowledge of storytelling and support them in navigating not only the process of their job search, but also their life transition?    

The series aims to empower practitioners by providing a comprehensive understanding of storytelling’s profound role, with a specific focus on pivotal aspects during significant transitions. It will prepare career practitioners with practical skills to guide clients through storytelling nuances, fostering self-confidence and preserving cultural distinctiveness. 

We’ll start the series by reviewing the differences between cultural assimilation and cultural integration. We’ll explore the essentials skills that career development practitioners need to build when helping clients to integrate their story with their culture and how they can empower clients to cultivate cultural competency by encouraging authentic storytelling. Our presenter will use intercultural learning models and point participants towards tools and resources to support their clients in finding common communication grounds when conversing with people from different cultures. 

At the end of the series, practitioners will be able to better coach their clients in telling their own stories and will have the tools to effectively support them in implementing practical steps that allow for a smooth cultural transition. Our end goal is to empower clients to preserve and appreciate their cultural uniqueness while learning how to nurture their own understanding and appreciation for cultural differences.