Standing out in the current job market: What's your story? What have you done?

We're currently in the process of interviewing candidates for three open positions in our software development group. This process typically takes us several months on average. We see several dozen people during the process of weeding through a large pool of candidates. Our goal is simply to hire the best candidate for the job - and perhaps we take that too seriously.

Two questions I always pose to candidates are "What's your story?" and "What have you done?". I'm always interested in hearing about the paths that people take during their careers. Sadly, most people are unprepared for such direct inquires. Nine times out of ten people refer to their most recent experiences. Are their careers so boring that they can't remember what they did five years ago? I don't think so. At least not in all cases. The issue may be that few people think of their careers as an unfolding story. They're unable to weave together the events that lead them to this point in time.

When asked, "Have you worked with such-n-such technology?", candidates often answer: "Oh, I didn't have an opportunity to use that in my last job". What? Who waits for opportunities to appear at their door steps? Apparently many people do. The successful ones are those who spend some of their spare time exploring new technologies and ideas. Consequently, they're typically the types of people who have interesting stories to tell. One of my favorite and well worn t-shirts reads: "Carpe Noctem - Seize the Night".

One employer I once met had a saying, "We try to hire people with the right DNA". I've come to understand what he meant and perhaps I've been guilty of doing the same. It's been my experience that software development is a tough business. Many people aren't suited for work in the field - even many of the seemly talented developers we've all met.

Sooner or later you'll meet someone who is interested in more than what's on your resume. Perhaps this has already happened?

Here's my advice:

* If you don't have a genuine interest or some degree of passion for what you do then you may be wasting your most valuable asset. Consider a career that will make you happy. * Reflect on the experiences you've had in your career. How have the twists and turns helped to refine your views and interests? What sorts of patterns are visible? * Document your story. A blog is a great way to do this. * Carpe Noctem - Seize the Night. It's never too late to refine your story.

Doing any of this will separate you from the pack and seriously increase your earning potential.