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How To Tell Your Career Story With Clarity: A 6-Step Strategy
Priya's resume had everything — a BTech, two years of UPSC prep/attempts, an MBA, and an internship at an NGO. But she still felt like no recruiter would ever “get” her. Until she told her story differently.
You might feel the same. You studied engineering, spent two years preparing for UPSC, then pivoted to an MBA — and now you're eyeing a role in public policy or consulting. Somewhere along the way, you may have started to worry: Does my resume look confusing? Will recruiters get it?
You are not alone.
In a world that celebrates straight lines and structured career paths, it’s easy to feel anxious about a journey with turns, pauses, or pivots. But here’s the good news — what feels messy to you can look meaningful to others if you learn how to tell your story well.
This article is for anyone who has taken chances, switched tracks, or explored different directions. Especially if you’re coming from a UPSC background or changing careers, this will help you connect the dots and speak about your journey with clarity and confidence.
1. Don’t Defend Your Past. Define It.
Many people begin interviews by apologizing for the zigzags in their careers. Do NOT.
Instead of saying:
“I know my background isn’t very structured…”
Try:
“Each phase of my journey, from UPSC preparation to my MBA, strengthened a different skill. Together, they help me solve public problems with greater clarity.”
Your past is not a detour. It’s context. You just need to frame it with purpose.
2. Find the One Thread that Ties Everything Together
What has stayed consistent across your career?
Maybe it’s a deep curiosity about public systems. Maybe you’re driven by solving real-world problems. Maybe you enjoy working across disciplines.
Don’t force coherence. Just name the one theme that ties it all together.
Try this template:
“At first glance, my journey moves across very different domains. But the common thread has been a strong interest in [insert your theme]. That’s what led me to where I am today.”
For Example:
“From engineering to UPSC prep to an MBA, the constant in my journey has been a desire to understand how governance works. Now I apply that lens to improve public service delivery.”
If you can’t find that thread immediately, don’t panic. Take time. Talk to a friend. Sometimes, the pattern only becomes clear in hindsight.
3. Make Sure Your Present is Crystal Clear
If your past is mixed, your present needs to be sharp.
What are you doing now? Why does it make sense in light of your past? What do you want next?
Elevator pitch example:
“My experience spans exam preparation, formal management training, and hands-on exposure to public systems. What connects them is a consistent pull toward solving complex problems that affect people’s everyday lives. That’s what brought me to public policy and what keeps me here.”
You don’t need to explain it all. Just land your story in the present.
And no, you don’t need to write a TED Talk. You just need to make sense — to yourself and to the person reading your application. Unless, of course, your TED Talk is about how to survive on Maggi and mock interviews for two years straight.
4. How to Reframe Your Experience: A Quick Guide
You may have done things that don’t sit neatly under job titles — but they still count.
|
Experience |
What it tells recruiters |
|
UPSC preparation |
Discipline, policy understanding, structured thinking |
|
Freelancing |
Initiative, communication, ownership |
|
Running a startup |
Adaptability, problem-solving, comfort with risk |
Interview line:
“My time preparing for UPSC gave me a deep understanding of policy and governance. That foundation now helps me work effectively with state governments.”
Your job is to show how the dots connect to the role you want.
5. Use these Ready Templates to Reframe Your Story
LinkedIn bio:
Trained as an engineer, drawn to public systems. After exploring paths in civil services and management, I now work in the development and policy space, helping governments and organizations solve problems that matter.
Interview opener:
I have moved across different domains, including engineering, exam prep, and management education, but always with one question in mind: how can we make systems work better for people? That’s what brought me to governance work.
Networking intro:
I started with an interest in civil services, explored management to sharpen my thinking, and gradually found my space in public problem-solving. I now work on strengthening service delivery and driving outcomes at scale.
Remember: These same story arcs can be used in your resume summary or Unstop profile.
6. End with Confidence, Not Confusion
End your story with clarity — not with “I’m still figuring it out.”
Strong closer:
Across everything I’ve done, from UPSC to my current role in public policy, I’ve realized I thrive at the intersection of systems and impact. That’s the space I want to grow in.
And if you’re not fully sure yet, say that with quiet confidence:
“This is the space I’m exploring. It aligns with my values, and I want to go deeper.”
Final word
Careers rarely move in straight lines. The best ones are shaped by learning, reflection, and the courage to change direction.
Your story is valid. Your choices have meaning. And once you learn to tell your story with purpose, your resume will no longer confuse recruiters — it will inspire them.
And more importantly, it will remind you that every step you took mattered.
Your next step: Take one of the templates above and rewrite your Unstop profile or LinkedIn bio. You will be surprised how powerful your journey sounds when you frame it with intention.
And if you want to get there faster? Get expert help. Connect with Nikhil Srivastava on Unstop for personalized 1:1 mentorship, building a strong, standout, recruiter-ready CV.
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