Owning Your Story to Find the Right Opportunities for You

Your unique background can be one of your biggest assets as a professional, giving you a different perspective and approach to problem solving from your peers. The key is knowing how to tap into this power in the workplace — and showcase it during your job search.?

One person who knows all about this is Odalys Jasmine , a project manager for emerging talent at LinkedIn and host of the Hella Latin@ Podcast and the LinkedIn Audio Series Hella First Gen. We caught up with Odalys to find out how telling her story has helped her land opportunities throughout her career — and what advice she’d share with other professionals hoping to do the same.?

Who is Odalys Jasmine and how do you communicate your story to potential employers?

I grew up in Southeast San Diego surrounded by my huge Honduran family. I was the type of kid who had a lot of different interests, but one thing was very apparent to me — I loved stories. Specifically, I loved listening to my loud (and animated) familia have their “adult conversations.” It's no surprise that I’m now a podcast host and content creator who’s all about amplifying first generation and Latino narratives.

But at the end of the day, my career story is rooted in being that Latina girl born and raised in the hood, in a family of Hondure?os.

When I'm communicating my story to potential employers, I can go on for days about my years of project management experience or my refined content and events skill set. But at the end of the day, my career story is rooted in being that Latina girl born and raised in the hood, in a family of Hondure?os. The hood taught me to be creative and resourceful with what I had. Community taught me how to create welcoming and inclusive experiences. And my family taught me what it’s like to make space for our voices and tell stories that make us feel something.?

How can people craft a consistent, compelling narrative about themselves across their resume, LinkedIn profile, and interviews?

I think the secret sazón (or sauce) is to own your story first. I thought I was telling the perfect story across my resume, LinkedIn profile, and even interviews, but I was telling a story that never really felt like mine. It wasn't until I looked inward and started to love my story and believe in my craft that the game shifted for me.

Crafting your career narrative starts with owning your story and your unique craft, but also knowing that your story is ever evolving.?

In 2020, I decided to launch the Hella Latin@ Podcast with a 15-minute episode about my story. I even changed my “About” section on LinkedIn to encapsulate where I come from. Since then, doors and windows have opened in places I never imagined. Crafting your career narrative starts with owning your story and your unique craft, but also knowing that your story is ever evolving.?

The compelling piece comes from the passion with which you communicate your narrative. How much do you believe in what you're communicating? Are you speaking about your experience and skills with complete conviction??

Own your story, believe in your craft, and create a narrative that FEELS like you. It's easier to be consistent with your story when it's completely and uniquely yours.?

Go into those interviews 100% you. And if they don’t want you because you’re showing up as your full self, then you wouldn’t want to work there anyway.?

What's your advice for people who might be nervous about sharing their background or adversities they’ve faced during their job search?

Sometimes, you have to say or be told “no” to say “yes” to yourself. That’s my new mantra.??

I never talked about my adversities, especially in the workplace, because I didn't want to be a pity story. But then I shifted the way I thought about who I am and where I come from. Here’s what I learned and what I’d tell anyone who might be nervous about sharing their own background:??

1. We aren’t a pity story??
2. We are not our circumstances
3. We hold the pen to our story and we can continue writing the one we want

Go into those interviews 100% you. And if they don’t want you because you’re showing up as your full self, then you wouldn’t want to work there anyway.??

Stay true to yourself. Stay intentional. And don’t settle.?

Named one of PRSA’s People to Watch Under 30, Odalys Jasmine is a first-gen Latina who holds up her Honduran flag proudly. By day, she's a project manager for emerging talent at LinkedIn, where she curates experiences for Black, Latino, and underrepresented talent. By night, she hosts the Hella Latin@ podcast , which makes space for Latinos to tell their first generation and/or immigrant stories and share their unique experiences of navigating identity, life, and career in the U.S. Odalys’s mission is to make space for more of her people — one story at a time.