Candidates often complain that interviewers hire only people they like. Fair or not, this is a fact of life in the job-hunting process. Just as people are drawn to like-minded people for friendships, interviewers tend to hire candidates who share their values.

Rather than blaming inadequacies in the job-search system, figure out how you can create a bond with interviewers. One way is by appealing to interviewers’ emotions as well as their logic. Sometimes, this can be accomplished by creating a “keystone statement.”

Such a statement is different from your factual interview responses because it involves how you feel about something. Typically, it should be based on a turning point in your life, possibly an event that occurred many years ago. Prepared correctly, it will communicate your personality or character.

By sharing a personal experience with your interviewer, you can express feelings that reveal an attribute, motivation, or character trait. Relating a life-changing experience that describes how you became goal-oriented can be more convincing than simply telling an interviewer you are goal-oriented.

An example of a dramatic keystone statement comes from a human-services professional in his 30s.Between his sophomore and junior years in college, he lost his right arm in a boating accident. He missed a semester of school but was determined to graduate on time with his classmates. Upon returning, he registered for 16 credits and enrolled in evening classes for an additional 15 credits. He also attended summer school and, as a result, graduated on time. His story showed his determination, goal-orientation, and character.

Here’s another keystone statement from a woman who was born in Sicily and moved with her parents to America at the age of 7. Her parents did not speak English, and they frequently relied on her as an interpreter. Her parents began to depend on her for advice, and she became the de facto head of her household. Her early leadership experience enabled her to leave home at 19 and move to Washington, D.C., where she became a retail manager.

This story shows she has interpersonal-communication, problem-solving and leadership skills, even though she never used those words in applying for the job. Rather, she related an event that shed light on her desirable qualities. Her message was communicated through inference, without seeming boastful.

The first step in developing a keystone statement is to make a list of events that formed turning points in your life. Don’t rule anything out. Include any event that led to change, whether positive or negative. Next, eliminate events that did not have an impact on your life or teach you a lesson you learned. Rank the events in order of importance. Which had the greatest or least effect on you?

Keystone statements have more impact at the end of an interview. They should be told in a reasonably dramatic way, perhaps in a minute’s time, helping you leave a lasting impression.