By Sandy Johnson, Senior Consultant
Talking about your accomplishments is a necessary professional skill, particularly when you’re interviewing for a new role, but it can be challenging. It can feel like bragging and sometimes it’s hard to even identify your most impactful strengths.
We’re so busy doing our jobs every day, that we rarely, if ever, need to talk about what we do. We just do it.
But the truth is that you’ve become an expert. Say this out loud.
“I’m an expert.”
Now finish this sentence. I’m an expert at…”
How does that feel? Does it feel truthful or surprising? Or does it feel uncomfortable as if you’re bragging?
Or are you at a loss for finishing the sentence? Here’s a clue for you.
We undervalue that which we’re good at and overvalue that at which we are not.
The skills that come to us most easily are those we often don’t recognize as significant. But others do.
It’s likely that the experience and skills you use the most are why you’re valuable to your employer or in the case of a job search, your prospective employer.
If you’ve ever taken part in the interviewing process from the employer side, you know how much work it can be. And you know how desperately you want the candidate sitting in front of you to be “The One.”
You need a capable, new employee to fill the gap on your team. And you want the hiring decision to be made as quickly as possible so you can get back to doing your real job.
To an interviewer, it’s refreshing and reassuring to hear statements delivered with confidence and pride. Statements like,
- “X is my strong suit. I’ve had great success with that over the last five years.”
- “My specialty is X. My team tells me this is why they love working with me.”
- “I think X is a critical part of my role which is why I took that course and graduated at the top of my class.”
Showcase your strengths with confidence and integrity. Here’s how to do it effectively:
- Know Your Strengths: Before you can talk about your strengths, you need to identify them. Hint: What comes easily to you? What have others complimented or acknowledged you on?
- Share your opinion: When discussing your strengths, start with a headline. For instance, if you’re asked about leadership, share your opinion. “I believe in a collaborative leadership approach.”
- Align with the Context: Tailor your strengths to the context you’re speaking in. For a job interview, align your strengths with the job description and company values. For a performance review, focus on strengths that have contributed to your recent successes.
- Show Enthusiasm: Express genuine enthusiasm when talking about your strengths. This is another way of conveying confidence. Who doesn’t enjoy doing what they do best?
- Be Ready for Follow-Up Questions: Be prepared for questions that dive deeper into your strengths. For instance, if you claim to be a strong communicator, you might be asked for examples of how you handled difficult conversations or presentations.
- Integrate with Your Goals: Connect your strengths to future goals. This shows that you’re not just resting on your laurels but actively working to leverage your strengths for continued growth.
None of this is bragging. It’s merely showcasing how you can help. And that’s what an expert does.