For some people, bragging on their own success comes easy. You, on the other hand, may find it difficult to talk about your achievements – perhaps you don’t want to sound like a braggart, or maybe you struggle with self-esteem.
Either way, there are times when properly articulating your successes is vital to your career growth. How can you identify those times? And how can you strike the right balance, choosing the right words?
Below, we’ll discuss outlining your successes, how to list awards on a resume, what to say about yourself at an interview, and how to develop a great “elevator pitch” for informal settings.
Table of Contents
Your Job Application Is a Place to Shine
When composing their resumes, some people think, “I don’t want to brag about myself.” It is true that your resume should be honest – never say you’ve done or can do something that you haven’t or can’t. But if ever there was a good place to brag about what you can do, your resume is it!
The truth is, you’ve studied hard, worked hard, and spent a lot of time accruing valuable experiences. Maybe you have one or more extra species accomplishments – an honor or award, a speaking engagement, a published book or paper, a major project, a first in your field, or a record-breaking effort. Perhaps you’ve overcome great challenges to do so.
Most resume sections are fairly straightforward – put your skills here, your work experience and degrees there. But you may wonder, how do I list prizes, etc on my resume? And should I?
If your honors are even remotely related to your career path, the answer is a resounding yes! This is especially the case if you are new to the field, without much work experience. And listing it all on your resume is really not that hard.
You can do the same with other big accomplishments. For example, you might create resume sections for Volunteerism, Certifications & Licenses, Projects, Professional Associations, Languages Spoken, or Publications. If you have accomplishments in more than one category but don’t have the space, you might opt for a general Accomplishments category.
Strike the Right Tone at an Interview
If your application is your first impression, your job interview is your second. You want both to be a good one. How do you talk about yourself at a job interview?
First, think ahead of time about what you may like to say. Your every accomplishment may not be relevant to the job at hand.
Next, wait for an appropriate moment. Don’t start talking about your successes as soon as you walk into the room.
That “right moment” might be when your interviewer asks a classic job interview question – “”Tell me about yourself.
When answering this question, think about why you’re a good fit for the role and how well you are aligned with the company’s values. Past successes fit in well here, because they prove that you have skills and personal qualities such as a good work ethic.
Here’s an example. Kathy is applying for a job as an editor at a statewide newspaper, and the hiring manager says, “Tell me about yourself.” Here’s Kathy’s answer:
“I’ve been writing stories since before I could read, and I won my first writing competition in elementary school. In the years since I’ve won six different awards and I’ve been published in four different journals. Of course, I did my own proofreading and copy editing during that time, but I became interested in an editorial career after a colleague asked me to edit her 120-page contribution to a college-level textbook.”
Wow! We certainly learned a lot about Kathy’s career in that brief statement. She also “bragged” about several different accomplishments without seeming pretentious. You, too, can engineer personal expressions that accomplish these goals.
Introducing Yourself in Informal Settings
Conferences, networking events, and other informal settings will allow you to grow your network. By letting them know what you do well, you increase your chances of career advancement.
You can talk about your accomplishments without sounding arrogant by modulating your tone of voice and choosing your words carefully. The most important thing to remember is to give others the chance to speak – ask questions, and listen to their answers.
Key Takeaways
Your job application should highlight your best accomplishments. In addition to your skills, work, and education, you can include Awards & Honors too, of course!
At your job interview, listen for the perfect time to talk about your successes. Often, this is when the hiring manager opens with, “Tell me about yourself.”
In informal settings and networking events, you can share your accomplishments, but be sure to ask questions and sincerely listen to their answers.
Don’t be shy; remember what you’re worth!
