Don’t rob yourself of opportunity
Don’t rob yourself of opportunity
Speak up for yourself. That’s the only way interviewers will know what you can do for them.
That’s not who I am. I don’t boast and I don’t like it when others do. I let my actions do the talking. If employers want to know what I can do they can read my résumé and check my references. I shouldn’t have to sing my own praises to get a job.
How is that working for you? I haven’t gotten any job offers, if that’s what you’re asking. I’ve been looking for several months and I’m frustrated. I’m told my résumé is impressive and it must be, because I’ve been invited to a good many interviews. I dress professionally, I’m articulate, I’m experienced and I know what I’m talking about. I answer questions, we talk, I leave, and nothing happens. I’ve interviewed for jobs at companies where I should have been made offers. I’ve received none. Something’s not working.
Have you gotten feedback that suggests what’s getting in the way?
No, I’m not going to ask for feedback. If they want to hire me, they’ll make me an offer. If they don’t, they won’t. I’m not going to push myself on them and I’m not going to demean myself by trying to find out why they think I’m not good enough for them.
Have you sent after-interview thank you letters that highlight ways you can meet their most pressing needs?
No. That looks needy and sounds like I’m blowing my own horn. I’m not going to do either of those things. I don’t like it when people do that to me. And besides, employers have better things to do with their time than read unsolicited mail from me.
Your résumé is substantive. You’ve attended good schools and worked for large companies. You’ve listed the responsibilities of the jobs you’ve held. You’ve not listed any accomplishments, achievements and successes. No, I haven’t. It should be evident to the reader that as a responsible person, I’ve accomplished everything I’ve been asked. If employers bother to check my references they know that to be the case.
Employers check references of finalists to determine who’s most likely to succeed. To become a finalist you have to prove yourself to the people making the decisions. That takes more than a résumé that lists education, experience and a laundry list of responsibilities. That takes an ability to communicate, in person, how you’ve applied all that knowledge to real situations under real pressure; how you’ve led and managed, come from behind and found the way forward; how you’ve maximized profitability and minimized loss; and how you’ve empowered, mentored and championed others to do and be their best. You’re working so hard to downplay your knowledge, understate your potential and under-promise your delivery, you’re robbing yourself of the opportunities you seek. You’re undermining your effort when you overestimate the time a prospective employer is willing to commit to discovering abilities you have intentionally hidden.
You can provide the necessary information with confidence and without self-promotion; you can describe or explain why and how things work as successfully as they, and you, do.
If you’re unwilling to speak for yourself, let others speak for you by describing what they say about you:“My boss says my greatest strengths are ...”
“My performance reviews consistently describe my efforts as exceeding expectation …”
“Our customers have been very strong in their praise of my response to …”
Even better, spread the credit around by describing what your teams have accomplished, obstacles they’ve overcome, breakthroughs they’ve brought about, and the sense of pride you have in them.
Joyce Richman is a speaker and career coach conducting seminars and workshops throughout the United States, and the author of "Roads, Routes & Ruts: A Guidebook for Career Success." You can reach her at 288-1799 or JERichman@aol.com. Watch Joyce Richman's latest career advice Wednesdays at 6:35 a.m. during "The Good Morning Show" on WFMY News 2 or visit http://www.digtriad.com/business/columnists/career_minute/
