Are You Tooting Your Job Horn?

Brenda Griffin  Get A Job Expert

We increase whatever we praise.  The whole creation responds to praise, and is glad.  ~Charles Fillmore

     Who is the best person to tell employers how great you are?  That would be you!  Many would rather hear fingernails on a chalkboard than “brag” about their accomplishments.  Does bragging make you queasy? Does promoting yourself feel wrong? 

     Being comfortable with tooting your horn is essential in job searching. Employers need to know you are a match.  How else will they know unless you tell them? After all, employers are not mind readers! They need to know what you have accomplished, what skills you have, and how you will add value.  You have to be able to tell them, and sell them, by tooting your own horn.

     How do you get comfortable promoting yourself?  Start by knowing what you have to brag about. Once you know what you have to offer, you will feel powerful!  The queasy feeling will be replaced by a sense of accomplishment. Talking about you will then become more natural and engaging.

Take out a sheet of paper, or hit the keyboard. Start praising yourself for all that you have accomplished:

Document your accomplishments. Write down all you have done. This is an important first step.  It’s these accomplishments you will highlight in resumes and during interviews. 

Call out specific achievements.   Look for ways to express what you have done in ways that can be measured.  Did you do something that exceeded a goal? 

Identify your strengths. Write out a list of what you are good at.  Ask others what they see as your strengths.

Write out success stories.  Take time to document projects from start to finish.  Note any obstacles that you encountered and how you overcame them.

Reflect on your accomplishments.  Rehearse in your mind all that you have done. 

Get comfortable with talking about yourself.  Find a partner or start a support group to practice sharing.  Practice will lead to sharing your accomplishments in an easy and natural way. Next thing you know, you are “bragging.”  The difference will be instead of feeling queasy, you feel powerful!

     As 2008 is coming to a close, this is the perfect time to reflect upon and celebrate your successes. Why wait for your employer to pat you on the back?  Praise yourself for a job well done.

     Feel free to share an accomplishment you had this year with the community.  Take this opportunity to brag!