Self-Promotion

Had an interesting conversation today with a consultant who works with job seekers. His philosophy is that job seekers really damage their chances by failing to promote themselves. Most of us have been taught to be modest and not to brag about our accomplishments, yet to properly sell yourself to a potential employer you must cite your accomplishments and prove that you’re the best candidate for the position. This is a real struggle for many job seekers, yet it is one that they must overcome to be successful.
One option that job seekers can use is to sell themselves as a job seeker as if they were selling a service to a potential customer. They should make sure that the customer (the employer) understands not only the features but, more imporantly, also the benefits. Although it grates on the nerves of most when people speak about themselves in the third person, it may be helpful to some job seekers to think of themselves that way. But don’t speak that way. Please!