When you’re interviewing, YOU have to be visible. It’s up to you to speak on your own behalf, to take credit for your skills and talents and accomplishments. As they say, it’s not a dress rehearsal. It’s your stage.
So, take your rightful place. Take up space. And take your time speaking slowly and clearly, pausing to savor and let the impact of your words be heard and experienced.
As read these tips to help with bragging content, remember that you’ve got to be clear about your strengths and achievements. You need to know what you want to emphasize. Yes, you have to do your homework and be prepared.
These three techniques will help you brag with authenticity during an interview.
- Attribute your brag to someone else. Tell the interviewer what your clients say about working with you. Or what your co-workers or managers have said. Easy ways to say this- clients wanted to work with me because of my efficiency and reliability. On my team, I was known as the go-to person for troubleshooting technical problems or getting people on track when we were overwhelmed. Clients say that I’m reliable and professional and deliver the high-quality service they need.
- Attribute your brag to the nature of the work. You provide health care services. From physical and emotional challenges to family dynamics and insurance requirements, a patients’ needs are exceptional and demand exceptional service and dedication. That’s what you provide. Take the same tack with your job. Let’s say you work in a start-up or for a university. You’ve got to manage competing demands and big egos, keeping pace with visionaries who set the bar … Your work has to represent the tone of those luminaries. And it does. Say so. Remember to use exceptional language because you are exceptional, not merely good.
- Integrate an “I” statement into your interview stories. Use an active voice. Be affirming and take credit. Say your I statement early and with emphasis. Here are some examples:
- I was responsible for turning around a failing account.
- I was the go-to person in my office for powerful press releases.
- I am known for my meticulousness and attention to detail.
- I am proud of achieving a 90 percent award rate when soliciting donations.
- I am committed to high-quality design. Here are some examples of what I’ve created
Keep those active verbs coming – I designed, produced, managed, directed, transformed – and back them up with specific, relevant examples that illustrate the scale and scope and significance of your impact.
Now put a big smile on your face and prepare yourself for the stage!