Tips to Demonstrate Value as a Job Candidate

Before becoming an Executive, I was an INVISIBLE contributor for the first 10 years of my career. (you probably are too) I was: Dreaming of recognition but → keeping my head down and hoping someone would notice Dreaming of promotions but → waiting for my turn instead of advocating for myself Dreaming of leadership roles but → staying quiet in meetings to avoid rocking the boat Dreaming of making an impact but → underselling my achievements to appear humble Turning point? I got snubbed for promotions not once, not twice but THREE times. Staying quiet was getting me a first-class seat at my DESK. After the third snub, I realized: I can't stay quiet and expect someone to notice me. I will always care more about my career than anyone else. I can't expect someone to articulate our value for me. I worked on: Actively sharing my accomplishments: "Our team's productivity increased 30% last quarter due to the new process I implemented." Clearly communicating my career goals: "I expressed my interest in leading the upcoming project to my manager, highlighting my relevant skills." Volunteering for high-visibility projects: "I took charge of presenting our department's quarterly results to the executive team." Quantifying and presenting my contributions: "I created a dashboard showing how my initiatives saved the company $500K annually." I eventually became an executive once I put these into practice. You don't need to change jobs every time you hit a roadblock. Or throw money at the problem with another degree or certificate. Learning to articulate your value can make all the difference. To master value articulation: Keep a detailed record of your achievements Align your work with company objectives and highlight this connection Practice describing your impact in concise, compelling ways Seek opportunities to present your work to leadership Regularly update your manager on your progress and aspirations Remember: "Your work speaks for itself, but only if you give it a voice." #aLITTLEadvice

Unfortunately, many job seekers aren’t comfortable with self-promotion because they equate it with bragging. Or they don’t do it because they lack confidence or certainty in their value as a candidate. I’ve spoken to thousands of job seekers who underestimate their skills and accomplishments. The problem is that we are passed over for great opportunities and higher earnings when we don't share them. Employers can't guess or assume your abilities; you must make them clear and compelling. Self-promotion is a powerful tool for career advancement when done authentically and effectively. Here are 5 ways to draw attention to your qualifications and skills without sounding arrogant. 1. Quantify Achievements: Show the impact of your leadership by quantifying your achievements. Did you increase revenue or reduce costs? By how much? Did you lead a team? How big was it and what were the results of your team's work? Use concrete numbers where possible to illustrate your effectiveness. 2. Highlight Leadership and Strategic Skills: As an executive, it's important to demonstrate not only your ability to manage, but also to lead and strategize. Highlight experiences where you've set strategy, guided teams through change, or demonstrated thought leadership. 3. Tailor Your Resume: Customize your resume for each application, highlighting the most relevant experiences and accomplishments. 4. Use Action Verbs and Power Words: Start each bullet point with a strong action verb like "led," "spearheaded," "orchestrated," etc. This helps create a powerful image of you as a proactive leader. 5. Showcase Your Executive Presence: Executive presence is a blend of temperament, competencies, and skills that send all the right signals. Show instances where you've had to make tough decisions, guide a team, or navigate a company through challenging times. If you found these tips helpful save this post and reshare with your network to help others. #LinkedInTopVoices #Careers #PersonalBranding

Do you feel uncomfortable about sharing your accomplishments? You’re not alone. Many hesitate to talk about their achievements, worrying it might come off as bragging. But here’s the truth: if you don’t communicate your value, others won’t see what you bring to the table. I recently worked with a senior leader who knew he needed to speak more about his accomplishments. His mindset was, "Isn't this expected?" Well, actually, while it is expected, not everyone delivers. Prospective employers needed to know how he delivered value. And if he did not tell them in a resume or interview, how would they know? So, stop seeing it as bragging. Think of sharing your achievements as simply communicating your value. When you talk about your successes, you give others a clear picture of your capabilities. Then they will know how you can solve THEIR problems. So, own your story in interviews and on your resume. Resumes and interviews are not places for modesty. They're your chance to confidently share what you’ve done and how you can contribute. Here is something else I see many job seekers do. ➡️Distinguish 'I' from 'we.' Leaders often use “we” when discussing accomplishments, but clarifying your individual contributions is essential. Highlight your role in the team's success—both stories matter, but they’re different. Don't forget they are hiring you, not your team. Now tell me: Have you felt uncomfortable talking about your achievements? ----- I am Shelley, a recruiter turned career coach. I help you find a job where you can thrive and not just survive. ♻️If you liked this, why not repost it? ♻️ 🟣Following is great, and ring the 🔔 to know about my new posts 🟪Want to see my other posts? Go to #ShelleySays

While interviewing a candidate last week, I asked about her quantifiable accomplishments in a previous role to which she responded, “That was 8 years ago. Nobody would expect me to remember information that far back!”. Well, guess what? They do! This person was an individual contributor interviewing for her first manager role. For those that find themselves wanting to move up, I would like to offer the following Public Service Announcement 😊. Most people move up in an organization based upon the value they deliver. If you already work for the company and have made a name for yourself, this is a bit easier. However, if you are interviewing with an organization that doesn’t already know you, then you have to demonstrate the value you have delivered. The easiest way to do this is through sharing the “measurable” or “quantifiable” accomplishments you are responsible for. Too often, candidates write on their resume that they reduced inventory or cut costs… but when asked, they can’t quantify it. They aren’t able to offer details as to how they accomplished this. So, now is the time to document your quantifiable accomplishments. Think of the KPI’s you are measured on. - What type of improvements did you make? Document it. - Think out of the box: did you automate something, for example, that reduced the amount of time it took to complete a weekly / monthly task? Document it. Discussing the improvements you made – and being able to back them up with details, if asked – will be a major difference between the candidate that gets the job and the candidate that is left scratching their head wondering why they can’t move forward. #LifeWorkSearch #JobSearch

I made this mistake during an interview, and it cost me a job I really wanted 😔 I once went into an interview without being ready to talk about my past achievements. When asked, I fumbled through vague answers and missed the chance to show my value. Here’s how to avoid this mistake: 1️⃣ Prep Specific Examples: Before the interview, list your key achievements and use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to explain them clearly. 2️⃣ Practice Your Pitch: Rehearse how you’ll talk about your successes. Make sure you can answer common questions with clear, impactful examples. 3️⃣ Know the Role: Research the job description and match your examples to what the role requires. Show how your past work fits perfectly. 4️⃣ Be Confident: Own your achievements and present them with confidence. You’ve earned it! Don’t let a lack of preparation cost you your dream job. Share your own interview tips in the comments. For more career advice and support, join the Clinical Research Referral Club (CRRC) today. #ClinicalResearch #InterviewTips #ClinicalTrials #CRRC

Ever feel burned out from trying to show your value to potential employers? Let me bust a myth that’s been holding too many brilliant professionals back: ➡️Your work does not speak for itself. If you’ve ever felt unsure how to talk about your value—or feared it would come across as bragging—this will help. Start by listing 3 people who regularly see your work. Then ask each of them: - What’s one leadership strength you consistently see in me--just one? - How do you believe it impacts (or has impacted) our team or the business? This small step helps you see your leadership through a strategic lens. It also gives you language to speak about your impact with more clarity and confidence. The real gem? It causes the other people to reflect on your leadership impact in a way they may not have done before. You’re asking for feedback but also shaping how they see you as a leader. If you’re currently job searching, take this step to articulate your leadership value with greater clarity. Use their insight to refine how you present yourself in interviews, networking conversations, or your LinkedIn profile. Ready to elevate your message? Comment “In progress” to commit.