If You Have It, Flaunt It!

Throughout our thirty years of professional experience, we have encountered clients who hesitant to “blow their own horns.”  While, for some, the rationale behind this uncertainty originates from a general lack of confidence, it also stems from the fear that the potential employer may question whether or not the applicant has actually distinguished herself during the course of her career.  Our conviction is that if you are able to validate your accomplishments, it is to your advantage to do so.  If, for instance, you can present your potential employer with a report indicating productivity figures prior and subsequent to a new system or procedure that you had envisioned, or a formal (written) employee evaluation discussing your contributions over a specified period of time, you will have validated your claims.

But, what if you were a member of a team whose joint effort brought about positive change?  What if no formal, internal documentation exists specifically for you?  Under such circumstances, should you feel constrained not to speak of your accomplishments, consider the following solutions:

Memoranda and emails.  If your efforts impacted other departments, the people in those departments will have been your internal clients.  As every department strives, ultimately, toward realization of the company’s objectives, your work is no less valuable for having contributed to another business unit’s efficiency or productivity.  One or more individuals in other departments may have written you a memo or sent you an email to thank you.  Save those memos; print and save the emails!

Incentives.  In place of a formal plaque or award, some employers offer incentives for a job well done.  These are usually in the form of a monetary award or a gift, such as a recreational trip.  A letter from your employer should have accompanied the incentive.  Don’t make the mistake of downplaying this form of recognition, as many tend to do.  Save those letters!

Commendations.  Letters of appreciation from external customers, addressed either to you and/or your manager, should also be saved.  These constitute unsolicited gratitude for your hard work, so save them as well!

Before you initiate your job search, compile and organize proof of your diligent work ethic and creative problem solving abilities.  Select what you will present to a potential employee by virtue of the depth of praise as well as date.  If you have been with your current employer for eight years, for example, and can support accomplishments over that general span of time, do so.  Now make copies of what you have amassed, creating sets of them for prospective employers.  Organize your material into an attractive binder with protective, transparent sleeves and bring it, as well as several sets of your commendations, with you on interviews.  The interviewer may wish to peruse the originals briefly and may also appreciate having a set of his or her own, once the interview is concluded.

If you are among the job hopefuls who shy away from talking directly about your accomplishments, let others do it for you, via your portfolio.  In a job market flooded with applicants, you must not only flaunt your assets, you must confirm them in order to compete with those able to present a more aggressive marketing pitch with the hiring authorities.