You’re in a job interview, and everything seems to be going well—you haven’t passed out, spilled your glass of water, or burst into tears yet, at least. But then, the interviewer presents that prompt you’ve been dreading: “So, tell me why exactly you think we should hire you.”
Immediately, sweat starts to tickle your forehead, your stomach drops to your shoes, and a feeling of nausea rockets from your gut to your throat.
You get it—selling yourself is a key part of acing the interview process. But, it’s never really gone well for you. You consider yourself a pretty humble person, and the entire concept of talking about your skills and accomplishments seems overly arrogant, braggy, and just downright cringe-worthy.
First of all, rest easy with the knowledge that everyone feels this way about interviews to some extent. Gloating about all of your past successes feels unnatural for everyone—even the most conceited and self-assured among us.
But, as you already know, this is something you’re going to need to get at least somewhat good at if you want any hope of landing that job. So, it’s time to push those feelings of anxiety to the side and find a few ways you can sell yourself—even when you’d rather just hide under the table.
1. Accept That it’s Necessary
Alright, so we’ve already briefly touched on this concept. But, for those of you who break out into a cold sweat at the mere thought of needing to blabber on about yourself, I figured it could use a little more emphasis.
Selling yourself is an absolutely essential part of the job hunt—particularly the interview process. And, for some extra comfort and reassurance, think about it this way: The interviewer or hiring manager straight up asked you to brag about all of the great things you’ve done so far. It’s not narcissism if it was prompted.
So, don’t get too bent out of shape about this. Just take a deep breath, remind yourself that it’s all part of the experience, and then do your best from there.
2. Make a List
If you consider yourself to be an exceptionally humble person, then chances are you’re not armed and ready with a bunch of brag-worthy accomplishments stashed in your back pocket.
You’ve likely grown so used to shifting the spotlight off yourself, that you’re having a tough time even thinking of one thing you’d like to gloat about a little bit in an interview.
This is why it’s smart to take some time to prepare yourself before hand. Literally jot down a list of some of your key skills and proudest wins to date. That way, when you’re inevitably prompted to spit some out in the middle of the interview, you can do so without that awkward, “Uhh… well… sheesh… let me think about that…” qualifier.
3. Avoid Qualifying
Speaking of qualifiers, they’re something you’re going to want to do your best to avoid during job interviews. I get it, you’re bashful and humble—that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
But, on that same token, you don’t want to qualify every single one of your skills or accomplishments with things like, “Well, that was really a team effort!” or “This really wasn’t a big deal, but…”
You’ve done some awesome things in your career, and now’s the time when you have the free pass to brag about them. Remember, taking credit for the amazing things you’ve done doesn’t make you an egomaniac—it makes you an accomplished professional who is trying to land a new job. That’s it.
4. Find Things You’re Excited About
Remember how I encouraged you to make a list of some of your key accomplishments in step two? Well, now’s the time when you should filter back through them to pick out the ones you’ll want to talk about most in an interview.
But, rather than focusing on the ones that might sound most impressive on paper, I want you to try something a little different: Pull out the ones that get you the most excited. Whether it was that side project you’ve completed and are super passionate about or a marketing initiative that you loved, try to zone in on only the things that make your eyes light up and a smile spread across your face.
Why? Well, it’s pretty simple: These are the things that you’re going to feel the most comfortable talking about in an interview. We all have an easier time chatting about those things that we feel really passionate about. So, if you’re feeling particularly nervous, stick to those—rather than trying to force out answers that feel totally stiff or unnatural.
Trust me, it’ll make a big difference for you.
5. Utilize Examples
Whether you’re comfortable with selling yourself or not, all of us experience that same common problem: It feels like we’re just full of a bunch of hot air. We’re rambling on about how amazing we are, and it always feels overwhelmingly conceited and obnoxious—regardless of the circumstances.
But, you know what can make you feel a little more credible and comfortable? Utilizing examples to show what you’re good at, instead of just talking about it.
No, this doesn’t mean you need to whip out a life-sized model or an entire PowerPoint presentation. However, simply chatting about some real-world examples that relate to some of the skills you’re bragging about will help to back up what you’re saying—allowing you to feel a little more at ease (and a lot less schmoozy).
So, instead of simply stating that you’re great with customer service, talk about that time you stayed on the phone for a half hour to help a customer resolve an issue she was experiencing. Or, instead of claiming what an inspiring leader you are, share the story of when you lead your team to complete an incredibly complex project on time and under budget—or to a company-wide kickball victory.
It’s a powerful interview tactic regardless of if you’re nervous about selling yourself or not. Showing rather than telling will always leave an impact.
Needing to ramble on and on about how wonderful you are in an interview is awkward for everybody (unless you’re Kanye West)—but, it’s especially nerve-wracking for those people who tend to shy away from the spotlight and shift compliments to other people.
However, just because you consider yourself humble doesn’t mean you should resign yourself to a fate of awkward job interviews. There are a few things you can do to better promote your own accomplishments—without sounding like a braggy jerk.
Give them a try in your next interview, and you’re sure to see awesome results. Good luck!
