When it comes to writing a resume or preparing for an upcoming job interview, one important goal any jobseeker would have is to make themselves look good. After all, it only follows that being able to impress a hiring manager can increase their chances of getting hired and achieving that next big milestone in their career. Most job applicants lean on the aggressive side when highlighting their best qualities, all with the intention of arguing that they’re perfect for the position. However, depending on how they relay that information, they may come off as arrogant and turn off their recruiters or interviewers entirely.
Of course it’s necessary to mention relevant job skills and achievements on your resume and during your job interview, but coming off too strong may leave a bad impression—one of an applicant who has an exaggerated opinion of themselves. That may have you wondering: how can you convey just enough confidence in yourself and your abilities without making it seem like you’re bragging?
If you’re applying for either office-based or home-based jobs in the Philippines, here are some relevant tips for selling your job skills to your recruiter or interviewer in a balanced, but compelling manner:
1) Stick to Sharing Facts and Results
When presenting your job skills on a resume or in an interview, it’s crucial to stick to the facts and showcase tangible results. Instead of making broad, unsupported statements about your capabilities, giving specific examples of how your skills have made a measurable impact in your previous roles can help you come across as both confident and competent without sounding arrogant.
For instance, if you want to express how you’ve helped your previous company increase its sales, use numbers, percentages, or other measurable metrics to highlight your accomplishments. “Implemented a new strategy that led to a 20 percent increase in sales” and other similar statements on your resume can further add credibility to your application. Overall, being able to ground your skills on factual achievements will demonstrate your talents and provide evidence of the positive impact you can bring to a new role.
2) Highlight Your Learning Experiences
You can also put the spotlight on your learning experiences, as this is a powerful way to demonstrate humility and a growth-oriented mindset. This approach can help you convey a sense of self-awareness and a genuine commitment to improvement, which any employer, regardless of their industry, would appreciate. It will also humanize you to potential employers and position you as an applicant who is open to new challenges and continuous learning.
During your interview, briefly describe the challenges you encountered in previous roles and highlight how you embraced these challenges as opportunities for personal and professional growth. It’s also a good idea to discuss the specific steps you took to overcome obstacles, as well as particular learning experiences that contributed to the development of your skills. If articulated well, these insights will paint you as someone with a lot of dedication towards improving themselves, which will definitely make you more appealing as a candidate.
3) Be Comfortable Sharing Your Successes
Being comfortable sharing your successes in a straightforward, unexaggerated manner will allow you to showcase your confidence without alienating anyone else in the interview room with you. This approach allows future employers to see your achievements in a positive light while you maintain a collaborative and humble demeanor.
For a start, try using a positive and enthusiastic tone when discussing your successes, both on your resume and during your job interview. Provide context for your successes by briefly mentioning the challenges you faced, all so that your recruiter or interviewer has a good idea of the resilience you’ve developed.
Moreover, instead of solely attributing success to yourself, recognize the contributions of your team and the support you received. This is a great way of showing that you’re a team player and that you recognize the efforts of everyone who’s involved in a major project or company initiative.
4) Avoid Being a Humblebragger
Humblebragging involves purposeful downplaying of your achievements while you subtly seek validation at the same time. Although some applicants think this behavior makes them appear modest, many recruiters can see right through it (likely after having facilitated many other similar interviews).
Applicants who humblebrag risk being seen as narcissistic, inauthentic, and even untrustworthy, and as such, an interviewer may be quick to judge them as a bad fit for the company culture. That’s why it’s in your best interest to avoid humblebragging during your interviews and instead be straightforward about your abilities and successes.
Share the good parts of you in as genuine a manner as possible, without false modesty, and it will be easier to win the trust of whoever’s interviewing you. You’ll also be able to show your respect for the intelligence of your interviewer, which will leave a more positive impression on them overall.
5) Include Recommendations and Testimonials
Lastly, on your resume, consider including a section that features recommendations and testimonials from colleagues, supervisors, or clients who can attest to your abilities. Letting others speak about your strengths can mitigate any impression of arrogance that may arise when you’re promoting your achievements. A recommender’s words can also lend additional credibility to your name and offer a potential employer a different perspective on your professional strengths.
When asking people for recommendations, make sure to be polite to avoid sounding desperate for their input. Graciously ask them to provide detailed insights into your skills and contributions so that your job application can stand out in a good way.
Talking about your achievements and highlighting your hard and soft skills are all part of the job application process. However, if you aren’t careful with how you present yourself, your confidence and desire to prove yourself may be mistaken for arrogance. Practice the suggestions listed above, and you’ll be able to sell your best qualities and be your genuine self for every application you pass.
