Anyone who knows me well, knows that I am a very private person. Though time and practice, I have become pretty good at having conversations with people in a one on one situation, but I still have trouble starting conversations and I dislike talking about my successes. I am an introvert. And if you are an introvert too, then, like me you probably have a hard time when it comes to self promotion.
Promoting yourself is essential in any career, and even more so when you are looking for a new job. Employers want to see a confident, well spoken applicant who is prepared to tell them why they are the best candidate for the job. To many introverts, this is a difficult thing to do and it makes them feel like they are bragging or being disingenuous. But, there are some things that you can do to make promoting yourself feel more comfortable.
Once you realize that the other people around you are too busy worrying about their own lives and careers to really pay attention to what you are doing, you realize that if you don't “blow your own horn”, no one is really going to notice. Saying things that feel like bragging to you sound like giving them an update on what you have accomplished. So, you see the problem. You don't want to brag, but others want to hear what you have done.
The New York Times recently had an article about self promoting when you are an introvert, and there are some of the key tips they offered:
- Create a portfolio- Take a nice three ring binder and fill it with samples of your work, letter of commendation from satisfied customers or coworkers. By making a portfolio that highlights your accomplishments, you can take the focus of a conversation with an employer off of you personally and onto the things in the binder. This way, you can show off you achievements without feeling like you are in the spotlight.
- Create a blog- If you don't think that you have enough accomplishments to fill a portfolio, consider creating a blog about your industry. Introverts are typically good writers, as they prefer to communicate at a distance. Continue building your blog and let your employer know about it or include a link on resumes and cover letters. This will allow potential employers to see how much you know about your industry and have them view that you are a sort of expert in the field. It will allow you to become the go-to person for certain things.
- Carve out a niche- Everyone has things that they are great at. So, maybe you are not so good at playing to a room or garnering a great deal of attention, but there are other things that you can excel at. Find a way to become indispensable to your company. On your resume, write that you were the office pro at whatever it was. This allows others to notice your accomplishments when they tell others “Well, Susie is the best person to ask about that. She is the expert.”
- Work on your presentation skills- If you are in the midst of a serious job search, spend some time working on honing your public speaking skills. Most community colleges offer classes on public speaking for the workplace and if you are out of work, this might be the perfect time. Sometimes the difference between getting the job or being overlooked is just the presentation. If you don't want to take a class, at least plan out interview answers ahead of time. You can even record yourself answering them and watch it back, looking for places where you should have paused or moved your hands etc. Once you get a way that works, rehearse it just like it was a play. This will make the interview much easier on you and you can be certain that you are showing them your best self.
Being an introvert doesn't make you less of a go-getter, it just means that you are quieter about it. And keep in mind that no amount of self promotion is going to hide a complete lack of ability. The people who brag about everything and try to take all the credit for group accomplishments aren't just annoying to you, but to everyone else as well. Even the ones who seem to be taken in by it, will see through it soon enough. So don't let your shyness keep you from telling people how great you are.
Are you an introvert? What do you do to compensate for it? Let me know in the comments!
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By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.
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