We all have value. Each of us has skills, know-how, and interpersonal skills. But you still need to know how to sell yourself so that the recruiter can notice them. Personally, I’ve always had trouble selling myself, but over time I’ve come to understand just how essential it is. However, one thing I don’t want to do is betray who I am and show a side that’s not me. So how do you sell yourself well without being someone else? Here are a few avenues to explore!
The obvious answer is: to get a job! Everyone knows that selling yourself is a technique for getting the job you’ve applied for. It’s a bit like answering the question “Why you and not someone else?”
You need to be able to show your qualities, your strengths, your experience... This enables the company to assess whether you’re the right person for the job. A bit like going on a date, you want to get to know someone to see if they match your “criteria”. It’s the same with work! It’s a professional match, but a match nonetheless!
Why do we say selling yourself 🧐? Good question, after all, we’re not a commodity. This comes from marketing, it’s the logic of the supply and demand market. Unfortunately, there are more requests for work than job offers, so we have to put ourselves forward so that the recruiter chooses us, a bit like a product for a consumer. |
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Well, the “why” is all well and good, but more importantly, how do you go about it 😬? Obviously, every job interview is different, there’s no pattern to learn (quite the opposite!). But there are a few little tips to bear in mind if you want to sell yourself well at an interview without betraying yourself:
Recruiters can perceive a speech learned by heart immediately 😅. You need to be natural, without just going along for the ride, either. So how do you strike the right balance? You need to find out as much as you can about the company so that you can get to know it well and find the “matching points” with your personality.
👉 For example, if you apply to an NGO that preserves the seabed, it’s undoubtedly because you’re sensitive to the environment. You can therefore highlight this value that shapes your personality to the recruiter, who will certainly appreciate it 💯!
Oh, oh, oh... Many people struggle to value themselves at their true worth, without overselling or underselling themselves. I tend to fall into the second category, as I have a slight lack of self-confidence 🤐 (and maybe a fear of succeeding?). Not to mention that I’m always afraid of coming across as someone with an overinflated ego. However, it’s crucial to become aware of your value and what you can bring to a company. To do that, you need to take into account all the experiences you’ve had, even if they’re not in a professional context. You can highlight them by talking about the “soft skills” they’ve brought you.
👉 For example: “I used to volunteer at an animal shelter, which helped me develop a great deal of empathy towards all forms of living being, so preserving the oceans is also important to me for the wildlife that lives there.”
In a job interview, you need to forget about “me, I” 😖. Admittedly, it can feel strange, especially when you need to sell yourself, but in fact, there’s a time for everything. You can have time dedicated to your presentation, without putting yourself center stage. It’s a delicate exercise: you need to talk about yourself, while including the company. Using the word “we” is an excellent way of showing how much you see yourself actually involved in the company, and that generally makes all the difference! It also shows that you’re committed and that you’re more likely to be able to work in a team.
But is that pretending to be someone else? In fact, it’s also important to realize that you need to have a “public” personality to find the right balance.
A final point that’s essential if the interview is to go well is that you have the right to be yourself, without getting too comfortable. Let me explain: You can’t have the personality you have when you’re with your nearest and dearest in private. So you need to be careful not to go too far with your emotions and your personal lives. You therefore need to adopt a slightly smoother personality, without betraying your deepest values.
⚖️ The values barometer is the best way to find a balance to be yourself in the workplace. It’s what I call the considered personality: you’re you, but you’re also aware that you need to behave professionally.
👉 So now you know how best to sell yourself at a job interview without betraying your personality. We know that the exercise is stressful, but tell yourself that this is the time to show what you’ve learned and what your qualities are! Come on, 3, 2, 1, breathe, and go for it 🏃♀️!
Editor’s note: Finding the right balanceWe hope that Lauren's words have fired you up and helped you find the right balance to adopt your best “considered personality” in interviews. If this exercise is difficult for you and you feel that it’s damaging your career, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with a coach to put in place new attitudes, habits, and ways of thinking that will enable you to find your place. 🤗 Understanding yourself, accepting yourself, being happy... It’s here and now! #BornToBeMe |
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Article presented by Lauren Hart
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