How to Brag on Yourself in an Interview
/A quick guide on learning how to professionally tell the interviewer why you’re the bomb.
I remember sitting in the chair across from my interviewer when they first asked, “what are some qualities that make you good for the job?” I froze. “Well-I-I-I’m … good at leading..” *awkward pause.* What was I supposed to say? I don’t want to sound too arrogant, but I want to sound confident as well.
Have you ever found yourself in a similar position? Wondering where to draw the line between sounding boastful, but also being confident to talk about yourself in an interview? One of the most common concerns of people currently in a job transition is how to talk about themselves in the interview. It can be difficult to share your strengths or simply discuss facts about yourself, but we want to prepare you for interviews where you feel confident and prepared to talk about who you are and what you bring to the table. As uncomfortable as this question may feel, it is important to think about it as most interviewers will immediately say, “tell me about yourself.” You may even be asked a similar question multiple times in the process!
KNOW YOUR STRENGTHS
Before any interview, whether it's a phone call, video chat, or in-person meeting, make a list of your strengths. If you are having a hard time coming up with things, text a family member, friend, or previous co-worker and ask them to share two strengths they see in you. When you have your list, narrow it down to three things that you would like to talk about with your employer.
Here is my list of a few talking points that I would include throughout my interviews:
Disciplined. Whether I was working in social media, the food industry, or in administrative roles, I have proven to be extremely disciplined in performance. Striving to get the job done, I have easily adapted to the needs around me and work as hard as possible to see intended results.
Creative. Growing up I didn’t realize how much I loved creating, but as I got older I discovered my passion for impacting the world through creativity. One of my favorite things to do is problem solve and critically think, using creativity to come up with solutions, dreams, goals, and plans.
Loyal. Throughout my time in various industries, I have seen where my loyalty to the job allows me to succeed in many given roles. While passion is important, I have also seen where loyalty plays a big part of who you are in a job.
These strengths aren't something that you need to recite like a list, instead consider bringing them up throughout various points in the interview process.
ADAPT YOUR ANSWERS BASED ON THE JOB
While you may talk about similar things in various job interviews, make sure to structure your points based on the role you are applying for. Before an interview, make sure to study the job description and know what job requirements are listed that you have strengths in. One way to prepare for this would be to copy all the job requirements and highlight all the bullets that you are experienced in. This will vary based on different job descriptions but is a helpful tool to talk about yourself and integrate those strengths into the specific role you are applying for.
HAVE TALKING POINTS THAT ARE NOT ON YOUR RESUME
When you go in for an interview, keep in mind that the interviewer has most likely already reviewed your resume multiple times. To prepare, have multiple points to discuss that are not mentioned in your resume. A personal story, an experience, a selective hobby, or an in-depth discussion on some of your skills listed would be a great place to start! While you're in the interview, you want to be careful not to just recite your resume or job application questions, but bring additional content to the table. If you come prepared, it will be very easy to talk about yourself.
AIM FOR CONVERSATION OVER RECITING A SPEECH
While the interview process and talking about yourself does require prep-work, it should feel more like a conversation than a memorized speech. Remember that you are sitting down with a human, not a robot, and humans love connection. Find times to bring in your personality and personal experience, while also keeping it professional. Know that this is a setting where you are expected to be confident and talk about yourself.
As you head into your interview, know your strengths, adapt your answers based on the job, have various points not listed on your resume, and aim for conversation! Know that you are the most capable person to talk about yourself and your strengths!
Taylor Hardy
Content Strategist
Experienced writer and creator with Clarity Career Solutions. Leverages a background in Sales, Marketing, Graphic Design, and Social Media to connect with clients and launch them into a career that brings true passion.
Talking about yourself can feel weird, but we would love to help you in the process? Set up a call with us today to chat about interview prep, all your strengths, and everything you need to know in the hiring process!