AKA How to talk yourself up without sounding up yourself arrogant...

In the challenging area of job seeking, many of us struggle to balance the need to showcase our achievements with the fear of sounding arrogant. It's a tightrope walk, where we must communicate our skills and successes effectively, without tipping into the realm of boastfulness. In this blog we share a range of strategies,  backed by recent research and expert insights,  for self-promotion success, that will help you shine in interviews without the risk of appearing conceited. In the delicate art and science of self promotion both humble bragging and humour bragging play a part. 

The key to effective self-promotion, according to a recent study, lies in understanding the context and framing your achievements in a way that highlights their relevance to the position you're applying for, thus demonstrating value without overt self-aggrandisement.

Adam Grant, a renowned organisational psychologist, expands on this concept and suggests that effective self-promotion is not about downplaying your achievements but rather about contextualising them in a way that emphasises the benefit to your potential employer. "The art of humblebragging," as he puts it, "isn't just about being humble; it's about linking your achievements to broader team goals or organisational values."   For instance, instead of simply stating, "I increased sales by 30% in my previous role, you could say, "Through my strategic approach and strong leadership skills, I was able to increase sales by 30%, contributing to the overall growth and success of the company." 

This showcases your achievement while also highlighting how it might align with the goals and values of a potential employer. 

Another example of humble-bragging could be re-stating  "I received multiple awards for my outstanding performance in customer service," as:

 "My absolute focus on providing excellent customer service resulted in a range of  awards, showcasing my commitment to delivering exceptional results for both clients and the company."

This not only highlights your achievements but also demonstrates how they align with the values of providing top-notch customer service and delivering results for the company. So, rather than just showcasing your achievements, humblebragging allows you to demonstrate your value and fit for a specific role or company culture. 

It also shows humility by not outrightly boasting about accomplishments but instead framing them in a way that highlights their relevance to the position you are applying for. This approach can be especially effective when it comes to standing out in a competitive job market and making a lasting impression on potential employers. Remember, the key is to balance highlighting your achievements and showcasing how they can benefit the company or team you are applying for. By mastering the art of humblebragging, you can effectively communicate your qualifications while also displaying humility and a strong understanding of the company's goals and values. 

Leverage storytelling

Another effective way to self-promote without coming across as arrogant is through storytelling. By sharing a personal anecdote that illustrates your strengths and achievements, you can engage the listener or reader while also showcasing your skills and accomplishments. This approach humanises your self-promotion, makes it more relatable, and also creates an emotional connection. 

For instance, if you are applying for a sales position and want to highlight your ability to build strong relationships with clients, you could share a story about how you turned around a difficult client by going above and beyond to understand their needs and provide exceptional service. This not only showcases your skills in building relationships but also demonstrates your commitment to providing excellent customer service.

For example, in the above scenario, you might say,

"I faced a challenging situation with a client who was unhappy with our services. They had been considering switching to a competitor and were on the verge of terminating their contract with us. Instead of getting defensive or making excuses, I took the time to sit down with them and truly listen to their concerns. Through active listening and empathising, I was able to understand their pain points and develop a plan to address them.

I worked to provide personalised solutions for their specific needs and kept in constant communication with them throughout the process. I'm happy to say we not only retained the client's business but also became one of our most loyal clients. They even recommended us to other potential clients, showcasing the value of building strong relationships and providing exceptional service.

This experience not only drew on my skills in sales and relationship-building but also demonstrated my commitment to always putting the client's needs first. It showed that I can handle difficult situations positively and turn them into opportunities for growth and success."

Insert humour

In addition to contextualising achievements, Grant also emphasises the importance of using humour in self-promotion. Humour not only makes your brag more enjoyable for the listener but also showcases your ability to balance confidence with a sense of fun and an engaging personality.

The research suggests that incorporating humour into self-promotion can be beneficial in showcasing warmth and competence, often two competing traits.  This approach is referred to as "humour-bragging" and can make self-promotion more enjoyable for the listener while still highlighting skills and achievements. So, adding a touch of humour to your self-promotional stories can be an effective way to make a lasting impression and stand out from other candidates. Additionally, using humour can also show that you can balance confidence and competence with a sense of fun, making you more relatable and likable as well as reliable. This is why it is important to not only focus on the content of your self-promotion but also consider how you present it in an engaging and humorous manner.

Grant suggests: 

"... to showcase your strengths, instead of feigning humility, it’s more effective to use humour. Across six studies, job applicants and founders were more successful when they joked about their capabilities. I have a proven track record of turning caffeine input into productivity output. Humour signals competence without arrogance."

This promising insight comes from a study that delves into the complex world of impression management. And while it may seem like a small piece of advice, it holds great potential for success in these competitive contexts. 

One caveat however: its effectiveness may vary depending on the industry and job context. Further research is needed to understand how different environments impact the use of humour-bragging in self-promotion. This study was done in the areas of sales, chefs and entrepreneurs seeking investment. The study’s authors do mention that more traditional and technical jobs, such as manufacturing, may not be as receptive to this approach. Therefore, it is important to consider how different cultural, organisational, and occupational contexts shape the use and effectiveness of humour-bragging. 

5 Additional Effective Interview Strategies

1 Understand Your Audience

Before stepping into an interview, research the company's culture and the specific requirements of the role. This preparation allows you to tailor your achievements in a way that directly aligns with what the company values most.

2 Frame Your Achievements as Solutions

Instead of merely listing your accomplishments, present them as solutions to challenges you anticipate the company might face. For example, rather than stating, "I increased sales by 20% at my last job," you might say, "Understanding your goal to increase market share, I have experience in strategising sales initiatives that have previously resulted in a 20% sales increase."

3 Highlight Collaborative Efforts

While it's important to showcase your individual contributions, emphasising teamwork and collaboration can help mitigate perceptions of arrogance. Sharing credit for achievements demonstrates your ability to work effectively within a team, a quality highly valued in most organisational settings. Just be sure to balance this with individual achievements so the interviewer understands that while you work well with others, you can also stand on your own two feet. 

4 Use Concrete Examples

Specificity is your ally in avoiding generic bragging. By providing concrete examples of your achievements, you not only offer proof of your claims but also engage your interviewers with real-world scenarios that illustrate your competence and problem-solving abilities. This links back to storytelling. 

5 Express Gratitude

Acknowledging the role of mentors, colleagues, or educational opportunities in your achievements can help soften the impression of self-promotion. Phrases like "I was fortunate to have the opportunity to..." or "Thanks to the support from my team..." can demonstrate humility and a team-oriented mindset.

In closing, mastering the art of self-promotion in interviews is about striking the right balance between confidence and humility. By framing your achievements in a way that underscores their relevance to the job at hand and demonstrates your collaborative spirit, you can impress your potential employers without crossing into arrogance. Remember, the goal is to make your interviewers as excited about your past successes as you are about the possibility of bringing similar results to their organisation.

Navigating the delicate dance of self-promotion requires practice and reflection, but with these strategies in hand, job hunters can approach their next interview with the confidence to showcase their best selves—boldly and without apology.

Please share comment or like if you found this useful or even disagree - we love to get feedback! 

Sources

https://adamgrant.substack.com/p/in-a-job-interview-this-is-how-to?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=1285137&post_id=144099360&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=2k5zzb&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/01461672231214462?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email