Don't Be Your Own Worst Enemy

When we apply for positions either inside or outside the federal government, we often defeat ourselves by not emphasizing our strengths and why we are the ideal person for the job. There are several reasons we under-sell ourselves. Here are three of the biggest reasons and suggestions on how to deal with them.

You have just been doing your job. What you should think of is how you did your job; what made it special; what extraordinary results did you achieve. We all have jobs to do, but how we do them sets us apart.

Your mother told you not to brag. There is a difference between an empty boast and a statement of what you have done to add value to an employer.

If you need to, tell your mother that you are sorry, but you will be bragging to potential employers about your skills, abilities and accomplishments. This bragging should not be confined to just your resume and applications. You should be ready to brag during job interviews and during your networking.

You come from a team-based organization and you feel it would not be appropriate to take credit for team accomplishments. Think of what you accomplished as a team and the part you played in the accomplishment. Include it in the resume or form, as employers today are looking for individuals that can perform effectively in a team-based environment.

Suggestions on ways to present yourself effectively can be found in FEDweek's book The Complete Guide to Writing a Federal Resume.

** John Grobe, President of Federal Career Experts, is the contributing editor of FEDweek's The Federal Employees Career Transition Handbook and an expert in employment and job search issues. He provides career advising services to individual employees. John can be reached at (708) 771-2445 or johngrob@ripco.com. **

Back | Published: June 18, 2003