Selling Yourself Short
Kent R.
“I work great independently and take direction well.” When an entry-level candidate shares something similar to the above as a key differentiator, I applaud them. While this kind of statement doesn’t work that well on a resume (it is too boilerplate to really be effective), it speaks to some excellent qualities and is a good jumping off point in an interview.
Again – for entry-level candidates.
When I get this kind of response from a more senior client, I get a little concerned because it means they are speaking to the assumed competencies of someone in a senior position. You're a Director of Sales... of course you work great independently. You better.
We can all get very comfortable using old "entry level" scripts to speak about ourselves. Those old scripts – outdated references to the value we add – can be really hard to shake. Unfortunately, as we move through our careers, these old scripts begin to obfuscate our real value and distract from what we really bring to the table.
Listen closely to how you describe yourself and how you articulate the value you bring. Are you selling yourself short?