How to Market Yourself

“We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done.”
— Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Describe your accomplishments

Others may look more closely at your accomplishments than you do yourself. While your personal visions and goals are of great value to making a job or career change, you must also be able to convey your past accomplishments to those who are getting to know you. 

Accomplishments are the results, value or outcome of specific activities you have performed in your work. They help convey skills and behaviors you possess, and obstacles you overcame. 

Convey your accomplishments powerfully and succinctly

These questions should  jog your memory about your previous work experiences, volunteer experience, leadership positions, etc.

• What are your demonstrated strengths (consider behavioral strengths, industry/product knowledge, key accomplishments). How are these strengths helpful to a potential employer?
• What common theme has spanned your various jobs? (e.g., Informing people, developing and overseeing processes, etc.)
• Did you help increase sales? By what percentages or amount?
• Did you generate new business, bring in new clients, or forge affiliations with new organizations? How and with whom?
• Did you save your company money? How much and under what circumstances?
• Did you design and/or institute any new system or process? What were the results?
• Did you meet an impossible deadline through extra effort? What difference did this make to your company?
• Did you bring a major project in on or under budget? How did you make this happen? How were the dollars you saved used?
• Did you suggest and/or help launch a new product or program? What was it? How successful was the effort?
• Did you take on any new responsibilities that weren't part of your job? What did you do?
• Did you ask for the new projects or were they assigned to you? Why were you selected?
• Did you introduce any new or more effective techniques for increasing productivity? Is your approach being used?
• Did you improve communication in your firm? With whom and what was the outcome?
• Did you participate in the recruitment or training of other employees? What did you do? How did your company benefit from your performance?
• What suggestions or recommendations have you made that have been accepted or implemented?
• What awards or work-related contests have you won?