Self-promotion can feel a bit awkward if you’re not used to it. Women in particular can be less likely to shout out their skills and talents in fear of being perceived as obnoxious or egotistical.
Tory Johnson, the CEO of Women For Hire, says women worry that by self-promoting, someone will wonder “who does she think she is?”
But in the age of professional networking platforms like LinkedIn, self-promotion is becoming more and more common – and important – for everyone.
Your self-promotion should be constructive and balanced; it’s not the same as simply boasting about your achievements and bragging about how great you are. When done right, self-promotion can help you emphasise your value, help others, and build your professional network.
In today’s intensely competitive work world, self-promotion is no longer just a professional responsibility. It’s a career survival skill
Rick Gillis, author of ‘Promote! It’s Who Knows What You Know That Makes a Career’
If tooting your own trumpet doesn’t come naturally to you, don’t fear. We’ve got some tangible tips on how to self-promote to help you stretch in your career – without feeling like you’re showboating.
Prove It with Results
Find the right opportunities to promote yourself, as opposed to patting yourself on the back out of the blue.
Received awesome results on that big project? Got great feedback from a client? Overcome a work challenge? Don’t miss those chances to promote yourself when you really deserve it, and back your triumphs with results or testimonials.
Own It with Enthusiasm
Do you generally feel uncomfortable talking about yourself? Try to think of self-promotion as talking about your workinstead.
If you love what you do and can speak with enthusiasm and passion, sharing your professional accomplishments can become that much easier.
You’re likely to get a more positive response from your audience if you’re sharing your work because you think others will enjoy it, rather than selling yourself.
People who have deep passion for their field and endeavors communicate that with a vitality and energy that speaks volumes about how much they’re connected to what they’re doing.
5 Things Your LinkedIn Profile Reveals About You That You Don’t Want It To, Forbes 2018
Promote Others
Don’t forget to applaud others for their outstanding achievements, too. Giving shout-outs to other people’s awesome work can actually help you out. Not only does it position you as an industry expert who knows good stuff when they see it, it can also help add variety to your feed and increase your professional network.
Sharing other people’s work can also show you’re not intimidated by the competition; you’re confident in what you have to offer. It may also encourage others to reciprocate and sing your praises in return. It’s a classic win-win situation.
A survey conducted by Jobvite revealed 87% of recruiters are using LinkedIn to evaluate and engage talent. Whether you’re brushing up on your self-promotion skills in the hopes of landing your dream job or simply want to cement yourself as an industry expert online, these tips can help you self-promote without feeling like a bragger.
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