Quiet but Mighty, Part II

Modesty and Marketability: Can they co-exist?

This is Part II in the five-part Quiet but Mighty blog series exploring ways introverts can remain true to themselves and still experience a satisfying professional life.

Ever find yourself thinking: “I want a good job, but how can I showcase my abilities when I’m not comfortable tooting my own horn?”

You’re not alone. Modesty is a hallmark characteristic of the introvert population and one that is much-admired; however, it is often considered counterproductive in the competitive job market.

One piece of career advice that I struggle with is “selling yourself.” This concept tends to invoke fear in those of us who try to avoid the spotlight.

The simple truth is people don’t like solicitors. Solicitors sensationalize and feign enthusiasm in order to sell a product for the sole purpose of advancing their own self interests. People do, however, like teammates – those who expresses genuine interest in a common goal and who are proud of their accomplishments because they amount to more than themselves as individuals.

Rather than viewing humility as an anchor, look for ways to use it as a strength when applying for internships and jobs. Granted, it is necessary to provide adequate representation for what you’ve done that qualifies you for a job; but there are different angles you can take that will eliminate much of the feeling that you’re bragging.

Take a moment and put yourself in the shoes of an employer – say, the executive director of a medium-sized nonprofit. You’ve got a communications coordinator position to fill, and you’ve received applications from two qualified candidates.

Candidate One

On his résumé, he details impressive accomplishments in laundry-list fashion: he’s written freelance articles that have appeared in USA Today, interviewed powerful political figures and done on-air interviews with local TV and radio stations. His cover letter details the high-profile, admirable plans he has for his career. In the interview, he’s polished and well-spoken when describing what he’s done.

Candidate Two

He doesn’t list a single accomplishment on his résumé without qualifying it with how that achieved a specific company goal. His cover letter begins with a paragraph that genuinely describes his admiration for the work the nonprofit does. In his interview, he goes through the communications coordinator job description point-by-point, explaining how his experience is applicable and offers a few ideas for how he can hit the ground running on certain projects.

Candidate One is a solicitor. Candidate Two is a teammate. Both candidates possess a “wow factor,” but teammates are money in the workplace because of the roots of their motivation.

I encourage you to quit trying to “sell yourself” in interviews and on your application materials. Instead, “position yourself as a qualified teammate interested in furthering the company’s goals.” Don’t tell employers that you’re a hot-shot. Rather, show employers how your experiences prepared you to be an asset to them. It’s a simple shift of focus from you as an individual to the company as a whole, which is where the employer’s interests lie anyway.

Doesn’t that make you spotlight-shy introverts feel better?