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October 24, 2003
Bring out the trumpets
Job-hunting women should herald accomplishments.
CONNIE GLASER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN
Queen Esther had a staff of royal scribes to record her accomplishments
and pass them down for posterity. Women today are not so fortunate.
They have to rely on themselves to get their story told. Yet "blowing
your own horn" – so essential in getting the promotion
or job you want – does not come easily to most women. However,
in today's competitive job market, if you want to persuade an employer
that you're right for the job, you have to demonstrate credibility
and achievement.
Case in point is Leslie, a successful manager at a large retail
chain in the Midwestern United States. Recently divorced, with two
children to support, Leslie decided she needed a change of scenery
and an opportunity to start over.
"So I picked the city, identified the two best companies for
me and did lots of homework," she said. She got an interview
with one of the companies and on the way to her interview she decided
she needed a different plan of attack.
"No more trying to sell myself based on credentials. It wasn't
enough," she told herself. "I had one goal: to show them
I could do the job."
As her interview hummed along, Leslie took a huge risk – but
one that made her credibility soar.
"In the midst of explaining exactly how I was going to make
the company more successful, I got up and walked out the door,"
she said.
"Come on! No more talk! I'm going to show you what I can do,"
Leslie announced, as she led her two interviewers onto the retail
floor, where she started demonstrating changes that she would make
to increase sales. By the time she was finished, the interviewers
stood there speechless. Finally, one spoke up. "You're exactly
what we're looking for," he told Leslie. "Someone who's
ready to do the job. When can you start?"
When it comes to self-promotion, few of us are as gutsy and up-front
as Leslie. But why? Chances are, those outdated cultural messages
and social conditioning we learned growing up are mostly to blame.
As little girls, most of us were taught that it was unladylike to
draw attention to ourselves – that it was egotistical and boastful.
"Girls are afraid to speak up for themselves because they see
that women who do are often spoken about and ostracized," says
Elizabeth DeBold, a member of the Harvard Project on Women's Psychology
and Girl's Development.
Is it any surprise, then, that even when we do shine, so many of
us feel vaguely apologetic about it? And yet the key to success
is visibility – even if it means turning the spotlight on yourself.
"Women still perceive the word self as being wrong or wicked,"
acknowledges Donna Coulson, a management consultant. "But self-promotion
is not being egotistical or boastful; it's letting people know you're
around."
The good news is that promoting yourself doesn't have to make you
cringe.
"The goal is to come across in a positive light that establishes
your credibility without appearing boastful or self-aggrandizing,"
said Judith Rutkin of Coach America.
Truth is, it takes more than top-notch skills, good work and a glowing
resumé to get ahead these days. No matter if you're a sales
rep or a scientist, an executive or an entrepreneur, if you want
to be successful – if you want to advance faster and further
– you can't just mind your own business. You have to sing your
own praises. You have to toot your own horn.
Connie Glaser is co-author with Barbara Smalley
of What Queen Esther Knew: Business Strategies from a Biblical
Sage (2003, Rodale Books, $19.95US hardcover). It is available
at bookstores nationwide, at
amazon.com or by calling toll-free 1-800-848-4735 or at www.rodalestore.com.
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