4 Ways to Brag About Yourself in an Interview Without Annoying People

When interviewing, you have to simultaneously highlight your achievements and still be likeable. How do you walk this tightrope? Try these 4 things:

1. Talk about an interesting win for a client! Stick to the facts, and you won’t sound like you are bragging (e.g., you came into X disaster, saw Y was the case, implemented Z strategy, which resulted in $% result). Plus, stories are a fun way for the interviewer to learn about you and much better than a boring recitation of your resume.
2. Bring up matters that excite you. Your enthusiasm will naturally come through, and you don’t sound forced or feel awkward like you are selling some unwanted service.
3. Do research beforehand. Know what your audience cares about so you can think of relevant examples before you meet. Hopefully you have a robust I Love Me file (where you send emails and accolades from throughout the year) so it’s easy to review and choose some good stories.
4. Practice your sound bites before the meeting. Don’t wait for inspiration to strike at your face-to-face. You wouldn’t do that before a judge or tense negotiation. Prevent problems like going long or stumbling over phrases by doing a dry run beforehand.