People sometimes say that someone “has a bit of personality” or a spark about them. They recognize their core attributes because they are clear and distinct. An unsaid comparison with being ordinary or even dull is perhaps implied. If you want to give off your sparks to employers:
- Show, more than tell – people can’t always see you are organized and analytical or may not believe you are spontaneous and empathetic just because you say so. What can you do to show them in the way you apply for the job and engage with employers?
- Join the dots up – knowing and saying you are a creative person isn’t enough. So what? Explain how that will meet the job requirements and help the employer.
- Use other people’s words to describe you, especially if you are naturally modest. How do others see you at your best?
- Psychometric profiles use words or phrases you can pinch if you struggle to articulate your personality. A health warning! No questionnaire will ever be the ‘truth’. It can only ever be a starting point for exploring yourself. Understanding yourself is an eternal audit.
- Just be yourself with skill – obvious I know, but incredibly powerful when you feel anxious or your head is too full of dos and don’ts. Nobody wants to employ a robot.
Showing an employer you at your best will always be a challenge during the process of getting a job, keeping a job and making a career move. Capture your essence and mix with a dose of confidence for the sweet smell of success.
