In a recent conversation with my client, I invited him to share some positive words to describe his brand.
Among those mentioned, he stated “loyal, honest, and hardworking.” As we reviewed his words, I invited him to pretend that he was a hiring manager – a hiring manager that has interviewed hundreds and hundreds of candidates.
If you find yourself in job search mode, how about choosing more compelling words to align with the target job you are pursuing? Otherwise, in the interview (in person or on the phone), you will be citing words that the listener has heard time and time again. No new news to their ears. Same ole same ole.
To better support your candidacy in a sea of competition, do yourself a favor and take some time to figure out at least five distinct adjectives that well describe you. Beyond that, develop examples to provide proof and evidence to back up your claims.
If you are in love with the word loyal as a term to describe yourself, how about using a thesaurus to find another word with a similar meaning, such as:
allegiant, ardent, attached, behind one, believing, coming through, constant, devoted, dutiful, dyed-in-the-wool, firm, on one's side, patriotic, resolute, staunch, steadfast, steady, tried-and-true, true, true-blue, trustworthy, trusty, unfailing, unswerving, unwavering.
If you want someone to know that you are honest, what other word might you find to convey that?
If you are hardworking, what other less-frequently-cited job seeker word might you supply the hiring manager?
Choose your words carefully – let them work for you, not against you as you explore new opportunities.