Job Interview – Benefits of Boasting

Bragging or boasting about yourself is generally unacceptable, especially in the workplace. You never want to be perceived as arrogant or egotistical, so you avoid patting yourself on the back in public. As a job seeker, sometimes it is important to brag or boast a little bit, especially in a job interview. You don’t want to be arrogant about it though, so learn how to brag in an acceptable way in our advice below.

  1. Know your strengths:
    • If you are going to brag in an interview, you have to be honest about your abilities and strengths.
    • Focus in on things that former supervisors or coworkers have applauded you for.
    • For example, if a supervisor frequently complimented your writing abilities, that is something you should highlight in an interview.
  2. Brag about your success:
    • If you helped your former employer meet their sales figures or exceeded your quarterly goals, be sure to mention that in an interview.
    • You should definitely mention any instance from your past positions where you went above and beyond the call of duty.
    • Potential employers want to know what value you can bring to their company, and listing specific figures you met or increased in a former position is a great way to show them.
  3. Don’t exaggerate your abilities:
    • While you are highlighting all the great qualities that will make you a fit for a position, be sure you don’t let things get out of hand. Exaggerating your abilities is pretty much the same thing as lying to a potential employer.
    • For example, if you are proficient with the Microsoft Office Suite, that doesn’t make you an “expert,” or mean that you are capable of using Excel to do anything an employer might need you to.
    • Be honest and let a potential employer know that you are confident and comfortable handling a task, without leading them to believe you are an expert at it.
    • On the other hand, if you are an expert at a task, be sure to tell them. Any certifications or training courses you have taken are definitely worth mentioning.

If you can learn how to brag in a tasteful way, without exaggerating your abilities or being overly arrogant, you are sure to have many successful interviews in your future.

WAI Staff

Whitman Associates is a professional staffing agency serving businesses and job seekers in the Washington, D.C. area. Since 1972, we’ve been dedicated to matching highly qualified candidates with a wide variety of temporary, temp-to-hire and permanent positions. We prioritize the needs of both our clients and candidates to ensure successful, lasting relationships.