Blog Post: Will you please endorse me?

I recently learned that I am a finalist in the Tampa Bay Business Journal's Business Woman of the Year Contest (entrepreneur category). Yes, this is a shameless plug and not really my focus for writing this blog, but I wanted to mention it to get you thinking about the topic of self promotion. A client explained to me the other day that she is not good at this, i.e. "talking herself up to employers".. Here is the advice I shared with her about how to use the power of your support network to do the "bragging" for you, even during your interviews.

The number one marketing tool that we have these days is our reputation. People tend to believe, right or wrong, what others say about us. This is why websites like

www.yelp.com that review and critique local companies receive heavy traffic. It's a bit embarrassing to admit that I will often make a $300 electronics purchase (or not) based on the recommendation of complete strangers. If I look at the top four (4) reviews and they are all "5 stars", then I typically conclude that my purchase is a good buy; if, on the other-hand, the same strangers were to rate the item with "2 stars", I might choose to stay clear of it. Never mind who these people are dolling out the advice.

What does this all mean for you as a job seeker? The most obvious point to make here is that "warm" leads, those provided by an acquaintance who recommends you to a hiring manager, offer the greatest likelihood of success . However, if you don't have a warm lead, there are several other ways that you can benefit from other people's support including telephone references, recommendation letters and public endorsements.;“.

Be sure that if you put somebody down as a reference that you ask them in advance and then contact them every time you anticipate that an employer will be calling them. If several candidates are in a close neck and neck race, sometimes the deciding factor can come down to whose positive references are received the fastest. When I was hiring, if one candidate's glowing references were completed while I was struggling to obtain others, I would often lose interest in the long chase and look to make an offer to candidate #1. Emphasize to your support network how important it is to promptly return phone calls.

Recommendation letters are something to hold onto for the life of your career. They are great to have, even if the only thing you do with them is read them every once in a while for a confidence boost. You'd do even better to include them in a nice portfolio with clear plastic sleeves and bring them on your interviews. Listen for questions that provide you a natural opportunity to mention the letters. For example, if the recruiter asks you about the most challenging problem you overcame, you could offer to show them a colleague's letter praising you for your project management skills. Then you could elaborate about the project that you tackled together.

In regard to getting people to write reference letters, you have to strike when the iron is hot. If someone is severing ties with your company, and perhaps that person is you, ask for the reference before you go your separate ways. If the timing is wrong, be sure to exchange accurate cell phone numbers and/or email addresses, especially with supervisors, whenever possible. You don't want to lose contact with the people who can help your career the most.

Now here's something that I highly recommend doing that may be difficult for you if you are shy; Offer to write a sample letter for your supporters. People often feel too overwhelmed with their own life to sit down and write a reference letter. They will most likely be relieved if you offer to write the letter for them so that they can review, change and sign it, as they see fit. This is really an ideal exchange because they get to feel really good about doing something for you with a minimal amount of effort and you get exactly what you need.

I was very happy to receive an email from someone the other day asking for an "endorsement"on the web site, Linked In; This is very similar to a reference letter, but it has a bit less formality. It allows your colleague or friend to write as much or as little as they want while still making a positive impact. People can support you by writing a sentence or two next to your profile recommending you for employment or side jobs. These endorsements are highly visible and do a lot to increase your developing reputation . Employers look at these too!

So, before I close, let's get back to my client who felt uncomfortable about selling herself during interviews and the easy way to get around this. I recommend that whenever you are afraid to "brag', quote a friend, a colleague, or even your mother. For example, if they ask, "what is your greatest strength?", you might reply, "well in my performance reviews, my recent supervisor always wrote that I had the best follow through above all of my team members....and that's why I was successful at closing sales. Now, if the only nice words ringing in your head are in your mother's voice, you might do best to say, "people tell me all the time that I have a great sense of humor and that I could make the "grouch" want to come out of his can and share a few laughs. I believe that my client found this approach to be less threatening and a real winner for her; I hope you will, too.

I welcome your comments and input in regard to this blog or any past entry. Please let me know if there is any other topic on your mind.