In the summer he’d teach class outside. That’s why I’m so good at corporate law and macroeconomic theory–I learned it sitting under a pretty tree!”
”At some point in your profile you’re going to need to talk about yourself. Most people find this difficult, and that’s understandable. How do you talk about all your great qualities without seeming arrogant? How do you list your accomplishments without it looking like a CV? Of course you want to communicate some of your desirable qualities, but there are many ways to do it without sounding like you’re at a job interview. Let’s take a look at some options…
Show, don’t tell. Rather than write down your amazing qualities in point form, communicate them through anecdotes and by portraying your personality. Did you go to an Ivy League school? So tell a funny story about “one of my old Yale professors”. Do you pull a huge salary from your Wall St job? Talk about how you discovered your passion for the world of high finance. Are you the funniest person in any group? Prove it! Tell a funny story, buster.
One of my Yale professors once told me that I have Audrey Hepburn eyes. Sleezy, huh? For some reason I still really liked that old guy. In the summer he’d teach class outside. That’s why I’m so good at corporate law and macroeconomic theory–I learned it sitting under a pretty tree
My favorite way to spend a weekend is to grab some friends after work on Friday (you if you’re lucky), and jump in my car. I have this little place in the Hamptons. It’s kind of run down, but that’s OK because we’ll spend most of the time sailing anyway. Sound good?
List your qualities, but inject enough personality and idiosyncracies so that it sounds nothing like a CV. Talk about your achievements and talents, but add quirks and some wry self-deprecation. Comment on your good qualities to show how they make you more interesting, not just better.
I’m an Ivy League valedictorian, but I learned everything I need to know from Family Guy. Stewie is my sensei.
I can cook a dahl that has made people shed tears of joy. Or was it pain? I use a lot of chilli. Yum.
I’ve been told I look like Cameron Diaz. I’ve also been told I look like Lisa Simpson. Go figure.
I love travel. I’ve been to almost every continent (Africa, here I come!) Sad thing is I’m terrified of flying
Just brag, and to hell with it! Done right, this can make you seem confident, energetic, ambitious, and proud of yourself. Done wrong, you may come across as an ass. The key to successful bragging is to do it with a sense of both humor and humanity. Add a little wit and your reader will forgive a lot of braggadocio. Describe your awesomeness in a personal context, and your reader will be too intrigued to care that you’re so full of yourself.
Yeah, I topped my class at Yale and earn buckets of money on Wall St, but am I happy?? … Hell yeah! But it’s because I actually *love* my job–who knew finance could be such a riot?–but much more importantly I love my family and friends: they keep me humble (sort of).
I’m whip-smart, hilarious, a karaoke god, and can drink you under the table any day of the week. But the most important thing is that I’ll always, always get your drunken, comatose home safe, and you’ll wake up in the morning with a big smile on your face … after you try my famous three-cheese omelet.
So bragging is fine. It’s good to show that you like yourself, and are proud of your achievements. You can even be cocky and a little arrogant. The important thing is to show that, even with all of your awesomeness, you don’t think less of your reader. You need to communicate “I’m pretty cool”, and not “I’m cooler than you”.