Self-promotion is key investment in your career

By Anita Bruzzese

Today there seems to be no lack of shameless self-promotion.

From the national sports star boasting endlessly of athletic skills, to the local car dealer who claims to have the best deals anywhere, we are bombarded with images of braggarts.

And while it can be annoying, there are lessons to be learned about making others aware of your value. It doesn't have to be as blatant as the athlete or the car salesman, but learning to promote your value can reap great benefits on the job.

For example, let's say you recently found a key piece of research that helped persuade a client to sign a big contract. While you didn't do the actual negotiation with the customer or come up with the initial proposal, that doesn't mean your contribution should be dismissed.

That's why it's a good idea to immediately use your contribution to garner a bigger piece of the pie next time. You say to the boss, "I was thrilled to find that key information that helped nail this deal. I think my attention to detail could be used in other projects, and I'd like to discuss some possibilities with you."

In this way, you haven't taken away someone else's glory, but instead have pointed a bit of the spotlight on yourself. And if that makes you feel uncomfortable, get over it.

In today's world where we are constantly bombarded with promotions of people and products, you have to find ways to break through the information overload. Bosses are busy people — the employee who makes it easier to recognize important contributions will have a better chance of furthering a career than one who sits quietly and disappears off the radar screen.

Further, since many of us likely will be changing jobs sometime in the future — either voluntarily or involuntarily — it's critical that past successes be documented. That means you should get recognition in writing, especially in professional journals or in-house newsletters. Being able to submit that information along with a resume will be a definite plus.

It's important to look for all avenues when promoting your abilities to others, and equally important not to go overboard.

One way to do that is to offer to write for an industry publication that outlines how the team accomplished its goal, and the part you played. You want to give others credit where it is due, and can even "interview" others for your article to acknowledge their contribution as well as your own. Forward copies to your boss and other department heads, and even post one on the company bulletin board. (Make sure your name will be listed as the author of the piece.)

Also, you can offer to serve on a panel at a professional conference, or even speak to local civic groups. Any of those events will give legitimacy to your success, and serve as a way to promote yourself as well as your employer. Inquire whether a photo of you giving a speech or presentation can be taken, which can again be posted on a bulletin board at work.

The key to self-promotion is to remember it is an investment in your career. Just as taking a college course or attending a training session is important to growing your skills, so is making sure that your abilities are clearly visible to your current boss, future employers and to those in your industry.

Anita Bruzzese writes for Gannett News Service.