Office English: Selling Yourself at Work

Introduction

• Discussion about the discomfort with self-promotion.
• Importance of selling yourself for:
  • Confidence from others, like managers and colleagues.
  • Personal self-confidence.

What Does "Selling Yourself" Mean?

• Metaphorical Definition:
  • Not literally selling but promoting your skills and achievements.
  • Important for career advancement.

When to Sell Yourself

• In situations like:
  • Job interviews.
  • Meetings with bosses regarding career progress.
  • Conversations with potential customers or clients.

How to Talk About Your Strengths

• Useful Phrases:
  • "I think I particularly excel at..."
  • "I'm really proud of my record on..."
  • "I put a lot of work into... which has been really successful."
• Importance of specifics and evidence:
  • Using statistics, e.g., 10% increase in productivity.
  • Sharing stories or anecdotes to demonstrate change and impact.

Types of Interview Questions

1. Tell us about yourself:
   • Focus on what makes you good for the job, not personal interests.
2. How did you feel about a particular situation?
   • Emphasizes learning from experiences, not merely feelings.
3. Why did you apply to this job?
   • Link personal skills and attraction to the company or position.

Modesty vs. Self-Promotion

• Modesty:
  • Not boasting about achievements can be nice but ineffective in interviews.
• Balance is crucial:
  • Be modest in general, confident about achievements in job settings.

Conclusion

• Recognizing opportunities to self-promote is key.
• Encouragement for listeners to share feedback and questions for future episodes.

Resources

• Other podcasts from BBC Learning English (e.g., 6 Minute English).
• Visit website for more English learning resources - bbclearningenglish.com.