How to sell yourself without lying
"I want to sell myself well but don't want to lie"
You're not alone.
Here's the basic framework we ask job seekers to use when communicating to persuade with integrity.
Let's imagine you're interviewing for a sales role in tech.
Think of the set of things about you that is true:
A) You might have blacked out drunk this weekend.
B) You might have suffered with depression in college.
C) You may have overindulged on the box of ice cream in your freezer last night and consumed 14,000 calories.
Now think of the set of things that is true about you BUT also likely to indicate that you may be great at this role and ONLY think of those things:
A) You used to be a real estate consultant where you sold houses on commission
B) You are really savvy with computers and even built a computer program a few times that you got your friends to use
Even though you've never held a formal "sales title" or "worked in tech" according to common definitions, you still HAVE the relevant experience.
So don't be afraid to believe that you have and show that you have.
In interviews, talk about your experience as an "Account Executive" in "Real Estate" who has prior experience founding a consumer App that you acquired users for.
You're being truthful and being compelling.
–
Finding these articles valuable?
Reply with “Yes” so I don’t take you off my list.
The real power is in framing your existing experiences in a way that highlights your skills and transferable knowledge. It's all about understanding how your past roles, even if not directly aligned, can demonstrate your potential.
Thanks for this short and useful article, Kareem.
YES. Selling yourself shouldn’t feel like performing a magic trick. If you have to stretch the truth to sound impressive, something’s off. The best way to stand out is to own what you actually bring to the table.
I tell people all the time—alignment sells. When your messaging matches your energy, you attract the right opportunities without the ick factor.