3 Ways to Prove Your Worth to Future Employers

They are looking for people like you.

“Am I good enough to take this job?” — these were my concerns any time I was looking for a new workplace.

I was not confident in my skills and experience as a marketer for some reason.

Some say it’s an impostor syndrome. They suggested getting rid of it and moving on. But I realized a problem is much bigger than that.

Like me, many young professionals struggle with these:

• CVs aren’t a big deal anymore.
• You are expected to share your projects and achievements during the interview. But what if those are under NDA?
• Massive competition for well-paid jobs.
• Generalists (someone with broad knowledge across many topics) struggle to find suitable workplaces.

Half of the problem is solved if you already know and think about these issues. In this article, I’ll share how to deal with the second half.

A must-have for every professional

No, I am not talking about a CV.

Most of my former employers did not even check my resume when I was hired. Instead, everyone wanted to see a portfolio.

A portfolio is a collection of projects you did in the past, which helps assess your skills and experience.

We used to think that creative professionals, like designers and architects, need a portfolio. The reality is everyone needs it in the creator economy.

• SMM specialists need to show how they effectively leverage social media.
• Content writers are required to show their publications.
• Copywriters are expected to prove their copy drives action.

I can continue this list on and on, but you get the point.

Employers want to know what you achieved, not only what you did. That’s why candidates with a strong portfolio stand out on the market and have higher chances to land a dream job.

Let me briefly share my case as it might be helpful for someone.

I worked as a generalist marketer for several years, dealing with different tasks. I gained knowledge in many areas but did not become an expert in any of them.

Later, I realized I wanted to focus on content, SEO writing, and site optimization. Therefore, I’ve been working on my portfolio since 2020. Here is what I show to employers if I want to land a particular marketing job:

• My profile on this platform with over 200 writing samples and 3k followers.
• A list of my top-performing posts with stats, like this one.
• A few examples of optimized and high-ranking blog posts I wrote for my former clients.
• My website (more on this later).
• My LinkedIn profile (more on this later too).

That’s basically it. I occasionally share more examples if requested.

Regardless of your area of work, you can also share some of these to prove your worth:

• Project details (your personal or client work)
• Testimonials
• Key achievements (people love to talk about numbers)
• Awards, certificates, recognitions

If your portfolio contains any of these, you’ll be way ahead of your rivals.

A solid LinkedIn profile

A LinkedIn profile is like a CV, but better.

It’s your ticket to the big world of endless opportunities.

Over 100 million professionals browse LinkedIn daily who might be looking for someone like you.

If your profile is catchy, employers will reach out to you independently. You won’t need to spend time searching and applying. Instead, recruiters will do this job for you.

I get a few juicy offers through my LinkedIn profile every month. Here is what recruitment through LinkedIn taught me:

• CV is dead. Now, recruiters want to see and feel your personality before they even reach out to you. LinkedIn is one of the ways to do it.
• You have to sell your expertise online. Otherwise, no one will care about what you do.
• It’s easy to get connected. A personalized message on LinkedIn is better than a dry email.

Moreover, many people find jobs by simply posting, “I am available for hire. Any suggestions?” — This is the power of LinkedIn!

Do your future self a favor, and set up your LinkedIn profile!

Here is what you can include that proves your worth to employers:

• Short and to-the-point “About” section. This format works well for me.
• The “Experience” section with a focus on tasks and tools you used at work.
• List certificates and awards. For instance, “Content Marketing Certification by Hubspot. “
• Client testimonials are super convincing.
• If you have links to a portfolio or any other samples of work, I highly recommend featuring them too, like this:

A personal digital space

In other words, your own website.

You don’t have to be a developer to run a personal website these days. There are dozens of website builders that can help you create a powerful website in a few hours.

A website is a distinguishing factor for a few reasons:

• It signals you are not lazy but hard-working. It’s a sign that you are dedicated to growing professionally despite other duties (full-time job).
• You know a bunch of things besides your primary responsibilities. Like, copywriting, basics of HTML, SEO, etc. These are in-demand skills for employers.
• It tells what you can achieve better than any words. A well-performing site is proof you can do the same for your employer.

Apart from all these benefits, running a website, even as a side hustle, can be financially rewarding.

I launched Self Made Millennials website in July 2021 as a personal digital space and as a place for experiments. As of March 3rd, 2022, it has over 60k impressions and two pages ranking in the top 10 on Google.

Furthermore, I collaborated with a few outstanding professionals and one world-known brand, who found me via my website.

Final thoughts

“Demonstrating the potential to do more” is what distinguishes high achievers from average workers.

You don’t have to be extraordinary.

Remember that success is just 1% of talent and 99% of hard work?

If you want to land the job of your dream, do something for it.

Prepare a portfolio that will impress recruiters and speak about your expertise. Create a LinkedIn profile that will sell your skills or a personal digital space, like a website.

You have to cast a net to catch a big fish.

Don’t rely on destiny to make crucial decisions instead of you. If you passionately want to land a particular job, proof that you are worth it.

Download my free guide with 5 proven ways to make money writing that will let you work for yourself from home even if you have zero former experience.