Thing 21: Promoting yourself in job applications and at interview

This is something I've been meaning to do for a while, working with a close team I've often thought about what strengths I can bring (apart from my sense of humour and the ability to find cake at short notice) to the team.  So in terms of my task at work my interests and activities are:

• Organsing things - from emails to VLEs, reports to my desk drawer, I love organsing stuff!
• Networking - Meeting new people, introducing myself or the service, getting to know other professionals.
• Training events - Again more the organisational side, finding the right topic and promoting it rather than hosting them.
• Marketing and promotion - Either on the web or in person, creating materials
• Creating resources - Be it links in Delicious or a screen cast.
• Attending events - Conferences, training, meetings I think it comes back to my love of networking
• Visting libraries - I love to see different libraries and innovative services within them
• Working groups - I enjoy working on projects with a defined purpose.
• Current awareness - Keeping up to date with developments in the profession.
• Blogging/Tweeting - Passing on my knowledge in the hopes it helps someone else.
• Trying out new technology - Again so I can pass on my knowledge to help someone else.

In terms of life in general:

• Studying / learning something new - Thinking back I've studied "something" every year since I left high school!
• Knitting - Relaxing but again working on a project with a defined purpose.
• Swimming
• Computer games - PS3 especially, I enjoy all sorts of games
• Watching telly - I am slightly addicted to the Discovery Channel.
• Reading - I'm really enjoying reading from my new Kindle but still visit my local library :-)

 Stuff I dislike:

• Presentations/public speaking
• Waffle
• People who think all librarians just say "Shhhh"

I get deep satisfaction from completing a post on here each time because I'm working towards something.  Recently creating a screen cast to support a colleagues online training session was fantastic.  Not only was I able to pass on my knowledge and create something but hopefully help out several people at the same time, well worth it.  At the time I enjoyed it but didn't realise what an achievement it is and feel very proud of what I have created.

Looking at the lists above I would say my strengths are: 

• Organisational skills
• Networking
• Creative thinking/problem solving
• Attention to detail
• Just try it attitude

My big interview tip is that not all your experience has to come from work.  For example in a previous job role I was asked to organise events.  At work I hadn't had much experience of that but I did help plan events as part of my student union so used my experiences from that. 

I've found this 'Thing' very useful to step back and look at my strengths and weaknesses, it will help plan my chartership portfolio and my personal and professional development over the next year (and beyond).