In the workplace, many talented and hardworking professionals get passed over for promotions, new opportunities, or recognition. It’s not because they lack the skills or accomplishments—they simply don’t know how to advocate for themselves and showcase their value effectively. Just like in marketing, your success is only as visible as what you can prove. If you want to grow in your career, you need to learn how to tell the right story about your achievements and make others notice your impact.

Here’s how you can advocate for yourself in a way that gets you noticed, whether you’re aiming for a promotion or seeking a new job.

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Why People Get Passed Over: Visibility Matters

Even in a workplace where merit and effort are valued, it’s not uncommon for skilled employees to be overlooked. This often happens because they assume their hard work will naturally speak for itself. The reality is that people notice what you make them notice. Without clear, visible evidence of your contributions, you can easily get lost in the shuffle.

In marketing, we know that a brand’s value is only as strong as its ability to demonstrate that value to the customer. The same applies to your career: your worth in the workplace is only as clear as the story you tell about your skills, successes, and contributions.

Telling Your Success Story: It’s All About Impact

To advocate for yourself, you need to tell a compelling story about your success—but not just any story. The key is to present concise, high-impact evidence of your value. This isn’t about a long-winded explanation of everything you’ve done. It’s about getting to the point and highlighting when and where you’ve made the most impact.

1. Use Bullet Points, Not Essays

When you’re presenting your accomplishments, less is more. Instead of going into detailed explanations, focus on bullet points that outline your major achievements. This makes it easier for decision-makers to quickly grasp your contributions without getting bogged down by too much information.

For example, instead of saying, “I led a team to complete a six-month project,” be specific and impactful:

• Increased project efficiency by 20% through process improvements.
• Managed a team of five to deliver the project two weeks ahead of schedule.

These bullet points highlight the measurable impact of your work, which is far more compelling than vague statements.

2. Data Visualization: Make Your Impact Visible

Numbers and data tell a powerful story. Whenever possible, quantify your achievements. Metrics like revenue growth, cost savings, or customer retention rates offer undeniable proof of your value. Data visualization—whether in the form of graphs, charts, or performance reports—helps paint a clear picture of your contributions.

For example, if you helped reduce expenses or increase sales, showcase that:

• Reduced operational costs by 15%, saving the company $50,000 annually.
• Increased client retention by 25%, contributing to a $200,000 revenue boost.

These data points make it easy for others to understand your impact at a glance and provide concrete evidence of your success.

3. Focus on the Big Picture

When advocating for yourself, it’s essential to show how your contributions fit into the broader goals of the organization. How did your efforts help the company grow, improve efficiency, or solve a problem? Framing your achievements in the context of the company’s overall objectives will make your impact more relatable and significant to decision-makers.

Instead of focusing solely on your individual tasks, connect them to company-wide success:

• Played a key role in increasing the company’s market share by leading a new product launch.
• Drove team performance improvements that contributed to overall department goals.

Advocating for Promotions: Why You Deserve It

Whether you’re seeking a promotion or vying for a leadership position, it’s crucial to communicate not only what you’ve done, but what you deserve now. You must position yourself as someone who is ready to take on more responsibility and deliver even greater value to the organization.

1. Demonstrate Growth and Leadership

Show that you’re not just performing your current role well, but that you’re already operating at the level of the position you’re seeking. Highlight any leadership roles you’ve taken on, even if they weren’t part of your formal job description.

For instance:

• Led cross-departmental initiatives to improve workflow, resulting in 10% faster project completion rates.
• Mentored junior team members, leading to a 30% improvement in their performance metrics.

By illustrating that you’re already making leadership-level contributions, you make a compelling case for a promotion.

2. State What You Bring to the Next Role

When advocating for yourself, don’t just focus on what you’ve done in the past—show what you plan to bring to the next role. What new ideas, innovations, or strategies will you implement if given the opportunity to advance?

For example:

• “In the next six months, I plan to introduce a new client onboarding process that could reduce onboarding time by 25%.”
• “I’m looking to implement AI-driven analytics tools that could increase our marketing ROI by 20%.”

This forward-looking approach demonstrates that you’re not only ready for the role, but you’re also thinking strategically about how you can deliver value in the future.

Advocating for a New Job: Crafting the Right Story

If you’re in the job market, knowing how to advocate for yourself becomes even more critical. Hiring managers are reviewing dozens of resumes and interviewing many candidates, so it’s essential that your value stands out quickly and clearly.

1. Tailor Your Resume to Each Job

Just as you tailor marketing messages to different audiences, you should customize your resume for each job application. Highlight the skills and accomplishments that are most relevant to the position you’re applying for.

Use bullet points and metrics to show why you’re the right candidate:

• Increased sales by 30% in one year by developing new client acquisition strategies, which directly aligns with the job’s focus on business growth.

2. Tell a Cohesive Story During Interviews

During job interviews, focus on telling a cohesive story about your career progression. Highlight key moments where you made an impact, demonstrated leadership, or overcame challenges. Make sure each point ties back to the value you bring to the potential employer.

For instance:

• “In my last role, I was able to streamline our reporting process, saving the team 10 hours a week, and I’m confident I could bring the same level of efficiency to your company.”

Own Your Value and Make It Visible

Ultimately, the ability to advocate for yourself—whether for a promotion or a new job—comes down to one thing: showing your value. Your skills and accomplishments deserve recognition, but you need to make them visible to others. By focusing on concise, impactful storytelling and using data to back up your success, you can ensure that you stand out, make people notice, and get the opportunities you deserve.