A few months ago, I was prepping a senior civil servant - let’s call him Mark - for a high-stakes job interview. A high level government role at a global organization was on the line.
Mark had been in leadership for over 20 years. He had a stellar résumé, an impressive LinkedIn profile, Harvard educated, and a long list of job titles that could make your head spin.
When I asked him, “So, why should we hire you?” (I conduct job interview simulations with a team of industry leaders; stressful for my clients but it works)
He smiled confidently and said, “Well, I have over two decades of experience leading teams, navigating change during Covid-19 and ….”
Sounds solid, right?
You’d think. Yet, we stopped him mid-sentence.
Here’s the thing: I’ve heard that answer a hundred times before. So has every hiring manager and recruiter.
And while experience is important, it’s no longer the mic-drop moment people think it is.
In a nutshell:
Your job experience tells us how long you’ve been there.
It doesn’t tell us what you’ve done, skills you deployed or the results you’ve achieved.
The Comfort Trap of “Job Experience”
There’s this trap a lot of professionals fall into, especially those who’ve been in their industry for a while.
We lean on longevity. We lead with titles. We assume people know what we’re capable of because of how long we’ve been doing it.
But time in the role doesn’t always equal value in the role.
Let’s be real: We all know someone who’s been doing the same job for 15 years, and hasn’t grown an inch. They are still using outdated methods, still clocking in, still playing it safe.
On the flip side, I’ve worked with people 5 years in who are solving big problems, creating real impact, and transforming how their organizations operate.
So when you lead with “I’ve been doing this for 25 years,” that’s not always the flex you think it is.
🤔 Don’t worry if you picked the first, second or fourth option, most people do. But if you want to shift to leading with impact, keep reading (and maybe reach out 😉).
What You Should Be Saying
Back to Mark. One our our team members, Angela, gently pushed back and said, “That’s great, but what did those 20 years actually produce?”
Once we allowed Mark to dig deeper, we uncovered some powerful receipts:
He’d led a company-wide restructuring that saved $12 million in its first year.
He mentored five junior managers who are now in director roles.
He transformed a fractured team in a volatile international post into high-performing team who produced results on the ground with different civil society groups.
Suddenly, his answer wasn’t just “I’ve got experience.” It was:
“In my last role, I led a transformation that saved the company $12M annually. I’ve built strong, resilient teams that outperform benchmarks, and I’ve consistently delivered results that align with both policy and culture goals. That’s the kind of value I’ll bring to your team.”
Now that is compelling.
OMG! We broke out into applause.
What happened with Mark? He landed the role at the global organization and traveling all over the world negotiating and leading all kind of important conversations.
Last time, he checked in, he was in South Korea, then Dubai excelling in the job he was hired to do.
Receipts Over Résumé
These days, people don’t just want to know what you did.
They want to know:
What problems did you solve?
What changed because you were there?
What can you do for us next?
You need to articulate your impact, not just your job history.
That’s how you Own Your Value.
So if you're still leading with:
❌ “I have 15 years in the industry”
❌ “I’ve held multiple senior roles”
❌ “I’ve worked at top companies”
You may be underselling yourself.
Instead, lead with:
✅ “I grew a stagnant market by 40% in 18 months”
✅ “I helped increase retention by building a leadership pipeline”
✅ “I created systems that saved time, money, and headaches”
Or whatever… that is the best examples the AI tool delivered for me, but you get the general gist.
In The Final Analysis
People can Google your title.
They can scan your résumé.
What they can’t see—unless you tell them—is the value you’ve delivered.
And that’s where we come in.
In our Own Your Value™ Personal Branding Masterclass, we help high-performing professionals like you uncover your true differentiators.
We coach you to clarify you who are, the values you believe it, the skills that you have. Then how to effectively convey to recruiters how those things show up in how your work, the methodologies you deploy, and the results that you achieve.
We are reframing how people own and communicate their value. They leave our workshops with more clarity, confidence and credibility - and never more ready for their next big opportunity.
👊 Let’s make sure the world sees your impact, not just your long tenure at your job.
🤔 Before You Go…
Your answer might shape my next blog or the next tool I build for leaders like you.
Like this entry, leave a comment, DM ME, or restack so others can benefit.
And When You’re Ready to Define Your Personal Brand…
At least, one that is clear, and true to who you are, start here:
📺 Watch my free recorded webinar to learn why personal branding is your most valuable career tool today. I break it all down: what personal branding really means, why it matters, and how to start owning your value.
Want to Go Deeper, Here Are 3 Ways to Work With Me:
Own Your Value™ Personal Branding Masterclass
This self-paced masterclass walks you through how to define your brand from the inside out—your human skills, expertise, values, and the unique impact you bring. Ideal whether you're job-seeking, pivoting, or leveling up in your field.
1:1 Personal Branding Coaching & Career Mentoring
Work with me directly to clarify the key assets that comprise your personal brand, craft your brand strategy, impact story, and positioning so you can show up powerfully in interviews, leadership roles, or your business.
Brand YOU: Reinvent Yourself, Redefine Your Future
My signature book—now used in two MBA programs on Strategic Leadership—offers a step-by-step guide to discovering your personal brand from the inside out. A powerful place to begin.
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