How to Stand Out Professionally

In a crowded job market for data analysts, you must find a way to stand out! Here is why you need to differentiate yourself and how to do it: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁: • Bootcamps and online courses are producing tons of new data analysts with very similar basic technical skill sets. • More senior data analysts are competing for junior positions as they seek new jobs after being laid off by large tech companies. • For every new position, we receive hundreds of applications quickly. Your only chances are to trust your luck or find a way to stand out from the other candidates. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗧𝗼 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳: 1. 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 as data analytics is about understanding the needs of your stakeholders, solving problems in a structured way, and communicating your results to a non-technical audience. Knowing the tools is only half of the job.     2. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗼 to showcase that you can handle real-world projects relevant to your target industry. And again you should not just show your technical skills, but how you approach a data project end-to-end and what its business impact would be. It is also a great way to gain relevant domain knowledge.     3. 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝗜 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 as data analytics workflows become more and more augmented by it. AI can support you with quick explorative analytics, generate datasets, and help you understand the domain in which you're working.     4. 𝗕𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 and network with professionals in your target industry, attend relevant meetups, and engage with online communities. Building strong relationships can give you access to opportunities without competing with hundreds of other candidates.     5. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 as the success will not come overnight. Keep applying, learning from feedback, and continuously refining your skills. Persistence will eventually lead to that one “yes” you need. Landing a job in the current market isn’t easy, but by following these steps you can boost your chances. What are your top tips for standing out in the job market? ---------------- ♻️ 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 to post others on their journey into data analytics. ➕ 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 for more daily insights on how to grow your career in the data field. #dataanalytics #datascience #jobmarket #jobhunt #careergrowth

Landing interviews but not turning any into job offers? Try a Value Validation Project (VVP). It’s the closest thing to a silver bullet in the job search. Here’s how it works in 8 simple steps: 1. What Is A Value Validation Project (VVP)? A VVP is a deliverable that illustrates your value on your terms. It shows initiative and enables you to prove your worth beyond a resume and a few interview answers. 2. Start With Research - Scan the company’s website - Listen to interviews with execs - Watch product tutorials - Read customer reviews - Use the product yourself - Analyze the competition Learn as much as you can, then use that to... 3. Identify An Angle Look for a gap in their strategy, a challenge they’re facing, or an opportunity. The key is ensuring it aligns with the role you’re interviewing for. That gives you a chance to showcase your skills in relation to a real business need. 4. Brainstorm Ideas Think of three ideas you could pitch to help the company. I love using ChatGPT for this: - Add the company’s website - Mention the angle you found - Share the research you did - Ask it to brainstorm 10 ways you could add value 5. Package Your Ideas In A Slide Deck Slide #1: Cover slide with a compelling title Slide #2: Quote from the company/executive framing the problem Slide #3: High-level outline of your ideas Slides #4-9: Present a problem/opportunity and your specific solution Slide #10: Quick bio + links to your resume & LinkedIn 6. When To Share Your VVP Ideally, you’d share your VVP ahead of your first interview. But it’s never too late. VVPs can be effective at any point in the process, even after a rejection. The key is to share them as early as you’re able given your situation. 7. When To Create A VVP I do NOT recommend making VVPs for every job you apply to. Instead, use these 3 criteria: 1. You already landed an interview 2. This is a *dream* company you’d do anything to work for 3. You’ve networked with someone who can refer you in (most common) 8. What If They Steal Your Ideas? This can happen. But the downside of it is far outweighed by the benefits of winning an offer at a company that sees the value in the extra effort, has a culture of recognizing people who go above and beyond, and is going to pay you what you’re worth. If you follow the criteria in Step #7 for when to create them, you minimize the risk while maximizing the upside.

The secret to standing out isn’t being the best—it’s being different. You don’t need to compete with others on their terms; instead, build a unique combination of skills that only you can bring to the table. This is how you carve a path that’s uniquely yours. This is the advice I shared with young people who feel the pressure to be the “best.” Comparing yourself with others can be an exhausting downward spiral. Your uniqueness is your superpower. Rewrite the rules to work for you. When you’re starting out, carve out a niche. The more narrow it is, the easier it is to stand out and excel. Once you gain a foothold, you can broaden your skillset and expand your impact. Think of it as building a “skills stack.” The idea is simple but powerful: instead of trying to master one area, combine complementary skills from different domains. Each skill you acquire becomes a multiplier for the others. You don’t need to be the best at any single skill—being good at a unique combination is enough to make you stand out. Early in my career, I specialized as an economist. But over time, I recognized that solving complex problems required a multifaceted approach. So, I adapted: blending economics with history, financial markets with psychology, and finance with storytelling. This interdisciplinary approach allowed me to create my own game. Following my own path made work feel like a journey, not a competition. It kept me from getting lost in the trap of comparison. Start small: Choose a skill you’re curious about and think about how it could enhance what you already know. Over time, your stack will grow, making you uniquely equipped for opportunities no one else can match. The world doesn’t need more copies. It needs you, as you are. How are you building your own skills stack? And what advice would you give to those striving to be the best?

“I always thought my work will speak for itself.” She said this during a session I was leading a few weeks ago. I was in Goa, sitting in my hotel room, and as soon as those words left her mouth, the whole virtual room went silent. That belief runs deep in many of us. Keep your head down. Work hard. People will notice. It sounds noble. It feels safe. But it’s not true. I asked her, “Does work really speak? Does it have words?” She looked at me, surprised. That morning, when I opened the curtains, I saw the windowpane covered in condensation. Behind it was a beautiful garden, green, fresh, alive. But from where I sat, it was just a blur. That’s what happens when we assume our work will speak for itself. The effort is real. The results are there. But to everyone else, it’s hidden, blurred, out of focus. Unless you wipe the glass, no one sees the full picture. Think about it. Your manager is juggling a hundred priorities. Your leadership team is buried in reviews, targets, and crises. Your colleagues are facing their own challenges. Do you really think they’ll remember what you did in March when performance reviews happen in December? Work doesn’t shout. At best, it whispers. And in today’s noise, whispers get lost. She asked me, “So what do I do?” Here’s what I told her: You don’t have to brag. You don’t have to pull others down. But you do have to speak, clearly and courageously. ⇢ Say what you did.   ⇢ Say why it mattered.   ⇢ Say the outcome.   ⇢ Say how it connects to the bigger journey.  That’s not arrogance; that’s accountability. That’s not politics; that’s leadership. And here’s what most people miss: It’s not me vs them. It’s me and them. Teams aren’t built on silent performers. They’re built on people who make their impact visible, so others can build on it. The truth is, if you can’t put words to your work, who will? I’ve seen too many talented professionals get stuck waiting for someone to notice. They didn’t realize hope is not a strategy. Silent excellence rarely gets rewarded. Visible impact does. And visibility isn’t vanity. It’s clarity. It’s wiping the glass so others can finally see what’s been there all along. By the end of the session, when I checked in, I saw her face. Thoughtful. Relieved. Because she realized her work wasn’t the problem; her silence was. And that’s what I want to leave you with today: Your work is the foundation. Your voice is the amplifier. Without the amplifier, even the best music gets lost in the noise. So here’s my question: Are you still waiting for your work to speak? Or are you ready to give it a voice? #careershifts

VCs hate crowded markets. But here’s how to win anyway. Too many founders build for “everyone.” Too much noise. Too little focus. Here’s how to stand out: → Niche hard - Don’t be another AI sales tool - Be the AI sales tool for veterinarians - Specific = powerful → Map the climb - Start small and then grow with purpose - Vertical: Add more tools for your core niche - Horizontal: Expand into industries that look just like it → Hack your CAC - Know how you’ll get customers cheaply - Tap connections and nail the partnerships - Show your ability to grow without burning out → Be the expert - Teach VCs something they didn’t know - Share hot takes and challenge assumptions - Be the founder, they learn from → Own the battlefield - Don’t ignore the competition - Out-think them and out-position them - Make it obvious you’re the pick Crowded markets don’t scare smart founders. They scare the average ones. So don’t be average. Build sharp. Pitch sharper. What niche are you tackling? Let’s go! --- ♻ Repost to help your network reach its full potential. And follow Peter Korbel for more content!

How 3 unconventional strategies transformed my client's visibility with senior management, and the results that followed. Bhaskar*, a client of mine, a highly-accomplished senior leader aiming to become a partner at his firm, came to me for support. The reason? A crowded and competitive talent pool of high achievers, making it difficult to stand out and grow to the next level. He was also uncomfortable with self-promotion, fearing it might come across as insincere or boastful. The consistent feedback he received was that he needed to improve his visibility and stand out more to his leadership team. To tackle these challenges, we implemented 3 unconventional strategies. Why unconventional? To elevate yourself above the competition and make a lasting impression on senior leadership, think beyond the ordinary. 1. Challenge the Status Quo (Diplomatically) Senior leaders value innovation, but challenging norms can be risky. Approach it carefully - suggest improvements by framing them as enhancements to existing processes, like proposing a digital solution to replace a slow manual task. This shows you're forward-thinking without dismissing others' efforts. 2. Leverage Social Proof Internally Encourage colleagues or managers to highlight your contributions during their updates to senior leaders. For example, remind your manager to mention your key role in a project’s success during leadership meetings. Praise from others amplifies your visibility authentically. 3. Develop a “Signature” Leadership Style Create a distinct leadership style that sets you apart, like being known for turning around underperforming teams. A memorable style tied to positive outcomes makes you more recognizable and influential to senior leaders. Thanks to these strategies, Bhaskar was not only able to stand out but also secure the promotion he had been striving for. He was promoted to partner with a 35% salary increase, proving that with the right approach, visibility and recognition are within reach - even in the most competitive environments. The journey to boosting visibility and credibility in a competitive landscape can be tough. As a coach with a track record of success, I specialize in guiding clients to success in senior leadership roles. Contact me to discuss how we can work together. *Bhaskar, name changed for privacy.

Don’t Just List Tasks—Showcase Your Value on Your CV Your CV should not be a list of the jobs you’ve held—it should demonstrate the unique impact you’ve made throughout your career. Yet, so many CVs end up being little more than task lists. Take a look at this. 👉 Instead of saying, “Managed social media accounts,” Say, “Increased social media engagement by 45% in six months through targeted campaigns.” See how one focuses on tasks and the other highlights results? Employers want to see the value you bring, not just what you were told to do. A Client’s Success Story: I recently worked with a client who was in marketing. Her CV initially read like a job description: “Created email campaigns” and “Collaborated with sales teams.” While this is great for using key works and incorporating the job description, it just doesn't have any impact. We reframed her experience to focus on results: ✅ “Launched email campaigns that boosted open rates by 25%, contributing to a 15% increase in sales leads.” ✅ “Developed cross-departmental strategies with sales, resulting in a streamlined funnel and increased conversion rates by 10%.” The result? Not only did her CV stand out, but it led to interviews where she could discuss her real contributions. Here are some ways you can showcase value on your CV: 1️⃣ Use numbers, percentages, or metrics to quantify your achievements. 2️⃣ Highlight the outcomes and benefits of your work, not just the actions. 3️⃣ Start bullet points with strong action verbs like boosted, increased, reduced, streamlined, or led. Make it clear why you’re the one who can deliver results. www.joanneleecoaching.com 👉🏻Employers - let us know in the comments what you are looking for on a CV in 2025. #cvwriting #careercoaching #careerdevelopment #jobsearchtips

I let my work speak for itself for 3 years. My VP told me: “we had no idea what you were doing.” You think delivering the work is enough. Leadership only rewards work they can see. 10 reasons “letting your work speak for itself” keeps you invisible (what to do instead): 1/ Update via Slack. ↳ Update via a real conversation. Written updates get skimmed. Real conversations get remembered. 2/ Share the polished deliverable. ↳ Share the complexity it took to get there. Polish hides the value. Complexity reveals your judgment. 3/ Assume decision-makers know what you did. ↳ Tell them directly. They see your name in Slack. They don’t know what you decide. 4/ Let your manager advocate for you. ↳ Advocate for yourself in every 1:1. Your manager has 8 direct reports. You have you. 5/ Save your wins for review season. ↳ Surface a win every month. Review-season memory is short. Monthly wins compound. 6/ Send tactical status updates. ↳ Send decision-forcing updates. Status gets ignored. Decisions get responded to. 7/ “Just letting you know” your work. ↳ “Here’s the call I made” on your work. “Letting you know” reads as FYI. “The call I made” reads as authority. 8/ Talk about tasks completed. ↳ Talk about judgment calls made. Tasks make you a doer. Decisions make you a leader. 9/ Deliver the work quietly. ↳ Narrate what it took, out loud. Silent delivery erases you. Narration cements you. 10/ Wait to be recognized. ↳ Name your impact in your own words. Recognition doesn’t happen to you. You author it. You can be humble AND visible. You can be collaborative AND named. Your work doesn’t speak for you. You speak for your work. 💾 Save this for your next 1:1. --- ♻️ Repost to help your network 🔔 Follow Shivani Berry to advance in your career in the age of AI

The longer your resume, the more experienced you look. This is one of the most common mistakes I see from senior professionals. They add every role and every responsibility they've ever touched. And wonder why they are not getting callbacks. A long resume does not make you look more experienced. It makes you look unfocused. At the leadership level, hiring managers are not reading your resume line by line. They are scanning for three things in under 10 seconds. → Can this person solve my problem? → Have they done it before? → Are they operating at the right level? A resume packed with tasks and responsibilities answers none of those questions. Having reviewed 1000s of resumes as a hiring manager and now as an executive coach, here are 6 outdated practices to remove from your senior level resume today. ❌References available upon request: hiring managers already know this, use that space to show what you have accomplished instead ❌ Your full address: not necessary and creates privacy risks, your city and province/state is enough ❌ An objective statement: this focuses on what you want, replace it with a professional summary that communicates your leadership value immediately ❌ Writing in third person or huge paragraphs: your resume is not a biography, keep it sharp, punchy and results focused ❌ Listing skills without context: if you cannot show where and how you used them, they add nothing ❌ Including every job you have ever had: anything beyond 15 years adds noise not value, focus on relevance not quantity Your resume is not a record of everything you have done. It is a marketing document for the role you want next. Less is more. Clarity wins.

Before becoming an Executive, I was an INVISIBLE contributor for the first 10 years of my career. (you probably are too) I was: Dreaming of recognition but → keeping my head down and hoping someone would notice Dreaming of promotions but → waiting for my turn instead of advocating for myself Dreaming of leadership roles but → staying quiet in meetings to avoid rocking the boat Dreaming of making an impact but → underselling my achievements to appear humble Turning point? I got snubbed for promotions not once, not twice but THREE times. Staying quiet was getting me a first-class seat at my DESK. After the third snub, I realized: I can't stay quiet and expect someone to notice me. I will always care more about my career than anyone else. I can't expect someone to articulate our value for me. I worked on: Actively sharing my accomplishments: "Our team's productivity increased 30% last quarter due to the new process I implemented." Clearly communicating my career goals: "I expressed my interest in leading the upcoming project to my manager, highlighting my relevant skills." Volunteering for high-visibility projects: "I took charge of presenting our department's quarterly results to the executive team." Quantifying and presenting my contributions: "I created a dashboard showing how my initiatives saved the company $500K annually." I eventually became an executive once I put these into practice. You don't need to change jobs every time you hit a roadblock. Or throw money at the problem with another degree or certificate. Learning to articulate your value can make all the difference. To master value articulation: Keep a detailed record of your achievements Align your work with company objectives and highlight this connection Practice describing your impact in concise, compelling ways Seek opportunities to present your work to leadership Regularly update your manager on your progress and aspirations Remember: "Your work speaks for itself, but only if you give it a voice." #aLITTLEadvice