The Mistake Job Seekers Make When Talking About Their Value (And What to Do Instead)

If You’re Listing Job Duties in Interviews, You’re Missing the Point

One of the most common mistakes I see job seekers make — even really talented, experienced professionals — is talking about their value in terms of responsibilities instead of results.

I hear it all the time in mock interviews and coaching calls:

➡️ “I managed a team of five.”
➡️ “I handled customer accounts.”
➡️ “I was responsible for marketing strategy.”

Here’s the problem: That’s what you did. Not what impact you had.

Hiring managers don’t just want to know what was on your to-do list.
They want to know:
➡️ What changed because you were in that role?
➡️ What did you improve, fix, or create?
➡️ What would you bring to us that you brought to them?

Why Talking About Tasks Doesn’t Work

When you focus on tasks, you blend in.
Everyone in that role does those things.

But when you focus on impact, you stand out.

Think of the difference:

❌ “I led a cross-functional team.”
✅ “I led a cross-functional team that launched a product six weeks early, resulting in $3M in incremental revenue.”

See the difference?
➡️ One is a job duty.
➡️ The other tells me why you matter.

Here’s How to Shift from Tasks to Value (3 Simple Questions)

When you’re preparing to talk about your work in interviews or networking, ask yourself these three questions:

1️⃣ What problem was I solving?

Every job is about solving problems — what was yours?

• Example: “Our sales process was inconsistent, and I was brought in to create a scalable system.”

2️⃣ What action did I take?

What did you do to address that problem?

• Example: “I implemented a new CRM and trained the sales team on a standardized process.”

3️⃣ What was the result?

What happened because of your work?

• Example: “Within six months, we increased conversion rates by 20% and shortened the sales cycle by two weeks.”

A Real Example: How One Client Shifted Their Story and Landed the Role

A sales leader in transition came to me frustrated that interviews weren’t leading to offers.

When we looked at how he was telling his story, it was full of tasks:

• “I managed a sales team.”
• “I developed sales strategies.”

But when we dug deeper, here’s what we found:
➡️ He led a team that turned around a declining territory and grew revenue by 30% in a year.
➡️ He built a strategy that broke into a new market and added $2M in annual sales.

Once he started leading with those results, his confidence grew — and so did employer interest. He landed a role within weeks.

How to Start Reframing Your Value

If you’re not sure how to start, try this exercise:

📝 Take one project or role.

• Problem: What challenge were you brought in to solve?
• Action: What exactly did you do?
• Result: What changed because of you?

Turn that into a 1-2 sentence story you can use in interviews.

Your Next Step

If you’ve been underselling yourself by listing tasks instead of telling impact stories, now’s the time to shift.

You’re not just a job title — you’re someone who creates real results.
Start telling that story.

Want More Help Defining and Communicating Your Value?

Want more support in crafting stories that showcase your value and get you hired? Connect with me on LinkedIn and mention this blog in your invitation to get your free CPG Job Search Resources guide.

Explore more ways to strengthen your job search:

• One-on-One Coaching: Personalized help to uncover and communicate your value.
• CPG Connections Program: Build the relationships that lead to opportunities.
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