Amanda,
After eight years of being in VP roles, I realized that I have been fulfilling Director duties, which is now holding me back from getting hired. Should I reframe my resume and revert my previous titles to Director roles? Is this what they mean by imposter syndrome? Help!
From,
Imposter
Dear Imposter,
Don’t sell yourself short. Your eight years in VP roles are a testament to your skills and experience. The teams that hired you saw your potential and believed you were worthy of those VP titles. Imposter? You are no such thing; you are the real deal.
Now, some roles may not directly translate - a VP at a $20m company might not be a VP at a publicly traded $1b company - and that’s okay.
As you seek new roles, give less weight to your titles and more to roles, responsibilities, and strategic projects. Don’t underestimate the power of your hard-earned results.
Often, past performance is a leading indicator of future success. Translate your experience for potential employers and what it means in the context of their business and goals. Instead of reframing your resume, be prepared to discuss how those VP titles at smaller companies translate to the position, title, and company to which you are applying.
Best,
a.k.a. Ask Amanda
About Ask Amanda
Ask Amanda is an advice column for you to anonymously submit questions about the soft skills and hard topics you need to master as a go-to-market leader.
With a deep understanding of how EQ shapes decision-making, team dynamics, and lasting success, Amanda McGuckin Hager of TrueDialog is here to help you unlock your leadership potential, one question at a time.
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