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5 Tips for Showing You’re a Trustworthy Professional

Establishing yourself as someone who is “trustworthy” seems at first to be a relatively straightforward proposition. In truth, nothing could be more complicated — or important. Studies show that being trustworthy often has a greater influence on your career than being smart, and correlates with your success as a leader.

Millennials especially might have an uphill battle when it comes to establishing credibility and trustworthiness. Our generation is perceived and branded by others as being disloyal, non-commital, or unprepared.

We’re also independent, self-motivated, and more entrepreneurial than other generations — qualities that require a degree of trustworthiness for which we aren’t getting the credit.

Unfortunately, traditional resumes and LinkedIn profiles don’t really offer the opportunity to show that you’re more than just a generational stereotype. You’ve worked hard to establish your credibility, as those who know you can attest.

Whether you’re new to your job, looking for something new, or just trying to establish yourself and your brand, BULLIT can help you show that you’re someone people can count on. Here are some tips for showing that you’re dependable, both on and off BULLIT’s platform.

  1. Start with the interview. A Harvard Business Review article by Heidi Grant Salvorson argues that trustworthiness is one of those qualities that can’t be tangibly measured in an interview, but is mission critical. She writes, “there are two qualities you need to possess to be seen as trustworthy: warmth and competence. Warmth signals that you have good intentions toward the perceiver, and competence signals that you can act on those good intentions….if you follow the usual interview advice and focus all your energy on highlighting your competence, and forget to telegraph warmth, your interviewer is likely to end up a bit wary of you.” Check the link for some tips on how to answer common interview questions in a way that shows your warmth and competence.
  2. Be a transparent communicator. Especially when you’re working on a big team or in an office where relationships are critical for success, being honest in your work is important. As this article on Monster points out, being transparent doesn’t mean having no filter; it means being professional, showing good judgement, and not stealing from the supply closet.
  3. Be consistent. This came up in our earlier report on self-branding, but consistency is key to showing you’re a trustworthy professional. As Glenn Llopis writes in Forbes, trustworthy managers are those who you feel you can predict. So, if you want to become the boss, show that you’re someone who people can rely on to show good judgement and establish a brand that feels familiar to people over time.
  4. Ask for feedback even when you aren’t on the job hunt. We tend to only update our references when we are making a move. But establishing a history of great feedback is helpful not only when it comes time for the next opportunity, but also when you’re pitching to a new client, joining a different work team, or up for a promotion. BULLIT can help show off your trustworthiness at all times.
  5. Be open to keeping your reviews unhidden. Of course no one wants to see critical feedback broadcast to their public networks. We never want you to feel like your profile is a misrepresentation of who you are in the office, and completely understand the desire to show your best side at all times. But consider leaving those less than flattering reviews on your BULLIT page and responding to comments where necessary. Showing that you can take responsibility and be accountable to questionable feedback will go far toward establishing your trustworthiness. Remember that your BULLIT score is yours to control!

Monster.com has some more great tips for showing that you’re a trustworthy character. At BULLIT, we believe that you are more than just a list of accomplishments and degrees, no matter what stage you’re at in your career. You should be getting credit for the hard work you put in and the value you bring to your teams. Your unique brand can lead to long term career success — so why hide all your best features behind a single sheet of paper? Put BULLIT to work for you and visit bullit.me to sign up for updates today!