I’ve talked about the need for a professional elevator pitch before. You should be able to briefly describe who you are, what you do, who you help, and how you make that happen.

This is different than the old tried and true “profession + company” framework. You know the one, “I’m a software engineer at Intuit.”

Never let yourself be defined by who your employer is.

Don’t let yourself be pigeon-holed with a job title, either.

Instead, consider how you would aspirationally describe and sell yourself. You are probably familiar with the saying, “Dress for the job that you want.”

“You have to dress for the job you want, not the job you have, and you have to start doing the work you want to be doing.” ― Austin Kleon

The same is true for how you describe yourself. If you’re a junior employee and you introduce yourself as a junior employee, then you will always be seen as a junior employee.

Instead, what do you want to be known for? What matters the most to you? Career mobility comes more easil…