Your Reputation at Work: The CV Everyone’s Actually Reading
- Caroline Esterson
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
Forget your polished CV. Forget your LinkedIn profile.
The thing that really decides your next opportunity isn’t on paper. It’s the story people tell about you when you’re not in the room.
That story (fair or not) is your reputation. And it walks in before you do.
THE QUESTION IS: ARE YOU SHAPING IT, OR LETTING IT BE SHAPED FOR YOU?
Why Reputation Matters More Than You Think
Your reputation is your most important business asset.
It multiplies (or undermines) your skills. Two people with identical CVs don’t get treated equally. The one known for reliability, collaboration, and adding value gets the gig.
It buys you forgiveness. Everyone screws up. When your reputation is strong, people give you grace and a second chance. Without it, one mistake can feel fatal.
It shapes your opportunities. Promotions, projects, plum assignments often don’t go to the loudest self-promoter, but to the one with the strongest reputation in the room.
Think of it as your career credit score. Not visible, not always logical, but absolutely influential.
What Really Shapes Your Reputation
Your workplace reputation isn’t built in the big moments; rather, it’s built in the “boring” ones: the second meeting of the day, the quick Slack reply, the way you handle pressure when no one’s officially watching.
That’s what people remember.
The question is: are you shaping it on purpose, or letting it slip through the cracks?
Consistency. Doing what you said you’d do, every time. Reliability is underrated until you’re the one who doesn’t have it.
Micro-behaviours. How you reply to emails. Who you acknowledge in a meeting. Whether you’ve read the brief.
The Circle Test. Your reputation isn’t just upward. It’s sideways and downwards too. The way you treat the “less powerful” often defines you more than how you treat the CEO.
How you handle setbacks. A well-owned mistake builds more credibility than a badly hidden one. People notice how you bounce back.
Your reputation is basically a highlight reel of your habits.
How to Build a Reputation That Stands Out
The people who stand out aren’t the noisiest. They’re the ones who consistently, quietly, and visibly deliver value. Here’s how to start shaping that:
Read the brief. Most people don’t. You’ll immediately be 10% more impressive.
Ask for the mirror. After a meeting, ask a colleague: “What landed? What jarred?” Don’t assume you know.
Translate effort into impact. Don’t just say, “I worked late.” Say, “I streamlined the process, it shaved two days off delivery.” Outcomes beat hours every time.
Own the setback. When something goes wrong, say what happened, why it matters, and what you’ve fixed. That’s how trust grows.
Shape the team brand. Remember, reputations aren’t just individual. Whole teams get known for something. You want to be the “that team delivers” crew, not the “bit chaotic” bunch.
The Stand-Out Factor
Reputation is built in the moments no one’s watching. The way you listen. The way you follow up. The way you show respect when it’s inconvenient.
People who stand out do four things relentlessly:
Deliver consistently.
Treat people well, regardless of “usefulness.”
Learn out loud (share lessons, not cover-ups).
Build trust like a muscle, small reps, every day.
That’s what people talk about when you’re not in the room. That’s what makes you promotable, even if you’re not the loudest voice in it.
A Note to Leaders
If you manage a team, this matters twice over. You’re not just curating your own reputation, you’re shaping the brand of your team. And like any brand, it gets built by the lived experience of others.
Ask yourself:
What three words would other departments use to describe us?
Is that the story we want told?
What micro-behaviours (speed, clarity, follow-through, collaboration) do we need to consistently deliver so our team's reputation helps, not hinders, our careers?
Practical moves for leaders:
Model reputation-building behaviours. Read the brief. Show up prepared. Own the setback.
Give your team visibility. Let them represent you in forums and meetings. Reputation spreads by who’s seen.
Protect your team’s reputation. If there’s an issue, deal with it inside. Don’t let cracks leak out unaddressed.
A strong team reputation becomes rocket fuel for individual careers. A poor one is an anchor, no matter how brilliant the individuals are.
To help you further develop your reputation:
Have a listen to our podcast with Jon McCleod, who specialises in building and (if necessary) repairing reputations. You can listen here
If you are a leader and want to explore how to build your team's reputation with your team then we have a session already designed for you here.
Your Next Move
This week, ask one brave question:
“What am I (or what are we, as a team) really known for here?”
Then decide: is that the story you want told?
Because in the end, your reputation isn’t an afterthought. It is your career.
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