It’s that time of year. Students are returning from summer break and going back into the classroom. One of the first questions I will ask in my classes is: “What are your key accomplishments?” For many, this is the first time anyone has ever asked them to prove their worth.
In fact many of us don’t keep records of our accomplishments. To help, here are some ideas about keeping track of your accomplishments:
Use LinkedIn. It’s a good idea to regularly update your LinkedIn profile. If fact, your profile should be a public record of your successes! Anyone who looks at your LinkedIn profile should see your capabilities and accomplishments. However, be careful you don’t share sensitive company information.
Treat your resume as a strategic visioning document. Most often, after a job search, resumes get buried in a cabinet or folder. What if you kept your resume where you could read it on a regular basis? You may not be looking for a new job, but you are looking forward. Treat your resume as a career-planning tool, rather than a static, one-time use document.
Share your accomplishments with friends and followers. By sharing your work related success, they live a little longer and help you build influence in both your industry and community. In addition to updating progress on your 5K training, let friends and family see your work contributions as well. Write these with a fun and upbeat style.
By documenting your success as they happen, you’ll be more conscious of the role you play. Tracking “wins” is also great for your confidence. The habit of tracking them leads you to look for new ways to create them.
How are you tracking your accomplishments?
