Since we are stuck at home with the Shelter in Place order, there is no better time to invest in yourself. Focusing on achievements and future goals can be a very healthy way to stay fresh and look forward to your future.
Brainstorm and think about your career, academic achievements and even major successes from activities outside of your work career, such as any volunteer work. Take a piece of paper or open your laptop and begin writing.
Think about any positive comments you’ve received from your bosses and colleagues, challenges or problems you’ve dealt with and overcome, any honors or awards you’ve received. If you have worked in a team, what did your team achieve and what was your role in achieving those accomplishments? (Because you were a part of that team, those accomplishments count as yours.)
What exactly are accomplishments and what has this got to do with your resume? An accomplishment section is a great addition to your resume. It will help you to demonstrate your skills in action and show the potential employer that you can add value to their business beyond just performing your regular duties.
I feel this is the best place to start your resume because this exercise will stimulate the positive side of your brain and remind you of those proven SUPERPOWERS you have.
Before you start your list, it’s important to realize that this is not a list of attributes, but rather true accomplishments. The most common confusion amongst job seekers is to treat accomplishments as duties or strengths. Accomplishments are specific actions you’ve taken that have resulted in a beneficial outcome. The outcome must be something better than what was already expected – something that provided a positive outcome to the organization, coworkers and clients or customers – not the things we were meant to do.
For example, if your job was to manage 100 clients – that is your duty and part of your job description. An accomplishment would be something like: “I grew a client-base from 100 to 150 in six months.” This demonstrates that you didn’t just do your job, but went above your usual duties.
Furthermore, writing your accomplishments shouldn’t be a list of your strengths either. Don’t make this a list of characteristics, but rather outline how these skills provided a tangible advantage to your company and/or customers. For, instead of just saying, “I am bilingual,” say something like, “I assisted non-English speaking customers by helping them find the right products. This increased our sales by 35% and these customers sent their friends back asking for me.”
Positive thoughts like these will not only set the stage for the foundation of your new resume, this exercise will also increase your confidence and make a strong first impression on potential employers.
The next article will cover the elements important for a winning resume. During the Shelter in Place, I will be offering a series of webinars for job seekers every Friday at 10 a.m. For more information or an invitation to this, you can call me at 263-4JOB.
Pamela Harpster is the Branch Manager and Staffing Coordinator with Management Connections, a 29-year-old staffing agency located in Lakeport serving Lake, Sonoma and Mendocino Counties. Prior to joining Management Connections in 2015, Pam was an Employment Counselor and Program Director, providing employment coaching and guidance to job seekers and businesses for over 20 years. Her focus has always been matching employers with local talent, allowing both businesses and employees to thrive.
