As we progress throughout our career, we will ideally gain valuable experience that can be beneficial to other potential employers or to those within our current place of employment. As we work; we will encounter various challenges, projects, tasks, etc. that can result in quantitative and/or qualitative results. The work you performed is important, as it shows the skills that you have acquired, but the results from that work (your career accomplishments) will best show value as employees. It is this value that needs to be described to potential employers to support your case that you are the right employee for the job.
Are you keeping record for your career accomplishments so that you can use them in the future? It can be easy to forget about the various accomplishments you have had throughout your ‘tenure’ at a job. It is important that you keep a personal record for future reference (certain accomplishments may be more suited to a specific job and can be used as a way to tailor your job search material for that position). It is also important that you add these accomplishments to your job search material periodically, to ensure your materials are up to date and accurately describing the potential value you have as an employee. You never know when you may need it, which is why it is always best to be prepared.
When it comes to describing your accomplishments, a brief
summary which include associated metrics stressing the value you provided, can
be hard to put together at times. Try using the formula “Challenge + Action = Results” to come up with ‘accomplishment
statements’ that clearly state the value you provided. Remember to use numeric
metrics when possible, percentage, money, etc. (be aware of your audience and
determine the best type of metric to use). When you are not able to use “quantitative
metrics”, use “qualitative measurements” by explaining how something was
improved. For example, processes or procedures that saved time or increased
productivity through improved communication. Your ability to present these
accomplishments as statements on your resume and on LinkedIn will help to strengthen
your case when you are trying to express your value as an employee or potential
employee.
Consider the different situations you have been involved in
at work that you can use to describe your value. The various challenges, problems,
or tasks that you face in your career cause you to take action which result in
an accomplishment or maybe a failure. Keep in mind, both are going be important
factors in establishing value, as they describe your talent, as well as your
ability to adapt, learn and grow. While focusing on accomplishments made, it is
also important to make note of the failures that you have overcome as well
(these are also accomplishments). Having a story, which describes a failure and
how you adapted, changed and learned from your mistakes, is good evidence of
value provided (although these may not be something you want to put out to the
public for a first impression, they can be beneficial in an interview).
A few things to consider when writing Accomplishment
Statements:
- Accomplishment Statements On Resumes – More
formalized document where you should include quantifiable metrics to support
your claims whenever possible through concise bulleted statements. - LinkedIn – Less formalized than your resume and
told in more of a ‘story like’ fashion but still professional. - Arrange your statements in order by their
significance (relative to the position you are trying to get).
Identifying your career accomplishments, use the following
questions to better describe your value:
- Did you increase revenue, and by how much
(percentage)? - Were there decreased expenses because of
something you did? - What did you develop and what problem did it
solve? - What processes or procedures did you improve?
- Did you receive and promotions, awards or
increased responsibilities? - What outcomes have you generated?
- What needles have you moved?
- You made a positive difference, what were the
metrics used to measure it? - What makes you stand out from others that do the
same work as you? - What projects did you work on that were
important to you?
Need some additional help in determining your
accomplishments?
http://www.askamanager.org/2013/06/how-to-list-accomplishments-on-your-resume-when-your-job-doesnt-have-easy-measures.html
http://www.uweccareerservices.org/resume_guide/relevant/accomp.html