How to track your accomplishments for resume updates, interviews, and performance reviews
By Janice Burch, Executive Resume Writer, Career Coach, Co-Owner at Pro Resume Center, LLC
If you have not done so yet, please take the time to read my previous article – Executive Resumes: Showing Big Wins Helps You Win before diving into this article – on how to capture your accomplishments.
I have worked with hundreds of clients, many like Janelle mentioned in my earlier article, who have not taken the time to track their big wins. A few of the biggest reasons I hear include:
- I don’t know what to capture
- I don’t know how to quantify it – or express the result
- I don’t have the time
- I’m no longer in those roles – I cannot remember (or cannot gain access to the information)
Put it on the Calendar
Tracking your accomplishments requires carving out time to capture key wins. I encourage clients to schedule 15-30 minutes of “me-time” on their calendar once per quarter – at the end of the month or on a Friday – to write down what they did that contributed to, supported, or positively impacted the team, company, client, process, policies, or company strength.
A spreadsheet is an optimal way to organize and track your accomplishments as you progress. Show your title at the time and create a header for each column that aligns with what you know you will need for the next chapter in your career and beyond. Perhaps you already know that to move from a VP role to C-level or Director to VP, there are key things you will need to show – and share to snag an interview and an offer.
Let those be your category headlines – a few examples could include, depending on what your company does and what you have impacted:
- Financial Leadership or P&L
- Organizational Change
- Strategic Partnerships
- Executive Development
- Culture Improvements
- Product Innovation
- Rebranding of Product or Company
- Building New Revenue Streams
- Technology Implementation, et al.
In addition, remember when you are jotting down your accomplishments to frame up each with these three components —
- What was the problem, challenge, issue, or goal of that initiative you led?
- What solution did you come up with, or how did you address it?
- What was the result?
Those three questions are essential to ask yourself when you are tracking. Why? Now you have information to update your resume more quickly AND can quickly and confidently articulate your impact in interviews by quickly sharing why, how, and the outcome of the work you led.
Give yourself time to do this quarterly on your calendar. Commit to it – just like you schedule time for the gym, golf, pickleball or coursework. When it’s time to update your materials, I promise you will be glad you have that spreadsheet – and it may just provide fodder you need to ask for a bigger bonus or pay raise in your review.
Your Future Employer Wants to Know
Showing your future employer that you understand and embrace the value of tracking results helps them view you as a top candidate. Corporate leaders, executive hiring teams, and board members understand the results they want to see in a top candidate.
Take the time to track your results – each quarter – and do so in a way that helps you position your resume for the next step in your career journey.
Were these tips valuable to you? If you are unhappy in your current role or are concerned about your future with your organization, being ready for change is a smart practice. Ensure your resume, profiles, materials and talking points are current. Take the time to write down those important things you have done over the last couple of years and the results you delivered for your company and clients.
Visit www.ProResumeCenter.com to learn how we can help ensure you are prepared to pursue your next opportunity.
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