Why You Need To Keep And Protect Your Box Of Career Achievements
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Why You Need To Keep And Protect Your Box Of Career Achievements
The human mind is quick to forget, especially when good fortunes are smiling at you
I recently chatted with a job seeker who reached out to me to help review his resume. He wanted to ensure it was spot on before he applied for a role he loved.
Everything on the resume looked good, except that it had no accomplishments.
During my phone chat, I asked him to list some key results and accomplishments from his previous role to help him stand out.
His response hit me hard.
“I can’t remember my accomplishments.”
Don’t be surprised. It’s a common problem I have noticed, especially with young professionals.
Why Do We Need Achievements?
We now live in a results-driven world.
Results drive everything.
From sales to customer service. Everyone cares about results and accomplishments.
It’s similar in job hunting too. Employers want to know key achievements in your previous employment episodes.
Adding a generic task and responsibility to your resume no longer cuts it for most sectors. To stand out, you must include some eye-catching accomplishments to promote yourself.
It’s not bragging or self-promoting. It’s the new norm.
In the wake of competition in the job market, some employers use accomplishments to decide whom to invite for an interview.
It doesn’t stop there. You’d likely be asked to provide examples of how you achieved an outcome. And in most cases, you need to talk about results.
Therefore, not adding key accomplishments or results in your resume or cover letter can impact your chances of landing an interview or getting the job.
What Are Accomplishments?
Accomplishments are specific and measurable. It helps the hiring manager imagine the magnitude of the results. For example, for a customer’s service role, you could say you resolved 100 queries within 30 minutes.
The Challenge With Job Seekers And Accomplishments
We get so comfortable in roles that we give our all but forget our achievements after leaving the job.
I have seen young professionals who worked within the same organisation and role for about five years unable to recount their accomplishments.
We have the same problem:
Great paycheck
Fat end-of-year bonuses
A great boss who appreciates your work
Great team environment and work culture
I know what you are thinking.
What more can you ask for?
Why would you care to note down achievements when the going is good?
I certainly didn’t do this in my first job.
But guess what happened?
After I left the job, I forgot everything. I could not recall key achievements when I needed them. Of course, I began to remember once I had a settled mind.
This is why you should care about noting your achievements whilst on the job.
The human mind is quick to forget, especially when good fortunes are smiling at you.
You need to write down your achievements in a safe place for easy and quick access when you need them.
From my experience dealing with people, your brain goes blank when trying to pull this information under pressure. Sadly, this is usually the case when you need them the most.
Use this email as a reminder to do so today. It’s easier to regurgitate this information when you are not under pressure.
You won’t remember all at once:
· Gather them and keep updating your list as you remember.
· Store them somewhere safe for easy retrieval.
Protect your box of achievements.
I wish you the best.
Other useful resources:
Here is the video I uploaded on YouTube this week. Please watch, like, subscribe and share. It will help other professionals like you find it.
Banji Alo
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