“Past performance is the best predictor of future success.”
Recruiters and hiring managers assessing candidates are looking for proof that you can do the job. One of the best ways to assess that is by reviewing your accomplishments from similar roles. However, it can be difficult to remember what you’ve done!
That’s where keeping a journal comes in. Each month for the next year, I will post a summary of daily prompts to help you identify and track your accomplishments throughout the year. You can either write down a specific accomplishment from that day or use the prompt to help you think of a recent accomplishment. You don’t have to use the specific prompt for that day — but they are there to help give you some inspiration.
Keep the journal somewhere you’ll refer to it each day. Taking a few minutes to complete the prompts will make it easier for you to update your résumé and LinkedIn profile.
August 1 – What big goal or project do you want to tackle this month?
August 2 – Give an example of a recent problem you discovered. What did you do? Was the problem successfully resolved?
August 3 – What have you done recently to earn your employer’s praise or admiration?
August 4 – How have you demonstrated efficiency in your current role?
August 5 – Have you delivered exceptional customer service? How?
August 6 – How dedicated are you to your job? Give an example.
August 7 – Are you known for something specific at work? (What are you famous for at work?)
August 8 – Have you had work delegated to you recently? Were you able to handle the additional responsibilities?
August 9 – Give an example of a project you directed.
August 10 – Were you responsible for detecting an issue or problem? What was the outcome?
August 11 – Have you recommended any actions or activities that will help the company eliminate any unnecessary or redundant processes?
August 12 – How have you expanded your responsibilities in your current role?
August 13 – Have you edited any significant documents? What were they?
August 14– How have you cut spending/expenses in your current role?
August 15 – Have you been responsible for creating documentation in your current role? What kind of documentation, and for what purpose?
August 16 – Describe a time when you filled in for another team member.
August 17 – Have you cultivated any new working relationships for your company?
August 18 – How have you educated yourself — or someone else within the company — on a particular subject?
August 19 – What new technology have you introduced into your job or company?
August 20 – Give an example of how you’ve exhibited one of your core values in your work performance.
August 21 – Have you received any new licenses?
August 22 – Give an example of a time when your work elicited praise from a co-worker or your boss.
August 23 – How have you saved the company money?
August 24 – How has the company benefited from your performance?
August 25 – Describe a project you finally finished.
August 26 – Have you formulated any significant plans for your organization — strategic plans, financial plans, organizational plans, etc.?
August 27 – How did your work today add to the value the company offers customers?
August 28 – What do customers praise you for?
August 29 – How have you handled a crisis situation recently?
August 30 – Do you have metrics that are used to evaluate your performance? Have you exceeded them?
August 31 – What is your biggest professional achievement in the past month?Aaaaaaa
When possible, quantify your accomplishments: specify numbers, percentages, and dollar amounts. Be as detailed as possible with your responses
When turning your prompts into actual accomplishment statements, create a structure to tell a story. The most common format is the CAR statement:
C = What was the challenge?
A = What action did you take?
R = What was the result?
An example of a CAR statement is:
Recruited to tackle an underperforming sales territory characterized by significant account attrition (challenge). Developed contact list for lapsed accounts and initiated contact with decision-makers at each company (action). Reacquired 22% of former customers, resulting in $872,000 in revenue (result).
For a downloadable copy of this month’s accomplishment journal August Accomplishment Tracker
