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Track your successes so you can talk about them with networking contacts
and in interviews
I'm doing an encore of this topic because recently a client in job search thanked me for encouraging him to keep track of his "wins" - it resulted in a more successful first review on his new job!
“Some lucky team is out there looking for you!” I often say while working with each client or while speaking to groups of job hunters.
And it’s true! (So make it your mantra as you continue your job search 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 it's true.)
But make it easier for them to find you: keep a career “diary” of your successes. Today, that means stories about your impact, especially as it relates to each of your target organizations.
It’s one of the things I strongly urge clients of all levels to do either in their current job or once they land a new position.
A diary or journal is where you keep track of 1) new tasks and new responsibilities you handled well at work that day or week, 2) kudos and coaching given you by managers and associates and customers, and 3) what you're learning, whether on the job or in related webinars/seminars.
In short, it's keeping track of your increasing knowledge and growing list of successes, one at a time so you won’t forget them.
WHY? 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞 and while networking
Why is it important to keep track of your accomplishments while on the job? The big things you'll remember but there are many other achievements that can get lost. I can't tell you how many clients, years after leaving a job, say, "I want to put all the great things I did on that job IN my resume, if only I could remember all those great things!"
Keeping a log of these is worth the few minutes it takes as you go along. The joy over these moments is visible to your contact when you are networking, powerful.
And it helps you later when you’d like to ask that supportive manager to write you a LinkedIn recommendation: you’ll still have the words they used so it will be easier for them to write that recommendation.
WHY? For r𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞
Keeping a diary of your achievements is very helpful when it comes time for your review. And provides evidence for you to use when asking for a raise and/or promotion.
WHY? 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 – 𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥
Tracking the “ ’atta girl” / “ ‘atta boy” comments enables you to look at them sometime later and feel great, especially helpful on a day when you feel like you’re not doing anything right – we all have them!
WHY? 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠
Coaching notes, and a record of what you learned – about work style or technologies, for example -- help you remember how you changed course or how someone helped you become more effective. This is very helpful when asked one day, “What are some of the most important things you learned in this role?”
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲
Whatever method you use – the Notes or journaling app on your phone or tablet, pen on paper, spreadsheet -- track these achievements 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮. Help that lucky team find you!
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