Writing or updating your resume can seem like an overwhelming task. Especially if you’ve been in the workforce for a while. How are you supposed to remember everything you did, and most importantly frame what you did in terms of accomplishments? If you’re like me it’s going to take a lot of ginkgo biloba and tumeric to help me remember all my accomplishments over the course of my career. Not to brag just saying I’m not a spring chicken.
Starting to keep an accomplishment journal can make updating your resume a simple task. An accomplishment journal is a log of your work AND the positive feedback you received for your hard work. Starting now, especially if you are early in your career, it will make customizing and updating your resume a snap. In your accomplishment journal try to add as many details as possible so later you have the information to quantify your results, and even name drop if you worked with big accounts such as Google, Tesla…, during your time at various employers. And don’t limit journaling to just your at work projects, goals and accomplishments. Be sure to include peripheral activities such as attending and presenting at conferences, new skills mastered such as LinkedIn’s certifications or other technical certifications you achieve. You can even include hobbies if they offer work related skills such as sitting on a board, chairing a committee, or organizing a fundraiser. Continue to include the details and results of all your activities and writing a targeted, results driven resume will be a snap.
