Get Your Achievements to Work for You

When you take away the fancy font, the glossy paper and the eye catching layout from your resume, what are you left with? An overall view of your achievements, skills and highly regarded knowledge, that’s what. Many people have little confidence in themselves and their abilities, and it’s time to change this way of thinking.

The first step to working out what your achievements are with regards to your career is to decide how you define the term “achievements” Here are a few to get your mind rolling:

• Accomplishment

• Performance
• Success
• Attainment

• Goals that you have reached

Here is the actual definition of the word Achievement:

“A measure of the quality and or the quantity of the success one has in the mastery of knowledge, skills, or understandings.”

It is the measure part that potential employers are looking for. They want proof of these achievements and the best proof is in the numbers. For example, you contributed partly or solely to increased profit or production at a particular company. On your resume state by how much you increased said profit or production. In an job interview be prepared to answer how your achieved such a goal. Remember an employer is ultimately looking for someone who will improve their state of business. If it is on your resume and makes you look good, expect there to be questions about it.

Your achievements will make you stand out from all the other applicants - i.e. your competition- for the job. When it comes down to you and someone else, and one of you has more achievements stated on their resume, who do you think will be more successful in getting that position? 

When writing your resume, cover letter and in attending job interviews, stating your achievements is vital. Be confident in your ability to perform tasks and roles, not just to the minimum, but to very best you possibly can. Employers want someone who will give it their all to improve the position of the company they work for - not someone who doesn’t really care. (and even if you don’t care, it pays to pretend!)

So start by writing down all your professional achievements - you may find it is quite an extensive list. Think about what you achieve everyday at your work and what makes you great at these tasks? Think about how your current or last workplace would or have been managing without you? These are all things to consider when writing a resume. Write this list into your resume, under work experience, key skills and qualifications.

So be confident and positive about what you express in your resume. Be proud of your achievements and let them do the work for you. And when you get that job give yourself a well earned pat on the back for being you and the best you can be.

Good luck from all of us at Job Search Advice. (not that you’ll need it)!

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