If you haven’t tracked your accomplishment stories to date, use the following prompts to brainstorm all those terrific things you did. Develop accomplishments stories that set you apart from others who might be competing for advancement.
- What special things have you done to set yourself apart? How have you done the job better than anyone else did or than anyone else could have done?
- What have you done to make the job your own?
- How have you taken the initiative? How have you gone above and beyond what was asked of you in your job description?
- What are you most proud of in your job?
- What problems have you solved?
- How can you weave into your story tangible evidence of your accomplishments: material from your annual performance reviews, glowing quotes from colleagues, complimentary memos or letters from customers, publications you’ve produced, products you’ve developed, software applications you’ve written?
- Consider the “PEP Formula,” Profitability, Efficiency, and Productivity, as another way to tell your story. How did you contribute to profitability such as through sales increase percentages? How did you contribute to efficiency such as through cost-reduction percentages? How did you contribute to productivity such as through successfully motivating your team?
Tell Me About Yourself: Storytelling that Propels Careers, Quintessential Careers Press, ISBN-10: 1-934689-00-9. Find out the ways you can own the entire book.
