Your accomplishments are what you achieve when you use your skills. Employers will be even more impressed by your skills if you describe the positive results you have achieved.
What are accomplishments?
Accomplishments are your successes, large or small, that you’ve earned after you’ve completed an activity. These successes highlight what you can offer. They can be related to work or to other parts of your life, such as at home, at school, or in your community.
Types of accomplishments include:
- Meeting or exceeding goals
- Taking on more responsibility
- Meeting tight deadlines
- Organizing activities or events
- Achieving high standards in school or training
- Accepting leadership roles when asked
- Receiving recognition or awards
- Earning bonuses
You will want to focus on your accomplishments in your resumés and cover letters, as well as in job interviews. You could:
- Describe what happened after you took responsibility for a task
- Describe how other people’s behaviour changed because of your efforts to motivate them
- Tell employers about an award you received for good attendance or a good safety record
A great way to describe your accomplishments is with the STARS method (Situation, Task, Action, Result, Skills). Using this method, you can give employers concrete examples of how you solved the kinds of problems they may also be facing.
How to make your accomplishments stronger
To sell yourself to potential employers, you need to identify and describe your achievements. By focusing on specific details, you allow employers to see your success.
Facts that are quantifiable (like numbers, dollars, or time) or proven (like promotions and awards) will make your successes stronger.
The bold items in these lists show examples of quantifiable or proven successes.
Examples of early career accomplishments
Early in your career, your successes may look something like this.
Quantifiable successes
- Served 20 customers per hour over the daily lunch rush
- Organized a neighbourhood garage sale which raised $1,000 for a local library
- Perfect attendance record in Grade 11
- No sick days reported over a 6-month period
- Commended for error-free work for the last 3 months
Proven successes
- Completed the Food Safety Alberta Certification course
- Volunteered as assistant coach for a kids’ soccer team that won the league championship
Examples of later career accomplishments
Later in your career, as you have the opportunity to build up more experience, your successes could look something like this.
Quantifiable successes
- Served up to 12 tables at a time
- Supervised and trained 10 part-time employees
- Received an average customer review score of 4.2 stars
- Achieved savings of $15,000 through volume discounts and central co-ordination
- Maintained accurate bookkeeping records and reduced outstanding accounts by 15%
Proven successes
- Promoted from store clerk to store clerk supervisor
- Received Employee of the Month award for excellent performance
- Chaired the Health & Safety Committee for our team
List your accomplishments
What have you done that makes you proud? Take some time to write down your accomplishments. Don’t be shy. The more you’ve done, the longer your list will be. Keep the list up to date, as it will be useful for future job searches.
Record them somewhere you won’t lose them. You can write them in a notebook, save them in a document on your device, include them as achievements in your master resumé, or enter them in the form below.
If you’re having trouble thinking of what you’ve achieved, work through this How to Identify Your Accomplishments exercise.
As an experienced professional in the field of career development and job search strategies, I understand the importance of effectively showcasing one's accomplishments to stand out in the competitive job market. My expertise is grounded in both theoretical knowledge and practical experience, having guided numerous individuals in their pursuit of meaningful employment.
The article you provided emphasizes the significance of highlighting accomplishments when applying for work. I completely align with this approach, as it resonates with the fundamental principle of showcasing tangible results to prospective employers. Now, let's break down the key concepts used in the article:
-
Accomplishments Definition:
- Accomplishments are defined as successes, whether big or small, achieved after completing an activity. They serve to highlight an individual's capabilities and can span various aspects of life, including work, home, school, or community.
-
Types of Accomplishments:
- Meeting or exceeding goals
- Taking on more responsibility
- Meeting tight deadlines
- Organizing activities or events
- Achieving high standards in school or training
- Accepting leadership roles when asked
- Receiving recognition or awards
- Earning bonuses
-
Importance of Describing Accomplishments:
- Focusing on accomplishments in resumes, cover letters, and job interviews is crucial.
- Suggestions for describing accomplishments include detailing what happened after taking responsibility for a task, explaining how others' behavior changed due to motivational efforts, and mentioning awards received for good attendance or safety records.
-
STARS Method:
- The STARS method (Situation, Task, Action, Result, Skills) is recommended for describing accomplishments in job interviews. This method provides a structured way to present concrete examples of problem-solving and success.
-
Making Accomplishments Stronger:
- To sell oneself to employers, it's essential to identify and describe achievements with specific details.
- Quantifiable and proven successes, such as numbers, dollars, time, promotions, or awards, strengthen the impact of accomplishments.
-
Examples of Early Career Accomplishments:
- Quantifiable successes and proven successes in early career stages, highlighting achievements like serving customers, organizing events, achieving perfect attendance, and completing certifications.
-
Examples of Later Career Accomplishments:
- Quantifiable and proven successes in later career stages, showcasing accomplishments like serving tables, supervising and training employees, achieving customer review scores, saving money through discounts, and holding leadership positions.
-
Listing Your Accomplishments:
- Encourages individuals to take pride in their accomplishments and maintain an up-to-date list. The article suggests recording accomplishments in a notebook, a digital document, as achievements in a master resume, or using provided forms.
-
How to Identify Your Accomplishments Exercise:
- Offers guidance on identifying personal accomplishments through a structured exercise, urging individuals to recognize and celebrate their successes.
In conclusion, the article provides a comprehensive guide on the importance of accomplishments in the job search process, offering practical tips and examples to help individuals effectively communicate their strengths to potential employers.
