Make all your accomplishments count in job search
Q: I am starting to write my resume and have a question about accomplishments. I have 18 years of work experience in a non-profit organization, where I gained a lot of knowledge, but am having trouble quantifying my contributions.
How do you draw attention to your accomplishments without using numbers to support your results?
A: Hiring decision makers are more likely to be impressed by accomplishments that show results because it’s easier to see measurable progress.
However, in a non-profit field where your role isn’t tied to a revenue stream, it can be challenging to use figures or percentages to support your contributions.
Regardless of the career field you are seeking, employers look for reasons to hire you and anytime you back up your accomplishments with quantifiable results it makes it easier for them to understand your value.
The good news is even if you worked in a field where tangible outcomes are difficult to define, you can still make your accomplishments stand out with results. Here’s how to write your accomplishments that will generate attention.
You can start identifying distinct accomplishments by conducting a “before and after” scenario over your last 18 years. Consider the changes that took place before and after you were responsible for specific projects or events.
For example, if you oversaw a training project, identify the type of training, topic and skills prior to the program.
Capturing any measure of change will help you write a stronger accomplishment by giving employers a way to visualize your contribution.
You can also focus on specific parts of your career where you excelled. Most organizations will give annual performance reviews where strengths are typically mentioned.
If you received a note of special appreciation or won awards, recall what you did to receive them.
Think about your efforts, types of skills or influences on your part that led to formal recognition?
Your performance reviews can also give you a different view of your strengths, many times professionals take their skills for granted and give themselves less credit for a job well done. Your boss will often use different words than you would in describing your abilities and that’s helpful in building insight into what makes you unique.
Never underestimate how many skills you have acquired over your career, don’t just name the standard few that come to your mind such as; being loyal, hardworking, dedicated and a people person.
Think outside the box to what really makes you successful, are you a problem-solver, do you collaborate with others, are you creative in approaching projects? Show how the employer benefited from your skills.
Learn from awkward interview
Q: I had the most awkward interview in my entire life a couple of weeks ago and am still trying to get over it. I have never had an interviewer ask so many questions while being so rushed for time. Toward the end, I just knew I didn’t get the job even though I matched all their qualifications.
What could I have done better? Any suggestions will help.
A: Awkward interviews are bound to happen the longer you are in the job market. They happen to the best candidates and can be great sources to learn from if you don’t emotionally beat yourself up over it.
Job searching can be hard on the ego. Everyone knows that it takes time to get an interview, much less the feeling as though you are being judged during the process.
Obviously, you are being screened as to whether you fit in the work culture, have the right skills and can produce results. But one of the greatest lessons from an awkward interview is what you observe from the interviewer. An interview is a two-way street and it’s important for you as a job candidate to be aware of the interviewer’s behavior. Interviewers can have rough days as well; however it might be helpful to take a different view of your interview.
In all honesty, interviewing a potential candidate who could help the company grow and add value should be a good thing instead of rushed event.
You might have had the perfect qualifications for the job, but the interviewer can reflect the employer’s culture.
Even though this was the first time where you felt awkward, please pay attention to your inner voice, which can serve as a guide as to whether they are the right employer for you.
Here are some suggestions to consider in turning an awkward interview into a learning event. Reflect on the meeting with some questions.
For example, what happened outside of the rushed meeting that gave you a dreaded sense of not getting the job?
How did you feel when communicating with the interviewer?
Could you have been more concise with your answers?
Did the interviewer’s style of questioning create more pressure for you? Did your tone of voice or non-verbal language change as the interview progressed?
After some self-reflection on your part and pondering the interviewer’s behavior, learn from it, let it go and use your awareness to become a stronger candidate that will help you make good decisions.
When contemplating, this might not have been the best opportunity for you after all.