I Just Did My Job

I Just Did My Job If I had a dollar for every time I heard a job seeker say, I just did my job, I dont have any accomplishments, I would be so rich.   So why are you so humble?   Why cant you take some credit where credit is due?   Thats all we are asking you to do.   But, why, you ask, are accomplishments important?   Because, your next employer wants to see and hear a demonstration of your skills. They want to know that you will be a good hiring decision and that means, you will stick around, pitch in and help out when asked, do your job well, and ultimately help make the company money. An accomplishment is any time you successfully did your job.   It is a short story.   Think of a time when there was a problem (probably daily). Try and brainstorm answers to some of these questions: What were you proud of doing at work? What did you do better than others around you? Were you ever recognized (formally or informally) for work that you did? Did you ever go above and beyond what was required of you? Were you ever selected to be a part of a team or train others? Did you identify and solve a problem? Did you save time and/or money? Have you improved productivity? Have you ever streamlined operations? Did you devise new strategies? Did you minimize customer complaints? Did you provide a service that did not exist before? Did you develop an idea that was used or presented? Did you help others achieve their goals? Now, recall the specifics of what you did and how you did it and what was the outcome.   Also think about what the outcome would have been if you had not been there to do your job.   You can download this simple document to record your stories Accomplishments-1. I dont remember This is too hard It happened daily I was just one of many Please, dont use these excuses.   Look at it this way.   If you were called into your managers office one day and they said to you, I need you to tell me what you did this year to deserve a raise.   What would you say? How would you prove you were worthy of a raise? Documenting your accomplishments isnt just to get a job.   It is about taking accountability to manage your future.   Today, more than ever, managers and leaders are expecting you to prove to them why they should keep you on the payroll.   Keeping track of your accomplishments is expected.   It is an easy insurance policy for justifying your work. When do you use these stories?   On your resume, in your interviews, while networkingthe answer is, all the time.