Document Your 2021 Achievements

Half of you reading this are searching for a job right now. Looking forward starts with self-assessment and looking backward. According to a recent Gallup survey, 48% of the working population in the U.S. are actively searching for a new role. LinkedIn published on 11/3/2021 that 59% of job seekers are considering switching industries. Employees 30-35, 40-45, and 45-40 have increased their resignation rates by 38%+ in 2021. Working from home, hybrid environments, and returning to the office were an evolving challenge throughout 2021. It is anticipated to continue throughout 2022. The landscape has changed, and there are concerns regarding visibility, upward mobility, and work/life balance. Some companies have decided to remove dedicated locations for employees, requiring scheduling for space when you do spend time in the office. These various scenarios can create a new level of distraction and disruption.

After reflecting on 2021, I highly recommend taking the time to assess your achievements and document them. Balancing the changes makes it easy to skip over those accomplishments and forget the quantifiable impacts that are vital to include within your career marketing documents. With this level of change and opportunity, if you are searching, concentrate on your transferable skills and achievements. Take the time to note your percentages of productivity improvement, cost savings, sales growth, risk mitigation, etc. You will be prepared for when it is time to update your resume and LinkedIn profile or request a salary increase during your next evaluation.

5 Simple Steps –

1) Create a quick file to update every 3 to 6 months outlining your quantifiable impact.

2) Document your impact and attach presentations for reference. Can you convey an achievement from 2021 with quantifiable facts within 30 seconds?

3) Conduct a quick search on the types of positions you would pursue.

4) Align your transferable skills by reviewing the keywords and job description.

5) Consider your branding statement and how you would position yourself for the role.

The potential employers want to know what you can bring to their organization. Know your elevator pitch, what did you accomplish in 2020 and 2021? Competition is high with 5 to 7 interviews for leadership-level positions. Take time to take stock of what you really accomplished, it’s always more than you think.