Career Services Workshop Create Your Professional Profile

CAREER SERVICES WORKSHOP Create Your Professional Profile

ACCOMPLISHMENTS & WORK SUCCESSES ~ for career changers, your resume & cover letter, and interviewing ~

As career changers, noting your accomplishments and previous work successes is what will help you sell yourself to your next employer. Resumes, cover letters, and your interview answers need to be accomplishments-driven. These are great topics from which to build your STORIES & examples.

Use this worksheet to help you look at your previous work and see your accomplishments. As you use this worksheet, keep the following in mind:

1. Try to list accomplishments that are specific and measurable.

2. Quantify whenever possible: Examples –  Increased sales by 50 percent over the previous year  Supervised staff of 25  Served a customer base of 150, the largest on firm’s customer- service team

3. Use superlatives and “firsts.” Use words such as “first,” “only,” “best,” “most,” and “highest.”

4. For every accomplishment you list, ask yourself, “So what?” Does the item you’ve listed characterize your abilities and your potential for contributing to your next employer’s success?

5. Make sure each accomplishment is relevant to the type of job you are seeking.

*** A popular interview style is to review your resume in depth – called “Interviewing the Resume.” This list of questions is a perfect example of the types of questions that you may be asked in your interviews as the interviewer walks through each job you have listed.

Not all questions will be relevant to your experiences – use those that are.

REV. 1 OSC COMPUTER TRAINING 1 For Veterans Use the Military Skills Translator to convert your military experience to comparable civilian experience.

Use: ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/jobs

REV. 1 OSC COMPUTER TRAINING 2 1. In this job, what special things did you do to set yourself apart? How did you do the job better than anyone else did or than anyone else could have done?

2. What did you do to make this job your own? How did you take the initiative? How did you go above and beyond what was asked of you in your job description?

3. What special things did you do to impress your boss so that you might be promoted?

4. And were you promoted? Rapid and/or frequent promotions can be especially noteworthy.

5. How has the organization benefited from your performance? How did you/will you leave this employer better off than before you worked there?

6. List any awards you won, such as Employee of the Month, President’s Club?

7. What are you most proud of in this job?

8. Check your annual performance reviews for this job. Provide below any glowing or even complimentary quotes from your reviews. Did you consistently receive high ratings?

9. Have you received any complimentary memos or letters from employers or customers? Provide below quotes from these letters that support your accomplishments.

REV. 1 OSC COMPUTER TRAINING 3 10. What tangible evidence do you have of accomplishments — publications you’ve produced, products you’ve developed, software applications you’ve written?

REV. 1 OSC COMPUTER TRAINING 4 11. How did you contribute to this employer’s profitability, such as through sales increase percentages? How have you helped your employer to make money?

12. How did you contribute to operational efficiency in this job, such as through cost reduction percentages? How did you help this employer or a part of the organization to save money, save time, or make work easier?

13. How did you contribute to productivity, such as through successfully motivating your team?

14. How did you help make your company more competitive?

15. How did you build relationships with internal and/or external customers? How did you attract new customers or retain existing ones?

16. How did you help expand the business?

17. How did you help the organization fulfill its mission statement?*

18. If you had to be the writer of a letter of recommendation, about you, from your boss, what would be it say?

19. How did you solve one or more specific problems in this job? What were the problems or challenges that you or the organization faced? What did you do to overcome the problems? What were the results of your efforts? Hint: Use the PAR technique, in which you describe a Situation or Problem that existed in a given job, tell what Action you took to fix the Situation or Problem, and what the Result was.

REV. 1 OSC COMPUTER TRAINING 5 REV. 1 OSC COMPUTER TRAINING 6 List of Strengths for Resumes, Cover Letters, & Interviews As employers screen your resume, cover letter, and job application they look for evidence that you possess the right strengths to get their job done. During job interviews, you can definitely expect to be asked questions aimed at discovering your strengths. It’s a good idea to have a list of strengths, and a list of weaknesses, ready to share with the hiring manager. Remember to use the P-A-R approach.

Accuracy Effectively Managing Open Minded Analytics Multiple Projects Optimistic Adapt to Changing Simultaneously Organizational Circumstances Efficient Organized Assess Employee Enthusiastic Organizing Successful Needs Establish a Quick Events Assess Outcomes Rapport with Clients People Skills Assess Needs & Establish Standards Persuasive Preferences of and Processes which Positive Attitude Customers Enhance Quality Prioritize Competing Attention to Detail Facilitate Productive Demands Business Storytelling Meetings Problem Solving Calm Agitated Clients Facilitate Learning Product Knowledge Clearly Convey Latest Computer Professional Features and Benefits Technology Provide Constrictive of Flexible Criticism Products/Services Focused Public Speaking Close Sales Friendly and Engaging Recover Quickly from Collaborate Effectively Personality Setbacks with Business Partners Generate Positive Resolve Conflicts among Compose Engaging Patient/Client Staff Copy for Websites Satisfaction Resolve Customer Conduct Statistical Scores Complaints Analysis Good Judgement Respectful Consistently Meet High Achiever Respond Favorably to Deadlines Identify Wasteful Constructive Criticism Create Attractive Expenditures Results Driven Documents Innovative Retain Star Employees Create Clean Inspirational Select Highly Productive Computer Programs in Interpersonal Employees the Interview Job Sense of Humor Latest Languages Candidates Solution Oriented Create Compelling Leadership Solve Complex Problems Presentation Slides Learn from Strategic Planning Creative Thinking Failures/Mistakes Streamline Processes Creativity Listening Strong Work Ethic Critical Thinking Logical Thinking Successful Cultivate Team Make Conversation Success Driven Orientation Among with Strangers Tact and Diplomacy Staff Management Terminate

REV. 1 OSC COMPUTER TRAINING 7 Debug Computer Manage Difficult Underperforming Programs People Employees Decision Making Mentor Staff Upgrade the Productivity Dedicated Motivated of Dependable Motivate Staff Underperforming Design Innovative Negotiation Employees Products Network to Generate Work Quickly Design Training Leads Programs Nonverbal Determination Communication Diagnose (Mechanical) Malfunctions Drawing Consensus on Group Goals Drive Traffic to Websites

REV. 1 OSC COMPUTER TRAINING 8 Transferable Skills

Transferable Skills are skills or characteristics about you that, no matter what kind of work you do, will be of value to most any employer. They “transfer” from one job to another, from one occupation to another – because they are a part of who you are.

Identify up to 10 TRANSFERABLE SKILLS from this resume (past experiences) to the job posting (new job). Link them together.

Transferable Skill from Resume … To Job Posting

REV. 1 OSC COMPUTER TRAINING 9 REV. 1 OSC COMPUTER TRAINING 10 Joe Somebody 9011 Some Street Anywhere, CA 96402 [email protected] (555)555-5555

Highlights

Loyal Value employer’s needs and willing to fulfill requirements Quick Learner Eager to learn new things and develop expertise through experience Problem-Solver Notice ways to improve processes, give suggestions, and help implement Anticipatory Look at future needs and responsibilities and prepare for them Initiator Willing to be taught and help others learn Mature In work, don’t get involved in others concerns, stay on task

Work Experience

Laborer Any Construction Co. Anywhere, CA 11/2012 to Present  Assisting in indoor and outdoor renovation projects of 4-acre family property.  Projects include: remodeling of kitchen, replacing plumbing, building fences and new decks, trenching ditches for irrigation system, and clearing overgrown landscaping.

Assistant Photographer Anyone Photography Anywhere, CA 6/2006 to 8/2011  Assisted lead photographer in providing photographic services for weddings, engagement shoots, high school senior photos, and private parties.  Determined project requirements and arranged proper equipment and supplies.  Inspected proofs, identified prints for editing, and enhanced photos using Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom.  Served clients by listening to their ideas and helped set expectations by showing portfolio of work.  Performed business recordkeeping tasks and backed up photos.

Team Member Any Restaurant Anywhere, CA 8/2006 to 7/2007

 Delivered exceptional customer service in a fast-paced food service role.  Greeted customers, took accurate orders, and prepared food items ordered.  Handled payment transactions using electronic cash register.  Operated food preparation equipment, restocked supplies, and maintained cleanliness of store.

REV. 1 OSC COMPUTER TRAINING 11 Photography Workshop With mentor, practiced mock photo shoots to discover strengths, broaden portfolio, and observe professional business practices.

REV. 1 OSC COMPUTER TRAINING 12 Sales Associate (Anywhere, CA) Compensation: $12.00 Hr. part-time

STORE ASSOCIATE/DRIVER-

Please Apply in Person-Sherwin-Williams

 This position is responsible for assisting customers in person and over the phone by determining needs and presenting appropriate products and services.

 This involves ensuring that sales transactions are completed accurately, maintaining accurate work order files and formulas, pulling appropriate products from the sales floor or warehouse, and tinting and mixing them to customer specifications.

 This position will also stock shelves and set up displays, clean store equipment, and load and unload trucks. It may also assist in making deliveries if necessary.

 Prior customer service or retail experience is preferred.

 Physical Requirements: This position is required to retrieve material from shelves and floor stacks and lift and carry up to 50 lbs. frequently and up to 100 lbs. on occasion. It may assist with handling drums of material in excess of 100 lbs.

 A Sales Associate will spend approximately 20% of the day sitting, 25% standing, 45% walking and 10% stooping, climbing and kneeling.

 The position is required to tint paint, therefore, must have good color perception.

 The employee must be able to operate a computer and communicate via the telephone, as well as operate a hand truck and/or material handling equipment in stores that have such equipment.

 In stores where employees may be required to make deliveries, the employee must be able to drive a car or van.

 This position must be able to work all scheduled hours as needed. Estimated @ 28 hours/week.

REV. 1 OSC COMPUTER TRAINING 13 REV. 1 OSC COMPUTER TRAINING 14 Here’s a list of TRANSFERABLE SKILLS to refer to – You’ll identify others, in yourself. From this list, choose attributes you identify in yourself and add others, you identify in yourself, to the list.

Able to Delegate Edit Multi-Task Accept Responsibility Efficient Negotiate Adaptable Enthusiastic Nice Analyze Energetic Observant Assemble, Build, or Evaluate My Own Work / Oral Presentations Construct Things and Others Organized Bookkeeping Financially Responsible Persuasive Budgeting Forecast Physical Work Coach Others Foreign Languages Planning Communicate Well – Goal Setting Positive Person Verbally / Handle Complaints Problem-Solver In Writing Identify Ethical Issues Public Relations Comprehension Inspect Things Repair Computer Skills Instruct Others Research Conflict Management Use and Apply Good Resourceful Cooperation Judgment Results-Oriented Creative Thinking Leadership Safety Awareness Customer Service Listening Sales Decision Making Logical Thinking Supervise Others Delegate Responsibility Maintain Records Team Builder Dependable Manage My Time Team Player Desire to Learn Mediate Situations Teach Others Desire to Improve Meet Deadlines Trustworthy Detail Oriented Monetary Exchanges Use Computer / Software Dexterity Motivate Others Proficiently Design Work Independently

REV. 1 OSC COMPUTER TRAINING 15 Circle YOUR TOP 3 transferable skills that you would want an employer to know about you.

REV. 1 OSC COMPUTER TRAINING 16  THE FEATURES & BENEFITS OF YOU!

The concept of Features & Benefits comes from the world of “sales.” In the selling process, it’s important to understand the FEATURES about the Products you are selling to your customers.

Even more important, is to be able to explain to your customer the BENEFITS about each Feature. This concept will help you educate your customer and ultimately have your customer want to purchase your product.

Keeping that concept in mind – switch your thinking to the idea that a potential employer is your customer. You are the “Product.” You have many FEATURES - that means knowing what characteristics, skills, abilities, education, and experiences are of importance to a potential employer. The “BENEFITS” (of employing you) to the potential employer is the value that you bring to the employer because they hire you.

Go through this determination process for each job you pursue.

What makes you valuable to an employer? What are features about you that offer benefits to an employer?

REV. 1 OSC COMPUTER TRAINING 17 REV. 1 OSC COMPUTER TRAINING 18 DEVELOPING YOUR STORIES Using the P – A - R format

P - A - R stands for Problem – Actions – Results “Problem” can also be thought of as a “Challenge or Situation.”

In developing your stories, keep in mind that telling your stories is a great way, in the interviewing process, to make a connection with the interviewer that helps them realize you in their workplace.

In an online survey of 400 employers, conducted by Hart Research Associates in 2014, top skills** were identified as important to employers (in addition to your hard skills). They are:

 The ability to effectively communicate orally  The ability to work effectively with others in teams  The ability to effectively communicate in writing  Ethical judgment and decision-making  Critical thinking and analytical reasoning skills  The ability to apply knowledge and skills to real-world settings  The ability to analyze and solve complex problems  The ability to locate, organize, and evaluate information from multiple sources  The ability to innovate and be creative  Staying current on changing technologies and their applications to the workplace  The ability to analyze and solve problems with people from different backgrounds and cultures ** These skills and abilities are also noted to be valuable for employment advancement. Structure of a well-written PAR-accomplishment P Summarize the background of your problem, challenge, or situation.

A Describe the action that you took, tell what you did, and the personal strengths that enabled you to take this action. Be specific and use strong action words.

R Tell about the result of your actions. Show the business impact of your actions from your employer’s point of view. P A

REV. 1 OSC COMPUTER TRAINING 19 REV. 1 OSC COMPUTER TRAINING 20 P

REV. 1 OSC COMPUTER TRAINING 21 PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

TOP TRANSFERABLE SKILLS

HARD SKILLS SOFT SKILLS

______

TOP 3 STRENGTHS

______

REV. 1 OSC COMPUTER TRAINING 22 COMPUTER SKILLS

______

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

______

REV. 1 OSC COMPUTER TRAINING 23