Are you wondering if you’re good enough? Good enough for what, you might ask?
Good enough for anything. Good enough to go for that promotion. Good enough to ask for a raise. Good enough to quit your day job, start a small business and work at home.
It doesn’t matter what the goal is, really. What matters is what you feel you’re capable of. And so many of us hold ourselves back with the “reality talk”. This is the conversation we have in our heads about what everyone else says is realistic, what our fears and past experiences say could get in the way, etc. It’s the “who do you think you are?” mental gymnastics we play with ourselves after we get that big idea and then talk ourselves right out of it.
Well, I have a solution for you. Write (or re-write) your resume. Yup, you heard me. Sit down at the computer or with a pad of paper and pencil and get after it. Take your old resume’s if you must or just start from scratch. (Personally, I think you’re better off starting from scratch and then referring back to the old ones at a future point.)
First, begin by listing all the accomplishments you’ve achieved in your present position, then work backwards from all the other jobs you’ve held. Don’t forget to include accomplishments from volunteer positions, community or church activities, etc.
If you say to yourself, “Gosh, I just DO the job. I don’t know that I really accomplish anything significant” then ask yourself this question: If you were hit by the proverbial truck and they had to hire someone to fill your job overnight, what would that person have to learn in order to be successful?
Second, after you’ve jotted down all those accomplishments, separate them into major functional categories like communication, project management, analysis, leadership, operations, etc.
Third, quantify your accomplishments. Now, I know the majority of you will immediately think, “But Laura, I’m not in sales. I don’t bring money into the organization. I’m a trainer or I’m in a support or staff role, so how can I possibly quantify accomplishments?”
Easy. At the end of every bulleted accomplishment, ask your self the “so what” question. So, what was the bottom line benefit of doing what you did? What outcomes did you achieve? Did you retain a key client due to the customer service you provided? If so, what is that client worth to your organization over the course of one year?
If you can’t get at the bottom line benefit by asking “so what” just once, then KEEP asking yourself that question. Ask others what they believe the benefit would have been.
Taking this one action of writing (or re-writing) your resume will boost your sense of self-esteem and confidence greatly. Even if you’re not in the market for a new job and you just want to feel like you’re really doing something that matters – that’s worthwhile – this exercise will do the trick!
You see folks, most of us get into a rut. While it’s not bad enough to make a change, we risk starting down that slippery slope of dis-engagement, losing interest, tuning out and getting bored. Life is too short for that, eh? (smile) We deserve to give ourselves a kick in the behind once in a while and freshen up our attitudes. Not so much because we do it for THEM – but because we need to do it for US. So we can keep getting up in the morning, putting one step in front of the other and finding joy and personal rewards in the work we do.
If you want more information on this topic, I’d highly recommend the books and resources from my colleague, Pat Criscito. (Hopefully you know me well enough at this point to know this is not a paid advertisement – just a personal recommendation)
You can check out the great materials on Pat Criscito’s website. She is a prolific author on how to write a perfect resume, online job resume tips, etc. Also, be sure not to miss her free Resume Questionnaire which will help you organize your thoughts and categorize your career history. Or just go straight to the library or your bookstore and get ahold of one of her books:
So, here’s to a boost in your sense of self worth and self confidence! Take some time this weekend to get started, but allow yourself the free time you deserve to also take that walk, watch that movie, read one chapter of that book, or snuggle up with someone you love!
I might do them all!
Writing from Colorado, Laura B.
