Career Planning

Developing Strong Accomplishments

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We are in a highly competitive job market; many employees do work that is similar to yours. How do you differentiate yourself? Through the use of accomplishments.

Accomplishments are different than duties; duties tell what you did; accomplishments tell how well you did it. Most employers want to see your successes—and hope that you will bring that same success to them!

One way to think about accomplishments is to use the CAR method. CAR stands for challenge-actions-result. Here are several examples:

Challenge: Accidents increased by 25% over the past year.

Actions: Updated internal safety plan, created and distributed a new safety guide for staff, and instituted new training program for employees to reduce accidents and injuries.

Results: In just 3 months, employee accidents were reduced by 30%–the lowest in more than 5 years.

Challenge: Customer complaints about slow response times.

Action: Developed a new ticketing system and trained staff on efficient workflows.

Result: Reduced average response time from 48 hours to 12 hours

Challenge: High costs in the supply chain.

Action: Negotiated new contracts with vendors and optimized inventory management.

Result: Cut supply costs by 15% annually

Ideally, the accomplishments you identify should relate to the role you’re pursuing. Here is a guide to writing CAR accomplishments:

  1. Identify the Challenge

Start by thinking about situations where you faced a problem, a goal, or a responsibility. The challenge doesn’t have to be dramatic—it could be anything from improving a process to meeting a tight deadline.

  • Describe the Actions You Took

Next, explain what you did to address the challenge. Focus on your specific contributions, not just what the team did. Use strong action verbs like improved, initiated, created, led, or developed.

  • Show the Results

Finally, describe the outcome of your actions. Whenever possible, quantify your results with numbers, percentages, or other measures. If you can’t quantify, describe the positive change or recognition you received.

CAR accomplishments are not just for your resume; they work for interviews as well. Using strong accomplishments—and quantifying your impact—on the challenges you faced, the actions you took, and the results you achieved, you’ll present yourself as a proactive and successful candidate—exactly what employers are looking for!

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New Year, New Job

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A new year is a great time to assess where you’re at professionally. Is it time for you to make a job change? Or a career change? Here are concrete actions you can take over the next month to assess your situation and begin to move forward.

During this 21-day period, you’ll take consistent action in 5 different areas:

  • Where Are You Now?
  • Where Are You Going?
  • What Sets You Apart?
  • What’s Your Plan?
  • Let’s Do This!

For best results, enlist an accountability partner to help you complete the actions. Ideally, it will be someone who is looking to make a job or career change too, so you can keep each other accountable and on track. For best results, check in with each other daily.

Sample New Year, New Job Challenge Planner

  Day 1  Find the most recent version of my résumé and current job description.  
  Day 2  Brainstorm a list of what I need to add to my résumé (work experience, accomplishments, education, training, etc.)  
  Day 3  Spend 30 minutes considering whether I want a new job or a new career. Make a pros/cons list.  
  Day 4  Take the Clifton StrengthsFinder skills assessment.
  Day 5  Spend 30 minutes pulling together information for my brag book.
  Day 6  Brainstorm 10 possible job titles for the position I want.  
  Day 7  Create my “Dream Job” job description.  
  Day 8  Conduct a review of my skills, experience, and qualifications compared to my “Dream Job” job description.  
  Day 9  Spend 15 minutes answering these questions: What am I meant to do? How can I use my skills, education, and experience for maximum benefit? What kinds of problems can I solve for an organization?  
  Day 10  Outline five C-A-R accomplishments that I can add to my résumé and/or use in a job interview
  Day 11  Write up a list of honors and awards I’ve received.  
  Day 12  Research my target job salary.  
  Day 13  Think about how I got my last job and figure out if I can try that again.  
  Day 14  Make a list of the skills, training, and education I need for my next job. Research how to obtain one of these.  
  Day 15  Line up an accountability partner to help support me in my job search.  
  Day 16  Make a list of 10 organizations I’d like to work for.  
  Day 17  Make a list of everyone I know in my network.  
  Day 18  Spend 30 minutes researching prospective employers.
  Day 19  Reach out to one person in my network and let them know I’m looking for a new opportunity.  
  Day 20  Research 3 recruiters I’d like to work with and send them a LinkedIn connection request.  
  Day 21  Reach out to someone who works for the organization I want to work for. Ask them if they will meet me for lunch this weekend.  
Completing the 21-Day Challenge

At the end of the 21 days, review your progress. Do you have any leads on unadvertised openings? Any interviews or job offers yet? If not, don’t worry. The majority of this 21-day challenge is focused on preparing yourself for the job search, not conducting the job search.

Ready To Quit? Consider These Things First

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Many of us fantasize about quitting our jobs—usually in a moment of pique or fear. Over the last several weeks, many federal employees I have spoken with are seriously considering their options. Before quitting impulsively, consider the following:

  • Do you have a real plan? Have you mapped out your job search strategy? Have you assessed exactly what you’re looking for in your next job? Are you willing to move if necessary? Go into an office fulltime? Before you start to look for your next position, decide what is most important to you so you have clear parameters for your search.
  • Do you have another job lined up? If not, how quickly (realistically) do you think you can land another job? Can you afford to be unemployed? If so, for how long? Do you have high monthly payments? Have you created a budget?
  • Are your salary expectations for your next role realistic? No hiring manager cares what you “need” to make…they’re only interested in what they think the job (and you) are worth. If you work in a niche industry (such as astrophysicist) or high demand occupation (like cybersecurity), you’re more likely to be able to negotiate a high salary.
  • Is your resume updated and your LinkedIn robust? These are critical tools in every job seeker’s toolbox.
  • Have you removed your personal documents, emails, and contact information from work systems? If not, this is something you want to do before announcing your resignation. And of course, you’ll need to follow your organization’s rules regarding what documents belong to the organization.
  • Determine if there are ethics / conflict of interest rules which need to be followed as you search for your next role? Make sure you understand any restrictions on your search before getting started.
  • Review your medical and other benefits. How will you cover your health insurance if you are unemployed? Yes, you will likely be eligible for COBRA but do know that premiums may be much higher than what you ar used to. Have you taken a loan against your 401 (k) or Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)? How will you repay it? What are your options to rollover your 401 (k)?
  • Is this the right time to leave? Have you appropriately considered your options? What do you have to lose /gain by leaving? Would some time off help you gain some perspective?

Whatever you decide, make sure that your decision is well considered and if you do decide to leave, do so with grace and professionalism.

Looking For A Job While Still Employed?

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The best time to look for a job is when you already have one. No hiring manager purposely decides to hire someone who is unemployed. Keeping your options open and making sure that you’re paying attention to what’s going on and having a resume ready to go is called “career cushioning;” something that should be part of your career strategy.

Here are some strategies for career cushioning:

  • Monitoring the job market
  • Preparing/updating job search documents and LinkedIn profile
  • Networking with recruiters and others who can assist with a job search
  • Arranging for informational interviews to learn more about an organization
  • Activating job search alerts and browsing job listings
  • Creating a target list of prospective employers
  • Applying for jobs
  • Researching opportunities in new career fields
  • Inventorying your skills and interests for alignment with future opportunities
  • Improve your personal brand by increasing your online visibility (blogging, social media engagement, etc.)
  • Upskilling/reskilling/training
  • Starting a side hustle that could become a job/career or taking on freelance work
  • Working with a resume writer and/or career coach

One of the most important parts of career cushioning is protecting your future.

  • What kind of job or career do you see yourself in a few years down the road?
  • What skills would that job or career require?
  • What steps do you need to take today to prepare yourself for a job search tomorrow or in the near future?

One key tactic for setting yourself up for success is networking. Connecting with individuals inside and outside your field can help you land your next role. Networking can help you identify unadvertised job opportunities, connect with recruiters and hiring managers, and learn more about an organization before you apply for an advertised opening.

Especially when pursuing a confidential job search, networking can help open door to finding the next job opportunity. No longer does networking mean just attending industry conferences and trade shows — connecting with contacts on LinkedIn and using LinkedIn messages to stay in touch can be just as effective.

Even if your position isn’t threatened, career cushioning is a smart strategy to ensure you’re being paid a market rate and you’re ready for an opportunity if it arises.

If you’re looking to learn even more, check out our other career resources.

Thinking About Signing Up For A Self-Study Program To Advance Your Career?

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There are a number of online certification programs that can help you increase your skills and knowledge base, and perhaps your career. Here are some pros and cons to signing up for one of these programs:

Pros:

  • Many of these programs offer affordable, self-study options for continuing education and professional development.
  • These certificate programs can be an option for those seeking to boost their qualifications for an entry-level position in the field.
  • Once completed, you can add your new credentials to your resume and LinkedIn profile.
  • Completing the certification can prepare you for other certification programs and/or provide college credit at certain institutions.
  • Financial aid may be available for some programs (a discount off the cost of the course). You can complete an application that includes information about your educational background, career goals, and financial circumstances.
  • Your current employer may reimburse you for completing the certification.
  • Completing a certification demonstrates your commitment to taking responsibility for advancing your career.

Cons:

  • The certificate itself may not be enough to secure an interview or a job.
  • Certification is not a substitute for a relevant degree or direct work experience.
  • Some people who have completed the course say that the coursework was too broad or generalized to be useful.
  • Because the courses that make up the certifications are self-paced, you must be self-motivated to watch the videos, take the quizzes, and complete the exercises.
  • The cost may vary significantly; make sure you understand whether the course is offered on a platform that requires a subscription or is a flat fee. If you complete the certification but forget to cancel your subscription, you will pay significantly more for the certification.

Check out our self-paced online courses based on our training programs to learn how to Prepare a Federal Job Application and Prepare a Senior Executive Service Package!

Wondering Why Your Career Has Stalled?

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There are lots of reasons your career has stalled—and many of them have nothing to do with your supervisor. If you find your career to be stuck, you need to take a hard look at how you might be contributing to the situation.

Here are some of the most common reasons things are not going as well as you had hoped.

You don’t take the initiativeYou fulfill only your job requirements
The position you want doesn’t existYou only want a paycheck—and it’s clear
You have an entitlement mentalityYou are unorganized / procrastinate
Your job skills are outdatedYour personal issues affect your performance
You lack interpersonal skillsYou don’t follow through
You don’t implement suggestionsYou don’t express interest in development
You lack professionalismYou have “issues” with key personnel
Of course, there are other possibilities as well but if one (or more) of the above reasons resonate with you, consider making a commitment to getting your career back on track. You can make a plan by documenting the following—and following through:

Feedback Received:    

What Needs to Work:    

My solution to fix this is:    

I can demonstrate improvement by:    

While I cannot guarantee that this will work, at a very minimum it will allow you to know that you did everything you could before you decide to move on to another employer.

If you’re considering a career change check out our free Career Change Self-Assessment Worksheet and don’t hesitate to reach out if you need assistance with updating your resume, interview prep, or more!