Week 4 Reflecting on Your Skills, Goals, and Accomplishments

Answer the following questions to capture how you see yourself in terms of values, aspirations, key qualities, goals, strengths, and areas of growth:

2) Describe some of your main personal, academic, and professional goals. Make sure to write five or more complete sentences.

3) What are some of your strength areas? Think about the top 2–3 skills you would advertise about yourself, or consider what others come to you for advice about. Make sure to write five or more complete sentences.

4) What are some areas you would like to grow and improve in? Make sure to write five or more complete sentences.

Part 2: Accomplishment Statements

Accomplishments don’t have to be as large as climbing the top of Mount Everest or starting your own company. We accomplish many things in our lives every day that have meaning. For example, perhaps you organized volunteers for your school’s food drive or made an extremely profitable sale. Or, if you’re more advanced in your career, perhaps you’ve received a promotion or special recognition.

In this part of the assignment, you’ll identify two accomplishments from work, school, volunteering, or other activities. You’ll then practice communicating these in ways appropriate for a résumé.

Consider the example below of someone with experience as a retail manager:

Step 3: Now, try writing your two accomplishment statements concisely for a résumé (you will not be completing a resume). Use either example format below to write your accomplishments:

Note: Delete this section before handing in your completed template.

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Saving Time:

· shortening a procedure

· optimizing a process

· establishing a new procedure

· investing in new technology

· retraining staff

· identifying inefficiencies

· changing a schedule

· recommending new systems

Saving Money:

· using supplies more effectively

· eliminating unneeded reports

· contracting with a new vendor

· reducing underperforming programs

· properly scheduling staff

· recruiting volunteers

· creating something from scratch

· finding cost-effective solutions

Making Money:

· increasing sales/profits/market share

· enlarging a market

· finding a new market

· expanding class offerings

· developing new services

· inventing something

· winning a grant

· enrolling new participants

· retaining clients/customers/students

· developing partnerships

· upselling customers

· extending contracts

Reducing Risk:

· meeting government requirements

· improving testing

· fixing a problem

· ensuring safety standards are met

· decreasing negative behaviors

· increasing positive behaviors

· protecting against a hazard

· developing policies

Improving Quality:

· upgrading a system or software

· updating a course

· facilitating employee training

· instating best practices

· implementing new procedures

Recognition:

· winning an award

· securing a promotion

· achieving a certification/degree

· boosting customer satisfaction

· improving employee engagement

· increasing teamwork

· reducing errors

· receiving positive feedback

· earning a bonus

· accepting a board position

Creating Positive Outcomes:

· implementing successful intervention

· teaching life skills

· observing behavioral change

Part 3: Reflect on Your Experiences

1) How has reflecting on your goals, strengths, areas of growth, and accomplishments been valuable for you?

2) What are ways you can build in a regular practice of reflection?

3) In your current understanding of the 10 Skills, identify 1–2 skills that you believe have helped you reach the accomplishments listed in Part 2. Briefly explain how.

4) After practicing writing your accomplishments in a résumé-appropriate style, do you feel more confident in expressing your accomplishments to an employer? Briefly explain.