It’s tempting when you have a job in the private sector to go day to day without noting what you worked on. In public accounting you have to keep track in order to bill the client, but in the private sector that’s not as much of an issue. When you’re really busy it seems that writing down what you’ve been working on is just a waste of time. It’s actually a very valuable exercise.
Even though I work in the private sector, I track my day exactly as I did when I was in public accounting. If I’m working on a special project, I take meticulous notes on the progress of what I call the ‘case.’ I keep a journal of all the names, dates, and summary of the conversations I’ve had with various people. I make note of any special things I do to get what I think is the best outcome for the company. I take the extra time to dig into the details. Most importantly, I take the notes as things happen. It is clear in your mind when you write notes immediately. If you wait a few weeks your notes on the distant memories won’t be as sharp and convincing.
This information can be very useful when updating your resume. You may not have any plans to change jobs, but if something happens and you have to seek other employment, it is so much easier to get started if your resume is already up to date.
I review my resume annually. I don’t necessarily rewrite the whole thing, but if I accomplished something special I add a few notes in the resume file. I might even write a paragraph or two for my cover letter as well.
This is also why I like to over-deliver when approaching all my work. I make sure I do everything with excellence. It makes my resume stand out because it is not just a list of things I have done. It reflects the care I took to deliver a high quality product that my customer, either internal or external, was happy to receive. It shows initiative and leadership.
Finally, it is sometimes fun to simply read your notes and revel in your accomplishments. I like to do this when I’m having a day where I feel like nothing is getting done. I take a ten minute break and read my ‘accomplishments file.’ Then I remember that yes, I was productive, and I will be again!
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