Quick Guide to Keeping Track of Your Work Accomplishments

You want to change the world...but are you keeping track of all of the great work you do? Doing so will make it easier for you to find a job, advance your career, and see the impact of your work. Here are a few ideas on how you can start keeping track of your accomplishments today.

1. Idealist Careers
Guide to Keeping
Track of Your
Accomplishments

2. You know you’re
awesome.

3. But are you keeping
track of all of the

great work
you’re doing?

4. If not, keep reading...

5. We’ll show why and how you
should start paying
more attention
to just how amazing you are.

6. ? Why should you
keep track of your
accomplishments?

7. Of course, you’re humble
and want to change the world.
But consider what a little
pride
can do for your career.

8. You’ll have better
success stories
to share during a job interview.

9. You’ll be able to answer
Why do you
deserve it?
when campaigning for a
promotion or raise.
• You’ll have a solid track record of

10. You’ll have a solid track record
of success when
seeking support
for a new project or initiative.

11. You’ll be able to wow
your manager during
performance
reviews.

12. You’ll have an easier time
updating
your résumé.

13. You’ll totally
impress
fellow attendees
(with due modesty, of course)
at networking events.

14. Most importantly:
You’ll feel
better about
your work.

15. ? What kind
of accomplishments
should you track?

16. It’s always good to
tell a story.

17. Use the CAR
(Challenge, Action, Result )
formula to figure out your successes
as they relate to your job.

18. What Challenge
(responsibility, task, or problem)
did I have?
As the Editor I was responsible for creating
engaging content for our community.

19. What Action
did I take?

I launched a new blog to cater to our
community’s interest.

20. What was
the Result?
(added value, positive outcome or benefit)
In five months we had over
3,000 email subscribers.

21. Put them
all together:

Launched a new blog to better engage
our community, securing over
3,000 email subscribers in five months.

22. You can also keep track of
praise
(e.g. thank you cards and emails)
and feedback
(e.g. performance reviews)

23. ? How can
you start
tracking your
accomplishments?

24. First
things first:
Track your successes regularly
and in a place you have easy access to.
Some places work better for
certain kinds of accomplishments.

25. Keep a master résumé with all of your
jobs and related accomplishments.

26. Use LinkedIn to keep track of projects,
publications, and successes.

27. Create a folder in your inbox
just for accomplishments.

28. Go old school and use a folder or journal.

29. Use an app like
WorkSmart and idonethis

30. Try an online portfolio like
flavors.me and about.me

31. Use an online document system like
Google Docs or Evernote

32. You can also use Pinterest
to create an
impact portfolio

33. ! No one can keep track of your
work better than you can.
Get to it!
Idealist Careers
Helping you find, land, and love your social impact career