Assignment
Assignment 2 Template: Reflecting on Your Skills, Goals, and Accomplishments
Part 1: About Me
Answer the following questions to capture how you see yourself in terms of values, aspirations, key qualities, goals, strengths, and areas of growth:
1) Describe your values, motivations or aspirations in your own words.
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.
To begin, brainstorm accomplishments from your work, school, volunteering, or other activities. Read the Accomplishment Categories section for a list. After you’ve identified two accomplishments, write statements for each accomplishment using the information below:
Step 1: Think about each of your accomplishments in these terms:
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Challenge |
Situation, problem, or requirement. |
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Action |
Specific actions you took to resolve or meet the challenge. |
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Result |
The benefit created in specific and measurable terms. Be sure to tie results to the organization’s goals when possible. |
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Details |
Clarifying details, such as numbers or percentages, to provide context (consider answering how many, how much, how long, or how often). |
Consider the example below of someone with experience as a retail manager:
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Challenge |
An increase in customer complaints about the helpfulness of staff. |
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Action |
Developed a new training program for staff, got approval from district manager, and once approved implemented it with a regular review process. |
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Result |
After 3 months, customer complaints decreased. |
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Details |
Previously, customer complaints averaged 4 per week. After 3 months, complaints averaged 1 or less per week. |
Step 2: Write two accomplishment statements to practice using this format:
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Challenge |
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Action |
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Result |
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Details |
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Challenge |
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Action |
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Result |
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Details |
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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:
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Accomplishment Statement 1: Result + action + brief description including clarifying details. |
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Example: Decreased customer complaints from 3 per week to 1 or less per week by training staff and implementing a regular review process. |
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Accomplishment Statement 2: Action + brief description with clarifying details + results. |
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Example: Trained retail staff in customer-service techniques and implemented a regular review process, decreasing customer complaints from 3 per week to 1 or less per week. |
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Accomplishment Statement 1 |
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Accomplishment Statement 2 |
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Note: Delete this section before handing in your completed template.
Accomplishment Categories
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WRK100 |
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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
fostering therapeutic relationships
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.