Can you remember all the things you did in 2008 that benefitted your companies and the people you worked with? If not, it’s time to reflect on contributions you made that will define your unique promise of value to your next company, before you forget the details.
I advise my top-level executive clients to keep track of their accomplishments so that updating their resumes and other career marketing communications is less painful. Their most recent value-reinforcing contributions are the things that will give their personal brand marketing efforts the kind of interest-generating punch to make them irresistible to recruiters and hiring decision makers.
Heeding my own best personal branding and career management practices, I’ve compiled a list of my own proudest achievements in 2008, in no particular order:
→ Started blogging and instantly fell in love with it. Blogging has given me a vibrant platform to share all my executive job search and career management expertise and trade secrets, gained through my 20 years in the careers industry. I’ve connected with some amazing people in the personal branding and careers communities, and expanded my knowledge base in ways that have immensely benefitted my clients.
→ Met some inspiring and accomplished CEOs, COOs, CFOs, CBOs, and CIOs with whom I partnered to craft their personal brand message and career marketing communications and help them navigate the daunting ins and outs of today’s executive job search. Despite the perilous economy, top business leaders are still fired up and excited about their next move.
→ Became the Personal Branding Expert at job-hunt.org, Forbes and US News & World Report’s “Best of the Web” for careers and job search.
→ Celebrated the 15th anniversary of my company, helping executives position themselves for career fulfillment. And they said it wouldn’t last!
→ Branded up my LinkedIn profile and got busy making connections and taking advantage of all the site has to offer.
→ Earned some new credentials: Master Resume Writer, Certified VisualCV Creator, 360Reach Assessment Certified. Right now, I’m working on the Reach Certified Personal Branding Strategist credential and Online Identity Management Certification. I’ll have them under my belt early this year.
→ Working on my first e-book, “The CEO Personal Branding Toolkit”.
→ Learned and incorporated more brand marketing strategies to build my own and my clients’ brand visibility, online and offline.
→ Connected with and cemented lasting co-mentorships with several smart, forward-thinking thought leaders in the careers industry.
→ Had the good fortune to mentor several newcomers to the careers industry. Hopefully, I’ve helped them, because they’ve certainly helped me remember the essentials.
→ Became a sought-after writer on executive job search 2.0 for several executive networking and job search sites: BlueSteps, Execunet, Kennedy Information’s Executive Agent, Quint Careers.
→ Joined the Career Innovator’s Advisory Committee of Career Directors International and collaborated on some exciting new initiatives we’ll be rolling out next year to our membership.
→ Connected faces to voices of careers industry mentors and colleagues I had done business with virtually, when I attended the annual international Career Management Alliance conference.
→ Contributed to 3 new job search/career management books:
“Happy About My Resume . . . 50 Tips for Building a Better Document to Secure a Brighter Future”
“Top Notch Executive Resumes: Creating Flawless Resumes for Managers, Executives, and CEOs”
“Job Search Bloopers: Every Mistake You Can Make on the Road to Career Suicide . . . and How to Avoid Them”
What were your proudest and most valuable achievements in 2008?
Make it a New Year’s resolution to put your own list together and give yourself the boost I enjoyed when I put mine to paper. Besides readying yourself to update your career marketing communications, remind yourself of the unique brand-value promise that differentiates you from your competition in the marketplace.
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Executive Resume Writing Secrets: Lead Your Achievement Statements With the WOW Result
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