Track Your Progress – Update Your Resume Regularly

54. Track your progress; update your resume or curriculum vitae regularly.

This is a very cool Tool. When I used to fill out job applications, I always would forget something I could have included that I had done that might have helped my cause. When you have it handy and check it every few months, the new things you have to add are still in your mind. Some of the things might seem small, but when you add all those experiences up, they make something big. Also, by continually adding new accomplishments and experiences, it illustrates that you are active and working on personal growth. It can be as small as donating your time to charity or attending a seminar. These things show an employer that you have a life and can bring more to the table for their company. As an employer, I can tell you that I find a handful of people qualified for the job. When I see something that says to me that this person is doing more than trying to tell me why they can do the job, I become interested. Have a hard copy you can peruse once in awhile and write updates on it. The key is to keep it handy and update it often, because it is easy to forget things after they have been done.

This leads me to another reason to keep it updated and handy. We have a tendency to forget our greatness because we always focus on our shortcomings. Tool 24, Review your wins each week, was covered earlier in the chapter. It is important to review wins because it reaffirms that we are doing it right, that we are winners. The same concept can be applied by having your CV or resume handy. We want to see our accomplishments because it reminds us of where we have been and the ability we have to achieve. Now many will say you shouldn’t rest on your laurels and you need to stop living in the past. I disagree. I think keeping the feeling of success fresh in your mind begets more winning in the future. I believe looking over our accomplishments reminds us not only of the sacrifices we made to achieve them but how worthy it was in the end. If you don’t have either of these or are not sure how to put one together, there are resources everywhere on how to do them. There are also services that help you put yours together. If you get yours done and it is looking a little thin, no problem. It’s time to start finding where we can apply ourselves to beef this thing up. Remember Tool 15, Pick a charity? Also ask around, meaning ask your parents and friends to think of things you’ve done and activities you’ve participated in or donated your time to. Chances are there are a few you may have forgotten.