Picture this: That dream job suddenly becomes available, you have an opportunity to secure a promotion, or your annual review sneakily shows up on your calendar. You realize you haven’t updated your resume in, well, too long. After putting in all the work, you want to ensure your biggest accomplishments are reflected. But, well—what are they?
When you suddenly need a shiny, fresh resume, the whole process can instantly feel overwhelming. As your long to-do list is continuously filled with more pressing tasks, and resume-updating gets pushed further down the list, you may find yourself scrambling to recall the important contributions you’ve made in your current (or most recent) position.
But while drawing a blank is normal—especially if you’ve been with the same company for years—describing the impact you’ve had doesn't have to feel so burdensome. In fact, there’s one simple action you can take now that requires mere seconds and doesn’t interrupt your workflow.
Create a “brag” folder in your inbox.
Every time a client sings your praises, a colleague gushes over your contributions to the latest team project, or your boss asks you to take on a new responsibility, go ahead and drag that email on over to the folder.
Even if every compliment or activity isn’t necessarily resume-worthy, scrolling through a folder full of flattering messages may get your gears turning on other achievements. Plus, knowing there’s one place to look makes the entire process feel much less daunting.
Ensuring you put your best foot—and all your biggest wins—forward will give you a boost of confidence, priming you to crush your next presentation or interview. Now go get ’em!