Carve-out a night or take the weekend to complete these three steps, and I guarantee you’ll perform your job better each day, interview better, and you might really enjoy their reminiscent nature as well. These three steps boil down to one key concept: self-awareness. And this isn’t just about knowing yourself – that’s a given. It’s about knowing what you can offer and realizing where exactly that potential came from. That’s the key. What’s even more powerful is that once you realize where it came from and that it’s already in you . . . that’s how you can grow even more! Get a pen and some paper…

 

(1) Write down every job you’ve had since high school, and leave plenty of space between each one.

Once you’ve done this, think back and write down 2-4 key occurrences and what you learned from each of those jobs. Give every one fair time and thought; the job when you were 17 is just as valuable for this exercise as your last job.

Here are some personal examples from me:

Blimpie Subs: making work fun with the people around you; first time asking for a raise ($6.25 to $6.75, baby).

Sun Country Airlines: managing details under severe scrutiny; empathy; developing a thick skin.

First recruiting job: breaking out of my comfort zone; startup culture; extra effort paying off after I found my very first hire – a software developer – when I came in on a Saturday to source candidates; tough coworker situation with [anonymous].

 

(2) Make a new list from the key occurrences and what you learned, and write down how you’ve applied each of them in subsequent jobs and situations.

Now, realize what awesome stuff you have right here:

• These are YOU, right here. This is proof of what you’ve learned, how you’ve grown over the years, and what you can offer. If you ever need a confidence booster, look back at this list. Realize that if you’ve done this over the years, your potential is limitless!
• You now have a TON of solid job interview material ready to go. You might be asked at some point: “So what were you big takeaways from that Job X?” or “Tell me about a conflict you had with a coworker, and how you addressed it? or “How you have professionally grown over the last 5 years?” You’ll be ready.

 

(3) Start a Job Journal. 

Write in it every few weeks, or at least when you have a big milestone, big issue or any significant occurrence. This will keep you so you’re more in tune your self-awareness moving forward.

 

Conclusion:

After doing this, you’ll be more self-aware without even thinking about it, and will course-correct yourself more. You’ll start to empower yourself more and gain confidence in thought, action and conversation. You’ll simply perform at a higher level. Go and see for yourself!