The Benefits of a Career Performance Portfolio
If you are like many accountants or professionals you want to achieve success in your career. Chances are you will have worked hard to get the necessary qualifications. You may have been pretty careful to make sure that you acquired good experience.
Yet for some reason you are not making the progress you had hoped for in your career. 
However, there is something that you could consider that could make a difference.
A Career Performance Portfolio.
In essence it’s a record of your career, you successes, the positive feedback and examples of the work and significant projects you have undertaken.
If you were in a creative role like an artist or a graphic designer this would be part and parcel of your toolbox that showcases you.
So why not create something similar for you and your career.
Now you might be wondering why a career performance portfolio might be of benefit. So here are 4 benefits.
Benefit 1: You Don’t Have To Rely On Your Memory
When I’m working with people and ask them to talk about some of their big successes they struggle. Even if they can recall things they often only relate to their most current role rather than the successes they have had over the course of their career.
Be systematic and don’t rely on your memory.
Benefit 2: You Capture Detail
When you are relying on your memory you may well be able to talk about successes in outline.
If you capture the success and write it out at the time you will capture more detail.
Benefit 3: It Will Help You Create A Better CV
Your CV is your personal marketing document.
If you have detailed information about you, your achievements, the feedback you have received and your skills and qualities you will without doubt create a much better CV that markets you effectively.
Benefit 4: It Will Help You Better Answer Job Interview Questions
Employers are using competency based interviews where they are looking for concrete answers and specific examples to demonstrate that you have the skills, experience and attributes to do the job well.
If you have a career performance portfolio these questions are going to be much easier to answer.
The Bottom Line: The majority of people won’t take the time to create or have the discipline to maintain a career performance portfolio. If you do it will help you to stand out from the crowd.
Duncan Brodie helps accountants achieve more career success.
About the Author Duncan Brodie
Since 2006 I’ve worked with in excess of 8,000 accountants and professionals in workshops, seminars and one to one helping them land their next jobs and become better leaders, presenters and business partners. Before that I spent 25 years in accountancy climbing the career ladder from Payments Clerk to FD. I’m a CIMA Fellow, Certified Professional Coach and Team Coach Facilitator.