My Professional History

The following questionnaire will be useful in creating a resume and preparing for a job interview. It requires recalling information that you may have forgotten or might have easily overlooked, yet are specific experiences and activities that reflect the valuable and important activities you've achieved.

Repeat the series of questions for each position, replicating only those where the answers will be different.

Position #1 (most recent)

Organization: ________________________________ Dates with organization: __________________

Job Title: __________________________________    Dates in this title: _________________________

Title of person you reported to (not the name):  _________________________


Compensation: $ ___________________

Responsibilities

Describe your primary responsibilities in this job, starting with the general functional area (e.g., legal, marketing, finance, operations). Exactly what did you do? List the duties of the job in order of importance - not as they appeared in the job description, but as they actually were. What results were you expected to produce? What resources did you have (people reporting to you, budgets, facilities)? What committees or task forces were you involved with?

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Your Performance

List all concrete evidence of satisfactory (or better) performance. Include salary increases, promotions, bonuses, performance ratings, goals exceeded, etc.

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Likes

What did you like most about this job? List three, even if you liked very little.

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Dislikes

What did you like least about this job? List at least three, even if you enjoyed everything.

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My Accomplishments

List the six most important accomplishments from the organization's point of view. List them in order of importance, beginning with the most significant. Describe the situation, the tasks, the actions you took and the results achieved.(Use an additional sheet of paper to complete this portion.)

Reasons for leaving this job

Why did you leave? If you were involuntarily terminated, write that down and be honest about what you believe were the real reasons. Do not simply replay the "official" story. (Use additional sheet of paper.)

Information about this Employer

Industry or sector and main competitors

What does the organization do? (principle products or services)

Size of the organization (# of employees, annual revenue, budgets, # of units, etc.)

If the organization is part of a larger one (e.g. a parent company or larger agency), give the same information on the larger organization, including its name.

If the organization as a whole did well during your employment, list any indications of how well (e.g. % profit increases, growth, comments by expert outsiders).

Size and mission of your department or unit.

Describe climate and/or culture. How were things done? What did you like/not like?

Education: Begin with your most recent formal education and work back to the secondary level.

Educational Institution and Location

Degree Date

Major GPA/Rank

Honors

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List extracurricular activities at each of the above institutions

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Additional Training

Name of course/ who conducted

Principal Course Content

Dates

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Business or Professional Activities:

List membership in business or professional associations. Include any offices held, committees served on, list of publications or copyrights.

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List of business or professional publications you read regularly.

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List any licenses or certifications (e.g. engineering license, CPA, etc.)

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Languages: (other than English) that you speak, read or write. Note proficiency level.

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My Professional or Managerial Assets and Liabilities

A professional is someone who works with a clearly defined body of expertise. Marketing, accounting, sales, information technology, human resources and management are all examples. A manager is someone who knows how to get thing done, an individual who develop strategy, establishes plans, uses control procedures, organizes people and resources, and coordinates an overall effort. Discuss your assets and liabilities as a manager or a non-management professional.

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Career-Progress Analysis

Are you satisfied with your career progress? Career satisfaction can be more than an achieved income level. Satisfaction and dissatisfaction can be of many kinds. If you are satisfied with your career progress to date, explain the reason and what are your plans for continued growth. Focus on what particular circumstances and efforts have lead to your satisfaction. Conversely, do a similar sort of analysis if you are dissatisfied.

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Possible References

List 12 individuals you would consider contacting as part of the employment process even though you may not use them all. Include both work and personal references and list their relationship to you. List the current organization and title for every reference, even for personal friends. Your list should definitely include your peers, supervisors and clients.

Name	Organization/Title	Relationship to You

Adapted from "Managing Your Search Project" (Lee Hecht Harrison, 2006)

Campus Human Resources, Employment Services
Phone: (310) 794-0890 | Fax: (310) 794-0895