How do I prove what I have accomplished at work?

Keep your receipts. Once a quarter, write down your measurable results, bigger scope, people you developed and recognition, on your own device and not your work laptop. Catie Campbell, an executive coach, says nobody owes you a promotion and your company makes business decisions, not decisions about your career. Keeping the record is your job.

Could you prove it tomorrow?

Catie asks one question. If you got laid off tomorrow and lost your laptop, your email and your Slack channels, could you clearly say what you have accomplished over the last several years? She says most people know they worked hard and cannot prove it. Some keep everything on the work computer, which she calls pretty dangerous.

She has been through it. Catie was part of a layoff once, a long time ago, and says it is emotional and often comes out of left field. Waiting until then to start your list is like pulling your tax receipts together on April 14.

What counts as a receipt

Catie's list of what to track starts with measurable results, such as reducing transaction time or increasing sales by a percentage. Promotions and added scope. Revenue you generated. Problems you solved and initiatives you led. Feedback and recognition. Skills and certifications. People you developed, such as a team that grew from two to twelve. Relationships, such as people you mentor.

Track impact, not activity. She is not looking for I did a lot of things. She wants how well you did them and why you were more efficient or more profitable. Do it at least once a quarter, in part of an afternoon, on your own computer or tablet.

Nobody owes you a promotion

Catie says your career is your responsibility, not your employer's or your manager's. A sponsor is great, but it is never guaranteed. Companies think about shareholder value and bottom lines. They are not thinking about your rent, your mortgage or your childcare. Keeping receipts is not disloyal, she says. It is good professional hygiene.

She is just as direct about HR. HR exists to protect the company from legal liability. Use it for training, for learning the rules of the road and for how to get promoted. But it works on behalf of the company, not on behalf of you. The name says it: you are the resource.

Know your market value

Catie says to always know what the market pays for your role, skills and results. She would hire a person with receipts over a person with the same degree, years or certifications, which she calls nice, expensive pieces of paper. With a record, you can stand 10 toes down when you ask for a raise.

She also says to keep your network warm. Do not rely on networking events. Reach out to someone you know once a month for coffee, lunch or a video call. Every job she took after her first came through someone she knew, and she says a real person who vouches for you beats a stack of resumes.

FAQ

How often should I update my list of accomplishments?

At a minimum, once a quarter. Catie says to take part of an afternoon, look back month by month and write down what you accomplished.

Is keeping receipts disloyal to my employer?

No, Catie says. She calls it good professional hygiene and part of owning your career.

Can AI write my resume for me?

Not by itself. Catie says AI does not know what you accomplished, but if you keep your receipts, it can help you say the results better.

Catie Campbell is an executive coach, emotional intelligence expert and keynote speaker who has helped 30,000+ leaders.