Take ownership of your career story

We all know that the days of a 40-year career at one company are mostly history. Today, our individual skills, talents, and accomplishments are the keys to career advancement. But how exactly does one go about creating a career path—and landing that next great job—with a series of diverse experiences?

Sometimes it’s a matter of identifying the common thread in your series of experiences, says Jody Greenstone Miller, CEO of Business Talent Group. “You’ve got to own your own career path,” she stresses. “You’ve got to tell the story, connect the dots. You’ve got to keep a list of your accomplishments.”

Miller says that agility—being able to move from job to job and add value at each new opportunity—is fast becoming the most sought-after job skill. Increasingly, she says, employers are looking for “someone who’s moved around and been successful quickly.” Learn more about Miller’s thoughts on the evolving workplace in her interview with Yahoo Finance below.

Ready to tell your career story?

If Miller’s advice speaks to you, your next question is likely “So how exactly do I tell my story?” And the answer is: in many ways, on many platforms.  You can present your highlights—connect your career dots—on social media, in an interview or when networking, and, yes, even in your resumé.

A resumé may seem old school, but it’s still the most commonly used job search tool. And it can still be a great method for telling your career story to future employers. CareerOneStop’s Resume Guide offers strategies to help you tell your story. Visit Top Resume Strategies to learn how to:

• Sell yourself and your brand. Communicate who you are, what you offer, and what makes you stand out from the crowd.
• Identify your transferable skills. Your transferable skills are a major selling point that sets you apart from other job seekers. Make sure you—and your prospective next boss—know what yours are.
• Highlight your accomplishments. Anyone can list duties and responsibilities, but accomplishments give you credibility, help your resume come alive, and form the plot of your story.
• Use keywords effectively. The specific words you use in your resume are critical for communicating your value. Keywords are how companies and recruiters find your resume, and how they decide if you’d be a good fit.